Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-31
PRODUCERS ARE
ASKED TO SEND
NAMES AT ONCE
List of Those Desiring to Use
Parcel Post to Be Made
Up at Postoffice.
GOING OUT FOR BUSINESS
Clerk in Local Office Named to Solicit
Shippers in Competition With
Express Companies,

| In the course of an interview given
out today, Postmaster Harry p. Simp-
son speaking of the purpose of the
postoffice department to extend the
facilities of the parcel post service
to the furthest possible extent in
order that the public may enjoy the
! fullest advantage of this feature of
( the postal service, said that special eff
forts would be maze by the Rock Is
! land postoffice in the matter of farm
produce.
| Rock Island as has heretofore been
/ stated. is one of ten postofficeS select
ed by Postmaster General Burleson for
I the Inauguration of this further extern
sion of the parcel post system, the OBJ
/ ject being to bring the producer and
the consumer into closer touch. Tt
this end the Rock Island postoffice
will endeavor to secure a list of pro-
ducers who desire to sell country pro-
duce direct TO the consumer, and
hence all farmers desiring to have
their names placed on the list ar
asked to forward them to the post
master at Rock Island, stating the
kind of produce they have for sale.
This produce is to be listed under
three heads: butter, eggs and general
produce. When a sufficient number
of names are received, they will be
compiled and printed. and distributed
upon application to persons who may
have use for the lists.
Parcel Post In General.
81 do not believe the patrons of the
parcel post are thoroughly familiar
rt-itt, he Full Of od
of the system" said Postmaster Simp- |
son, speaking in a general way. |
Apart from the innovation in farm |
products, they should consider the re-
duced postage rates, and the increased !
limit of weight effective the first OF
the year. together with othe. uodifi-
cations recently made for the yo-pose
of promoting the service to the pub
lie. Then, too, there are the insur
ance and C. o. ID. features among the
others. The regular parcel post rates
now apply to parcels weighing more
than eight ounces containing books,
and TO parcels of miscellaneous print
ed matter weighing more than four
pounds. while still later provisions ex-
tend the regular rates to seeds, plants,
etc.
1T is highly important and advant-
ageous to the shippers that care be
taken in properly wrapping and ad
dressing matter for mailing. This is
absolutely essential if the service is
to prove satisfactory.
Going Right After Business.
THE Rock Island postoffice is 60
ing after the parcel post business. in
the same manner that any carrying
agency does. To this end, l have des-
ignated one of the clerks in the parcel
post division to canvass the local
shippers for business. Charles w.
Fitch has been directed to call upon
the manufacturers, the jobbers. and
the merchants. and all others of this
city, who would likely patroniZe the
service, and in addition to soliciting
the business. explain the relative ad-
vantages of the parcel post over the
express business. and at the same
time offer such suggestions as may
be helpful TO postal patrons. Mr..
Fitch was for 10 years in the employ
Of express companies before coming
into the postoffice. and is welr quail
fed to discuss and explain the mani
fold advantages of the parcel post, and
he is instructed to go after the bust
ness and get it. j
we are here to serve the people at
the least expense. and with the great
est dispatch possible"