Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-27
PARCEL POST TO
CUT LIVING COST
Federal Investigators Declare
New Plan Will Do Much
for Consumers.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-Experts
Of the postoff1ce department and de-
partment Of agriculture are at
work upon a series of Investigations
which the experts believe will ac-
complish more toward reducing the
cost of living than anything that has
yet been proposed.
Their experiments contemplate the
use of the parcel post in the trans
portation of commodities directly
from the producer to the consumer.
The first report on these investiga-
tons Will soon be made public by the
department Of agriculture. and off,
Gals OF this depart ment already are
rejoicing over the prospects.
Postmaster General Burieson and
Secretary Houston believe that the
use of the parcel post as the direct
means of delivery from the consumer
to the Producer. through doing away
with the middleman and his profits,
will bring the cost of the market
basket provisions down considerably
There are two phases Of the plan to
increase the usefulness of the parcel
post IN IHlS way.
Joining Consumer and Farmer.
The first of these is to evolve more
satisfactory containers for eggs, but
ter, vegetables and other farm pro-
ducts desired to be sent directly from
the farm to the individuals kitchen
by way of the parcel post.
The second and more important step
to be takenAis the development of a
comprehensive system of telling con-
sumers where they can purchase with
In accessible distances the necessary
articles without going to the middle
man, and also of informing the pro-
Queer of the exact locations of indi-
vidual markets for the products.
A problem, the solution of which
bears directly upon the success of
both phases of this plan, is what ex-
perts call the Standardization of
supply"
1t is realized by the postmaster
general, as we'll as by the experts of
the department of agricult ure, that
in the absence of personal contact
between the producer and the con-
sumner, which now exists between the
housewife and the market man, 1t
will be necessary for the housewife
to know in advance approximately
the exact cost of the goods she is to
receive by parcel post.
In other words the farmer must
standardiZe his vegetables as far as
practicable; he must classify his eggs
and maint ain one quality for the but
ter from week to week.
Egg Containers Invented.
Mr.. Brands investigation in regard
to new type of egg containers have
hnn affa col LET al 1.oe
sixty types of containers, any one of
which he believes would meet the
needs of the situation. In the last
six weeks special agents of the Office
of markets have shipped more than
500 dozen eggs from various farming
districts to nearby centres of popula-
ton.
The investigation with regard to
egg containers was concluded in De-
cember. when represent atives of the
department shipped 146 dozens in ap-
proved types of containers ond only
nine of the eggs were broken.
These types of containers will be
described in detail in a coming bulle-
tin from the department. The con-
tainers are so inexpensive that it
would be practicable to throw them
away after the first shipment. but it
10 Skilu llidt l1Cs d y ~ odA aOtC 1AA1t
they may be made to serve for sew
eral shipments.
Another kind of container in regard
to which the Investigations have
given much satisfaction is one for |
butter. Mr.. Brand declares that types |
Of butter cans lacquered and enameled |
on the inside had been produced by |
can manufacturers which would solve |
the problem of butter transportation |
through the mails.
This container, Mr.. Brand said, also
will be SO cheap az to permit of being |
thrown away after being used once, |
but it will be possible to use it sew
sral times.