Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-08
colisctions Of All Mail and Parcel Post
Delivery Made by Gas Wagons
Makes Saving Of More Than 100 Per
Cent Compared to Contract System
Previously Prevailing.
Especial Correspondence

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the cost per parcel more than so per
small items Of drayage and other
jobs Of great convenience to the Of
fee.
When Mr.. Praeger came to take
charge Of the Washington postoffice
he was struck by the discovery of the
was rendered under contract at 371s
cents a mile. There were two other
contracts, one Of % cents mile for
the delivery Of parcel post matter and
a third horse-tire contract for $5.94
per year per mount. These contracts
were inelastfc, since equipment en-
ployed under one contract could not
be used for any other work. This
limitation, plus the high cost, started
the ball to rolling. A thorough in
vestigation was inaugurated to learn
the cost Of operating "a feet Of auto
mobiles which would take over all the
collection and delivery service.
Nine Trucks in Use.
Experiment was begun only after
thorough and Independent investiga-
ton on the part of the postoffice de-
partment. Six trucks were bought,
number which has subsequently been
increased to nine. The cost per mile
Of this service has been reduced to
9.17 cents, more than cent under
the original estimate. This cost in
cludes a 20 per cent annual deprecia-
ton on the large trucks and 80 1-3
depreciation on the Ford trucks; It
also allows for the tire depreciation
and all other elements of cost, in
Guiding labor. Postmaster Praeger de-
clares that his method of cost ac-
counting Of the automobile delivery
service Is closer and more severe"
than would be conducted by any in
dividual, firm or corporation. He cal
culates that even allowing the usual
6 per cent interest on the money in
vested. the monthly cost would in
crease but trifing amount. The
cash outlay for the automobile equip
ment was $16,475 and for operation and
maintenance 1927. The screen wagon
service alone would have cost for the
same period $1,000 or more.
Saves Over 100 Per Cent.
"A careful record was kept by the
authorities Of the number of parcels
carried by government automobiles
and by contract automobiles during
the first five months Of the expert
ment. In November, last, for example,
the government automobiles carried
something over 5000 parcels at a
cost per parcel of 2.O6 cents: in the
same month the contract automobiles
carried more than $4,000 parcels at
a cost per parcel Of 6.S1 cents. The
lowest per parcel cost for the govern
ment machines was. 2.67 cents. and
for the contract automobiles, sos
cents. The average per parcel cost
for the government machines was sos
cents and for the contract automobiles
7.04 cents.
In a bulletin recently issued the
Washington postoffice gives set OF
figures showing the average cost and
performance Of the new automobile
delivery service. Inasmuch as this is
Of interest not only to postofrices but
to merchants who have inaugurated or
who are thinking Of inaugurating
parcel delivery service Of similar
character, this table is given in full:
Miles operated per month. II, 332.4
Hours Of service per month. 2,S7S.O6
Gasoline per month (gallons) 1,146.OO
OH, grease. parts and access
series per month .......... $4S.74
C,hanffeurs' salaries per month $685.
Garage rental per month";. 61.s1
Depreciation in equipment per
month 1854
Tire depre- ,at.or Der mon tn 1874
Cost Of service per month ..$1,2SS.49
Sacks and pieces of mail dis
patched per month ......1s,339.26
Sacks and pieces Of mail col
1ao&oH nor month liz. SSS.Sl
Parcel post packages delivered
per month f,S6.C
Carriers trips to routes per
month 5,57s.52
Bio Deficit In United States.
According to current talk here there
win be a deficit in the postonlce de-
partment this year. and It will take
many economies and efficiencies In the
service to reduce the deficit to a
minimum. It is claimed that this de-
plet;on IL revenue comes partly from
the parcel post and partly from the
falling of Of business due to the
European war. With reference to the
parcel post situation 1t should be said
that under present conditions the loss
is largely to be attributed to the fact
that the express companies carry the
most profitable business, while the
postoffice has to content itself with q
limited sphere Of activity. so limited
in fact, that It is not making what It
should. It has been suggested by
parcel post experts here that certain
changes In the present restrictions.
which could be made by executive
order Of the postmaster general, would
help the situation materially by bring
ing in enough revenue to put the post
Office department on q paying basis be-
yond the shadow Of q doubt.
His Unproiis;;SS::e=e4 os:.:e.