Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-12
URGES PARCEL POST
 SHIPMENTS OF FOOD.
Postmaster Murphy Receives Circular
 Letter from Postoffice Department.

Postmaster John P. Murphy has re- ceived a circular letter from the post office department which urges more parcel. post shipments of food products. The letter reads as follows:
 In view of the high prices of food products now prevalent throughout the country, it is desired that you adver-
 tise and advocate in every way practi- cable the facility offered by the parcel post for the shipment of farm products directly from the producer to the con-
 sumner.
 Investigate thoroughly this matter as it affects your city and be prepared to advise patrons and civic organiza- tions in an intelligent and helpful man.
 ner. Compare tho prices received by
 the farmers within the second zone of your office for butter, eggs, fresh meat and other farm produce with the prices paid for these commodities by your patrons. The difference fs the present
 bringing these food products from the farm to the table. Compare this cost
 on various articles with the parcel post charge on identical shipments
 (both in small lots and in 50-pound packages). This difference, in each case, is what may be saved on a com modity by those who go to the trouble of making an arrangement for securing food supplies by parcel post.
 Farmers within the first and second zones should be inspired by the al- most unlimited opportunity to expand the business of producing and selling butter, eggs and such meat and vege- table products as your investigation shows ca nbe shipped in that way with a sufficient margin of profit. They should be cautioned, however, that this business cannot be developed and
 maintained unless they are willing to share liberally with the customer in the city the saving which is effected by parcel post shipment. Farmers must be brought to understand that the city customer in dealing with them by mail foregoes the advantages of credit, personal inspection of goods and immediate delivery, and that he naturally cannot be expected to deal bp rarcel post unless he can be. as- cured of better products at less price.
 Excellent arrangements may often be made between individual consumers or cooperative buying clubs in the city and country storekeeperS who re- ceive farm produce by barter or pur- chase. Prices un6er these arrange ments may be no higher than those established under direct arrangements with farmers, and there is more assur- ance of continuous supply and stan dard quality. You may secure valua- ble assistance in reaching the atten- tion of the country storekeepers and individual farmers as well by com municating with some of the fourth
 
 The city consumers who are patrons of your office should be impressed with the great advantages that may be se- cured from satisfactory arrangement with a reliable farmer under which food supplies will be received at reg ulaf intervals in fresh condition and at reasonable prices. They should be encouraged to persist in the effort to make these arrangements and not to b ediscouraged by one or more att tempts in which the farmer communi- cated with is unable to give the ser vice desired.
 This whole matter is one in which agricultural and civic organizations are to interest themselves and you should therefore make an ener- getic effort to enlist the cooperation of such institutions in a practical cam- paign to reduce the cost of living in your city by inducing direct shipments of food products by parcel post. Those who represent such institutions should be informed that these direct ship ments of food products not only result in economy to those receiving them but also exercise a salutary moral in huence in deterring shippers and deaI- l CTS from entering into oppressive com- l binations for the advancement of | prices. |
 The bureau will be interested to re- ceive suggestions based on your ex- perience in this campaign, and a re- | port of the results obtained.