New Britain herald., 1915-03-03


 divided into routes according to its size and geographical layout and one delivery team is selected for one par tlcular route only.
 When the goods have been carried by all teams to the central station, tn Q goods are sorted and each team takes those goods which are to be delivered in the territory of it's route, and inn mediately farts out delivering.
 This system is almost identical with the system of mail delivery in any city except that more deliveres are usually made. The average city sys- tenn is making four collections and four deliveries to every section of the city on regular days, and five or six on Saturdays and tne days previous to holidays.
 Your committee took up the study of this question and was able to gather through correspondence a great deal of information but the subject was of such importance and contained so many details that it was necessary for your committee to know, that it was felt that someone should inspect a number of these sys- tems which were in actual operation and, owing to the fact that I was to attend the national convention of the Chambers of Commerce of the United States in Washington, I was delegated to extend my return trip to take in several of these cities.
 The Mansfield System.
 There are many of these delivery systems through the middle and west ern section of the country, the ma jority of them being in cities smaller than New Britain. It was decided that I should cover three or four cities in Ohio and Michigan which were easiest to get at and which would consume the least amount of time. l, therefore, went directly to Mansfield, Ohio, from Washington
 Mansfield, Ohio, has a population of 23,OOO and has a central delivery sys- tenn under the name of the Ford De- livery company.
 It was formed as a strictly CO., operative company about ten years ago. The company consisted of eight members, all in the grocery or pro- vision business. Each member sub- scribed for one share of stock at s2OO and turned in one rig, that is, horse and delivery wagon, at a value an- praised by a disinterested party, and bought or received the difference as the case might be. The incorporators were to look after all the business of the company except that of the opera tion of the delivery system They were to provide and maintain the equipment and employ a manager to handle the operation of the teams. A piece price for delivery was inaug- urated the same being three cents on the delivery, this for groceries and for an amount up to one hundred pounds and for butchers up to fifty pounds The price was later raised to five cents as the first price of three cents did not pay.
 Soon after the organization was formed, stable was purchased for 5 ,O00, upon terms of $500 down and $500 per year. This system continued in operation in this manner until $3,OOO had been paid on the stable. Then because of increased business or changes in business, the members of the corporation did not themselves care to conduct their part of the sys- tenn, so it was decided to sell out to an individual, to be operated under stipulated conditions.
 Problems in Payment.
 The price per delivery had resulted in many of the members sending out boys or clerks to make deliveries when business was quiet and the weather good, this was to save de- livery charges. When business was or the weather bad they all turned in all their business to the De- livery company and overtaxed it's ca pacity. This resulted in the company having the least to do when it was best able to do it and the most to do when it was the least able
 After the sale to a private owner, the system of payment was changed to a price per week for all users. This