The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-21
FARM PRODUCTS BY MAIL,
BURLESON AMENDS PARCEL,
POST RULES TO AID CON.
SUMERS.
Express Crates May be Used-Pack-
ages Weighing Not More Than so
Pounds May 60 Direct to City Kitch-

Washington, March 16.-Postmas-
ter General BurlesOn, by amending
the parcel post regulations, announced
today the establishment of a farm
products post" which can be utiliz-
ed by farmers and truckers for the
shipment Of crates or boxes of butter,
eggs, vegetables and dressed poultry,
weighing between 20 and SO pounds,
directly from the farm to the city
kitchen.
The new service is provided only
for the first and second zones-ap-
proximately $50 air line miles. Under
the new regulations. boxes and crates
similar to those used in the express
service, when packed with farm pro-
ducts. will be carried outside the
mail bags and will be promptly de-
livered to the city consumer.
The farm products post" is Great
ed for the purpose of opening up a
cheap marketing avenue between the
trucker and the city consumer, with
the view Of reducing the cost of table
necessities in the populous centres
Investigations show that food pro.
ducts. for which the farmer receives
1924 on his farm, are retailed in the
city for $5.55 under the present mar
keting system. 1t is the idea Of the
postoffice and agricultural depart
ment experts, who have been study
ing this problem, that the farmer will
accept $4.25, postage prepaid, for the
articles Of food which he sells to the
commission merchant for approxi-
mately 1924 and for which the city
consumer pays $5.55. II he does, the
city consumer will save about $l.25
on every market basket
The postofflce department declares
that the new regulations should prove
q boon TO farmers and truckers"
Under the old regulations the crates
and boxes of farm products had to
be securely packed and Of such linn
tied size SO they could be placed in
mail bags. Under the new reguia.
tions the ordinary crates used in the
express service for butter, eggs, fruits,
berries. vegetables. dressed poultry
and other articles will be accepted,
provided, Of course, the maximum
weight Of these crates is not over SO
pounds. Packages under 20 pounds
must be securely packed so that they
can be handled in mail sacks with orr.
dinary mail.
The farm products post" will bring
the truck fields of the Eastern shore
of Maryland and Virginia and the
farms of Frederick. Carroll and York
counties in Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania and the Valley OF Virginia to
the Kitchen doors OF Baltimore. John
c. KQons, chairman Of the parcel post
committee of the postoffice depart
ment, who is a native Of Carroll coun-
ty, Maryland, recently declared that
enough garden truck and fruit rot in
the Maryland counties to feed Balti-
more city.
He said the truckers have no easy
and quick transportation method of
reaching the city kitchen and permit
the garden truck not used to go to
waste. 1t is believed by Mr.. Rooms
that should these truckers be able to
utilize ordinary crates for shipment
of vegetables to the city consumer
much of what otherwise would waste
will be sent to the city for consump-
tiOn.
Following the establishment OF the
farm products post" steps must be
taken to get the trucker and city con-
sumer in business touch with each
other. The suggestion is made that
Baltimore newspapers open farm
products post" column on their want
ad pages. in which the farmer can adj
vertise his products or through which
the city consumer can seek q trucker
with whom to make contract for
the delivery Of market crates Of
vegetab ables.