The diamond drill., 1917-10-27
COSTLY DELIVERY
INCREASES PRICES
CRYSTAL FALLS MERCHANTS ARE
BURDENED WHIT
GOVT. MAY FORCE CHANGE
The Fixing Of Retail Prices Com
peIls Some CurtaiIment of
Local Expense

There has been more talk In Cry5
tai Falls about the expense OF deliver
ing goods of late than has been IN
evidence here for many day, and Il
looks as il the sentiment Is centering
about demand that retail prices OF
goods In Crystal Falls be fixed at the
merchants counter and that those
who want, delivery he made pay for
it, II the government persists in the
prices issued In last Wednesdays pa
pers merchants will simply have to
stop delivery at the expense OF the
public, or be prosecuted for violation
OF fhe governmental decree.
Margin Is Not Enough.
The public isn't at all times just to
retail merchants. retail merchant
must make profit. He's entitled I,
It. II he can't make something out
of his time and money he might bet
ter close up his store and go into
something else yes, work for some
other fellow and lei his employer take
the worry rather than himself
For, the past two years prices have
been rising and the local retail mer-
chant has been cursed for many
things that he isn't responsible for.
II was given out that the govern
ment had agreed that margin OF 20
per cent was necessary for mer-
chant to do business upon. but in the
prices published on Wednesday the
margin was not 20 per cent or any
where near that amount
Many people in Crystal Falls got a
wrong impression from those prices,
and in contrasting them wrh the To-
cal ripces they Immediately came
to the conclusion that the local mer-
chants are "robbing US, as we heard
many say
Now. The Diamond Drill has cen
sured the local merchants when Il
feels that they needed censure. but In
the present instance we are OF the
opinion that the merchants are not
deserving OF eensure They are do
ing AZ well as they know how un-
der very trying conditions
Must Change Delivery Charges.
On one point only are they weak
and that point Is one that has been
wished upon them; one upon which
they haven't the courage to stand up
fresolutely and shake the yoke on. That
point is the expensive delivery system
that they maintain A. We have said
| they maintain II because the people
have in a manner. demanded IL and
to cut loose at once isn't as easy as
! IL might seem 10 some one outside the
business who thinks he can run q
store better than the man who has
the prothem upon his hands
II Is very certain that some move
will have 10 be made by our local
mdfchanis 70 shake of this overhead
caused by the delivery system II the
government goes ahead with its pro
gram. and II Is quite certain that Mr.
Hoover intends to do So
There are Two methods IN use 10
aiIsbrbine delivery charge One q
! for The merchants 10 cooperate and
Join In a central delivery The othc
a for them to contract their delivery
charging a certain percentage addi-
tfonal upon All delivered goods Thi.
latter plan gives the storekeeper tho
opportunity to make two prices .
his customer. a delivery price. or
price at the counter.
| We have heard more among GU
merchants about solving this deliver
problem the past few weeks than W.
have heard in years and II looks as "
the agitation will result in something
being done.
Mr.. John Tufts says that he would
welcome any change that would alb
solve him OF the delivery charge. The
problem OF caring for the locations T.
the one that bothers him the most
Mr. Andrew Ostrand Is skeptical on
being able TO make prices at the coun
ter on account Of the extra clerical
help required 10 tab mp the different
\ sales
Mr. u W. Ross says that IN hts
opinion the government regulation
win compel the merchants 10 cut Off