The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1913-01-16
MERCHANTS SHOULD GET BUSY.
Parcel Post VIII Extend Trading Very
Materially.

Materially.
In writing about the workings Of
parcel post. Mr.. c. G. Creighton,
secretary Of the Merchants Associe.
tion Of North Carolina, says:
Whether the parcel post insti.
tuted by the United States Post
Office Department January l, 1918,
will be benefit to the merchants Of
North Carolina depends entirely and
solely upon the merchants them
selves. IT the parcel post is made
use of by the merchants, retail and
jobbers, as we'll as wholesalers, it
will result in immense benefit to the
mercantile interests of the State,
and if this opportunity is not taken
advantage of it will mean that mail
order houses in the North will reap
the berefit.
"A careful study of the zone plan
of the parcel post system as apply
ing to North Carolina, shows that a
material reduction in the cost of
handling small shipments of mer-
chandise throughout the State will
be made when compared to the
rates heretofore charged by the ex-
paess companies, but the greatest
advantage accruing to the mer-
chants of the State is that every
postoffice becomes an express Office,
and exery rural free delivery route
becomes An express delivery, in con-
tradisdinction to the express plan
of delivering only to cities and towns
along the lines of railway.
"As is well known the basis upon
which charges for transportation by
this government express is the so
mile zone, but it is not to be under
stood that the distance the so mile
zone rate will carry mail is just SO
miles. In fact, in many instances
the distance is nearly three times
this figure from the fact that for
the purpose Of IN flying rates each
degree Of latitude and longitude in
the United States is divided into
quarters represented by our squares
within the latitude and longitude.
The order Of the postal department
is that the square intersected by the
zone circle shall take the rate of the
lower or inside zone instead of the
outside or next highest zone. 1t
therefore, that in many in
stances q package weighing II
pounds may be sent l35 miles for
the minimum rate, 35 cents.
That this will operate to the AL
Of the merchants Ct the
State can be readily seen. 1t means
that the man living at point here
tofore considered to be isolated,
from an express OF freight view
point, is brought into direct and
daily communication with the stores
within a wide radius, and he can
secure daily, from the various GEN.
tres of trade in his zone and in the
next surrounding zone for the most
part, merchandise which lie has
heretofore been compelled to do
without or to get at widely separat-
ed intervals.
'It means better service to the
people of every section of the State,
and therefore greater satisfaction
with their purchases from the stores
Of their territory and consequent
reduction in tie amount spent with
mail order houses at a distance.
"If the merchants of the State
will take the trouble to lay before
the people living along the rural
free delivery routes in their zone
and in the next surrounding zone.
the facts in the case, pointing out
the ease with which they can secure
and the ease with
which they can put their produce in
the hands of the people of the city.
the object and purpose Of the parcel
post will have been attained.