The Washington times., 1914-07-21

When you have found satisfac-
tory farmer to deal with. shopping
by parcel post becomes a simple pro-
cess of sending your market basket
to the farm with a letter telling
what YOU want. The cost of that
process is just a little less than II
YOU got on a stree. car and rode
downtown and back. and just little
more than II you ordered what you
wanted by telephone. You can mail
YOUR empty basket at any drug store
postal station. The parcel post brings
the filled basket to your door.
This simple process of sending an
ordinary, strong. market basket 10
the farm has been found to be entire
ly satisfactory for shipping short dis
tances-say fifty to one hundred miles.
Several such baskets are now going
empty and returning filled weekly
through the Washington Postofhce-
ut is realized that the method or
shopping by senoinS the market
basket direct to the farm. Is to some
extent experimental with both the
consumer and the farmer. and Tor
this reason the Housekeepers' Alliance
of Washington has consented 10 CO.
operate with the Washington Post
office to the extent OF trying OUT as
many farmers as possible, with the
view of determining the following
points: First. whether the business
methods of the farmers make IL prac-
ticable to deal direct with the produc.
er: second, whether the method or
packing, character OF produce ana m
telligence shown In mailing. meet the
reuuirements of the city consumer:
third whether the transportation
service by the Postoffice Department
and the Washington Postoffice in
sures delivery of parcel post matter
in fresh and satisfactory condition.
Alliance Is Assisting.
"In order to arrive at fair deter
mination of these matters and to ue
chile TO render a practical service to
the consumers of Washington general
1v the Housekeepers' Alliance desires
To have sent to committee on coop
Grafton. Housekeepers' Alliance. p. o.
ROY 476. Washington, d. c.. by postal
card or letter, a specific report by
any person in the city. who has had par
eel post experience, answering the fol-
lowing questions:
N Name and address Of farmer. I2)
Articles purchased and prices paid for
them C3 Who (farmer or consumer)
furnished the contaiuer and how well
were the products packed? 90 Was
the farmers service prompt and salts
factory? (5J In what condition did par
cells arrive and how promptlE were they
delivered by the postoffice? 6) Re
marks.
"In order to cover as many sections
NJ the country, IS many farmers. and
as many separate shipments as possible.
the Housekeepers' Alliance will receive
answers to the foregoing questions
from all who desire to thus cooperate
with II. ia, ~
formation and place the results before
the CITY consumer. as well as the farm
ar for the information and guidance
of each.
ucts will continue to he found posted on
tbe bulletin board of the Public Lii
hrary, Mt. Vernon square, in this city.
Bringing Them Together.
"Thc purpose of this undertaking by
tho Fostoffice Department. with the CO.
onaration of public spirited persons and
institutions. is to bring the city con-
sumer and country producer together
through he facilities offered by the
marcel post This consists Of very
tImpIe proceeding After you have writ
otber farmer whose address you haVe
learned from some acquaintance, and
baye made arrangements as TO the price
and payn-nt for the articles you want
IN buy. take a strong market basket
Y,i,b = cover or n double corrugated
nasteboard mailing box. and send IL to
The farmer II il weights a pound IL
wiII cost cents to mail II to the
farmer empty; II between two and three
hounds II will cost cents to mail.
Double corrugated shipping boxes OF
various types can be purchased very