Evening star., 1913-12-03
PROTESTS EGG BOYCOTT
WOULD RUIN PRODUCERS
Cooperation Calculated to
Aid Consumers Proposed
by Poultry Keeper.

To the Editor OF The Star:
As a poultry keeper and seller of fresh
eggs | have followed carefully the dis
eussons in The Star on the price of eggs.
ending up with the announcement that
the housekeepers' leagues are planning
a nationwide boycott of eggs to reduce
the price.
j do not think egg producers will be
very much worried about this. as they
know that there are plenty of people at
present who will be glad to get the eggs
these ladies refrain from eating. but If
it We're possible to make such a boycott
universal. and therefore effective, what
would resulto First, great injury to the
poultry raisers, who market their eggs
fresh and could not hold them without
loss. Then the killing of the hens for
market as their owners could not afford
to keep them and meet the rapidly ac-
cumulating feed bills, with no income.
Lastly. as a natural consequence of the
dscouragement and perhaps ruin of the
producers and depletion of their stock. a
great curtailment of future production
There would be a few halcyon weeks of
cheap poultry and eggs for the house
keepers and then prices higher than ever
before for years to come. No one would
benefit, unless. perhaps, a few lucky cold
storage spectators.
Would it not be better for organizations
of consumers, instead of trying to unite
against producers. to adopt an attitude
of cooperation and helpfulness toward
them? Especially in case like this.
where the producers are not rich corpo-
rations, but millions of Woodworking
farmers and country folk. without re-
sources to withstand an organized at
tack. I would like here to offer a sug-
gestion as to how mutually helpful CO.
trx~,. Anfr ot,1
sumers of eggs could be effected.
Commuters Do Selling.
large proportion of the eggs gathered
within a radius of ten or twelve miles of
Washington or any similar city go di-
rectly to the consumers and never reach
the commission men. storage warehouses
or grocers at all. They are brought to
the city on trolley cars or local trains by
commuters who sell to their Office mates.
or in wagons or automobiles by larger
poultry raiSers who sell to hotels or
housekeepers- The persons who get their
fresh eggs in this way are not the ones
who are complaining of high prices. But
this source of supply is quite inadequate
for the needs of whole city. The terri
tory within reach in this way is too small.
If. however. the poultry raisers within a
radius of not ten but a hundred miles
could be brought in touch with city con-
sumers in this way, delivering fresh eggs
weekly to regular customers, the prob
lem would be solved.
When parcel post was established many
hoped 1t would be the means to this end.
1t has not proved SO yet. Why? Be
cause we have not yet learned to use it
The tool has been given us. but We have
not fitted it to our hands. There are two
difficuties-first the cost of delivery and
second. the difficulty of getting consum-
er and producer into communication with
each other.
The solution of the first difficulty may
be found in the fact that while the ex-
hibitive, the cost of sending eight dozen
eggs in one box (about nineteen pounds)
could be reduced to > or cents per
dozen if the boxes could be saved and
returned in packages of six and used at
least four times. This cost covers the
ten-cent fee for c. o. d. collection. A
delivery cost OF ; or cents a dozen
would put the distant farmer an
equality with the suburban producer.
Housekeepers Should Combine
fresh eggs wants eight dozen at time.
1t would be necessary for six or eight
housekeepers living near together to COM
bine to receive the eight dozen eggs,
having them sent regularly TO the ad-
dress of centrally located member, the
other members coming to her house to
get their eggs and bringing the money
just as they would to the grocer. The
box when emptied could be fiattened and
put by for return.
So much for the delivery OF the eggs
now for the second difficulty. that OF
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