The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-24
Burleson's Experiments In Ten
Cities Show Big Increase in
Use Of Parcel Post.
DAMAGE PERCENTAGE LOW
Perishable Goods Are Handled
Quickly-Lack Of Contain
ers q Drawback.

WABH1N0rON, Aus. w.-Postmaster-
General Burleson's trial Of tho parcel post
as n direct vehicle OF exchange between
farm producers and urban consumers In
the ten cities designated last March has
been concluded and a review OF the rs-
ports from tho selected communities indi-
Gates that the new service has been en-
Enthusiastically welcomed by tho public.
The farm to city service In the
opinion of the Postmaster G General and his
subordinates, hss come to stay They ex-
press the view that It's utility has already
been proved and base their hopes for con-
tinued Increase and development on the
improvements being made and the
numerous inventions OF more convenient
and cheaper containers daily being put
upon the market
Cities chosen for the trials were wash
ington. ST. LOUIS, Boston, Baltimore. At
lanta, Birmingham. san Francisco, Rock
Island Ill; Lynn, ass, and La Crosse,
Wis.
Careful accounts kept by the Railway
Mail Service have brought out that the
rate of damage to farm commodities in
transit 10 less than one-tenth of 1 per
cent. and yet one OF tho chief difficulties
pointed out by the official critics OF the
system has been damage to goods.
Improper packing 10 held responsible for
vast majority OF tho damage oasca
Along this limo, however. thero has been
sought and attained tho cooperation of
the ofioe Of markets OF the Department Of
Agriculture. Il u pointed out by the
Postmaster-0ene THAI SUCCESS along the
limo Of eliminating thoee rtslts has been in
direct ratio TO tho activity with which the
campaign to enlishten the public has been
conducted.
psrtsh \ hY~ GnoNu Fail or
Sh,pmen, OF tho more perishable com
modlties. such as dressed poultry. butter
and similar articles. fell off during the
summer months. From eight to twenty
four hours must elapse between despatch
and delivery and this has proved to be
too long in the midsummer season. Tho
postmasters reporting generally agree that
traffic in these commodities will be re-
stunned with the return OF sustained cooler
weather in the fall, with material In
creases in the winter months.
At Atlanta the farm 10 table service
has grown rapidly and has compelled ex-
press companies TO mako better rates and
improve their facilities. according 10
Postmaster Boiling II. Jones' His report
continues:
Missionary work Il showing its TO
suits Though tho system is still In an
experimental stage there is rapidly
growing appreciation OF It's commercial
value. The principal difficulty confront
ing the shipper Is that of obtaining suit
able receptacles. duo largely TO the alb
sence OF information az to where. how
and at what prices the containers may he
obtained"
Alabama farmers responded promptly
after Postmaster #. II. Aldrich Of Biz
mingham announced that the parcel post
would be available as a medium Of direct
exchange with Birmingham consumers.
on July 2s tho list OF producers anxious
70 take advantage of the new postal facil-
ity IN birmingham contained +s6 names.
on that date the hampers and packages
coming direct from the farms and passing
through the Birmingham Office were aver
aging seventy-five a day.
Deliveries are made promptly here"
says Mr. Aldrichs report. both produ-
GERS and consumers look with favor on
the service. We have complaints that the
mail trains do not stop at small stations.
where a great deal OF produce is raised
There are not many truck growers in
this district. Few have ever had a mar
ket for butter. eggs and garden truck
that was at all available. and these peo-
pie are slow to accept innovations We
are encouraged to believe. however, that
IL the movement is persevered In II will
have very favorable results"