Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-17
Looker-On In Iona

Albion. Jan. l7.-Yn Hampton the
| other day the crowd was discussing the
/! question OF the next postmaster Of that
thriving county seat. One speaker was
sure Mr.. d. c. Wolf, of the savings
bank, would be selling stamps as soon
as Tom Purcell's time was out, and
gave as his reasons the hard and efec-
| tive work in town and country Mr..
Wolf had done for Congressman-E Elect
Connolly, Of Dubuque. 1t seemed to
be the general opinion that If Mr.. Wolf
got the plum, he would give the people
| business administration, as his ex-
| perience as a banker would come IN
good play. Another man said Adolph
| Meyer was the coming man. Mr.. Meyer
has been one of the few straight DEM
ocrats Hampton has had for many
moons. His business experience, dat
! ing back more than twenty years, has
made him many friends, and If 1t came
| to vote or the number Of names on
| a petition, the speaker was sure Ado!ph
! would lead any and all candidates.
What the faithful at Hampton are to
| do for an organ to discourse sweet
| democratic music is a conundrum. Inc
Democratic Globe has been sold to
republican, thence these tears" 1t may
be a democratic editor will be hired
| and the business manager could con-
sistently remain a republican. such
/! things have happened and readers linus
get the pure gospel.
The parcel post business is attract
ing much attention here in Iowa.
| Towns the size of Iowa Falls and
| Hampton are now handling from thirty
to forty packages a day, both coming
and going. Some Of it is freak 5nip-
ments, as was the reception at the
! Iowa Falls postoffice of an old rusty
stove pipe "elbow," which was de!iV-
cred and marked insured with 2-ce1t
stamp. One thing is heard everywhere
country merchants are going to make
an effort to increase local trade Some
have already advertised III the local
papers, delivered by parcel post IT
is evident the universal telephone sys-
tenn in Iowa will help the local merchant
where he Is shreWd enough to use
printers ink in the local and daily pa
pers. The credit of a majority of the
Iowa farmers is so good that the Iowa
merchant receiving an order by phone
will only be too glad to charge it,
stamps and goods. Some merchants
will soon have a zone map and keep
parcel post stamps in the drawer ready
to use when phone orders are received
Also the people are taking everywhere
about the stuff they are going to order
by phone Of the farmers. This VIII
be resorted in the very small towns to
a great extent, for there are many days
in a year, both winter and summer.
when in some of the small country
towns one can not buy for love or
money q pound Of butter, a dozen OF
eggs, or any milk or cream. Packages
to contain these articles will soon be
offered for sale. One man the writer
has talked with is figuring now on
the cost of an aluminium box or case
to hold butter to ship by parcel post.
Another man says there will be no use
for public markets when this parcel
post business is fully organized. There
will be a directory Of farmers wives
with telephone numbers. Such women
! will advertise to ship poultry, butter
eggs, cream, fruits and early vegeta-
| bles. The well-to-do housekeeper in
town will call up the farmers wife,
order what she wants and when. and
then sit down and fold her hands till
Uncle Sam brings the fresh farm pro-
ducts to her door. Think of ordering
quart Of strawberries fresh packed at
Albion in the morning, and have them
brought to 'steenth street, Marshall
town, with a pint OF solid cream In
| time for supper. Uncle Sam will be
welcome to his parcel post stamps.
The ice man had a fright in Deem
Der and now is working overtime Some
towns have already filled all the ice
houses. Others with more faith COM
menced operations on the 18th Every
| where in this part of the state the
quality is excellent with little or no
snow mixed in the ice. Twelve to
fourteen inches is the thickness at this
writing. In many places orders are
coming in for shipping to other places
but as rule few contracts are being
made. They will fill orders for so
much per ton in the cars, If possible
There are two reasons for this-one
| the uncertainty of, weather, and the
chance of getting cars for shipping. II
same towns fail to get ice the parcel
post will not help them out
Ap M.A4-sA>