The Washington times., 1914-08-28

| To the Editor Of THE TIM.
| In your issue OF August 21 I read a
long article from Mrs. Flora Mcdonald
| Thompson taking our postmaster to
task for his efforts to reduce the cost
of living. Mrs. Thompson may have a
viewpoint that I know nothing about
from which she expects to. lay out a
plan. In her theory she may be cor
! rect, but I wish to indorse the efforts
of our postmaster in doing just what
he is doing to reduce the cost of living.
In his defense I wish to give my ex-
| perience. void of all theory, just as II
| occurred.
A few weeks ago 1 mailed a postcard
\ to our postmaster asking him to send
me a list of producers who had their
| products for sale. I got a list of quite
| a number with their postoffice address
| in the States lying near Washington I
wrote to a number Of them, asking
their price on what they had for sale.
Nearly every one answered my ques-
tions in a few days, their prices orten
quite different for the same kind of
produce. My first order went to
widow in Hanover county. Va. for
Irish potatoes. lima and string beans;
onions. roasting ears, tomatoes. and
Cucumbers. On this order l saved 25
per cent from the price given me by the
retail merchant had been trading with.
TO say nothing about the goods being
fresh from the ground the day before.
Ny second order was TO a farmer in
Culpeper county. Va. where l found
bargain in a two-bushel sack of Irish
potatoes. These l had shipped by
freight. and saved . cents on the
bushel after paying the freight. My
next venture was an order to farmer
in Loudoun county. Va. for butter and
eggs at . cents a dozen for eggs and
25 cents a pound for butter. After using
the first lot of eggs and butter. con-
sistinG of two dozen eggs and two
pounds of butter. and finding no fault.
I gave him a standing order for like
amount each week at the same price
until October l. Ne has filled the order
for the third time and | have not found
any cause in the least to complain. Bs-
ing less than forty miles away. he says
he sends the eggs the next day after
they are laid. The butter is equal to.
If not better. than what I have been
paying 80 cents for to my retail mef-
chant. From another farmer in Cul-
pepper county | have bought in the last
few DAYS dressed chickens at - cents
a pound delivered by parcel post. and
country-cured hams at IS cents pound.
thus making another reduction in the
cost of living.
\ thousand thanks to Postmaster
PraeEer Tor MS eUOrtS IN extending lHt
parcel post and putting the consumer in
touch with the producer. II the patrons
of his office who wish to reduce their
cost of living will ask him for list OF
those who have the articles for sale
they want and will then write TO them
for their prices as I have done, they
will soon find that they can save money
and get fresher goods through the |
of the parcel post. regardless
Of Mrs. ThompSon's Housewife theory |
| give my wife great credit for help
ing me TO reduce the cost Of our living. |
We have been married forty-two years 7
and during all that time she has done
her own housework and takes great
pride and pleasure in II. She would not |
have the best servant in Washington
If she would work for nothing. In |
this she plays a large part In reducing
our cost of living. This Is no theoret
iCaI nrOhlem but one founded on facts |
which can be demonstrated by figures.
CLARK ARNOLD.