The Cecil Whig., 1916-12-02
WOULD CUT
LIVING COST

that the Federal Government will un-
dertake extensive experiments with
the parcel post for the purpose of
trying to develop it into an effective
weapon of attack upon the high cost
of living.
The first step along this line will be
taken when the parcel post experts
of the Postoffice Department and the
marketing experts of the Agricultural
Department will hold a conference to
formulate some comprehensive plan
by which the parcel post can be more
easily utilized as a food-product con-
veyer between the rural producer and
the city consumer. When the plan is
worked out it will be tested in large
cities like New York. Baltimroe and
Washington, and probably in several
smaller towns of about 100000 in pop
ulation. If the scheme works we'll,
Congress will be asked for funds to
defray the cost of establishing it
throughout the country.
Funds Now Available.
The Postoffice Department. for the
first time since the parcel post was
established, four years ago, now has
at its command funds for making
comprehensive tests for the develop
ment of this service The sum of
$4,000 was put in the last Postoffice
Appropriation bill to be used in ex-
perimenting with the parcel post as a
transportation agency between the
farm and the city. and in view of the
acute situation which has arisen over
high prices of food in cities it has been
decided that now is the psychological
time to develop Uncle Sans pony
express into a genuine and effective
transportation a"enCy for food pro-
ducts between the consumer, if this
can be done.
Postmasters in % cities, Baltimore
being one of them. were directed at
one time to get out printed lists to
farmers who had things for sale by
parcel post These lists were then
distributed throughout the cities by
mail carriers. Considerable traffic
was developed by this plan, but lately
it has fallen off.
Problem To Bring Both Together.
"Any plan we may formulate" said
high Postoffice official, must be
more or less educational, and pro-
gress may be slow. However we will
be greatly aided by prevailing high
prices. The trouble in our efforts in
the past is that we could never get
the producer in the country and the
consumer in the city in close business
relations. Our plans this time will
involve, among other things, the send
| ing out of Government experts who
will personally interview the producer
and the consumer. and thus bring
| them together In the past we never
had any money to pay the expenses of
such missionary work.
For instance. our agents will make
arrangements to address meetings of
| oranges in the surrounding counties
and the farmers will be asked to CO.
| operate. In the cities these same
| Government agents will talk to wo-
| mems clubs and other organizations
interested in this great problem of re-
duclng the cost of living. By direct
| touch we believe we can bring a
group of farmers into communication
with group of city consumers.
Success Depends On Price.
"Of course. the success of the whole
E1oyement depends upo nthe farmers
Willingness to sell his products to the
city consumer at or little more than
the price he sells to the wholesaler,
plus the cost of packing and postage,
Our agents will also show the far1
and the city consumer how easy it is
to pack eggs for shipment by parcel
post. Few people really know how
easy this can be done. We believe
also We can develop a plan by which
potatoes in small quantities can be
shipped.
"These experiments will embrace a
number Of other things. For instance
the rural routes running out of city
must be inspected for the purpose Of
determining how much of this food
traffic it can handle. 1t can be readily
seen that big traffic would soon
cur my