Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-02
CUT DELIVERY AS
WAR AID ADVlES
DEFENSE COUNCIL
NATIONAL BODY RECOMMENDS
CURTAlLING Or STORE SER
viCE-WANT U. S. TO TAKE
OVER WORK.


That merchants will perform a val
liable service to their country in the
present war crisis ii they VIII cut
delivery service 10 minimum. releas
ing many vehicles for needs of war
service, as well'a many men lsr SER
vice. u. the text Of an appeal which
} has been received by leading Ottawa
merchants and business houses from
the Council of National Defense.
The appeal comes direct from the
commercial economy board of the
Council OF National Defense. and is
az follows.
I'm the present emergency it is alb
solutely necessary that the countrys
resources be used to full advantage
to aid in carrying on the war. This
requires that all unnecessary services
shall be eliminated in retail trade as
! well as In other lines OF business. The
commercial economy board has made
careful investigation OF the ocono.
mics that are possible in the deliv-
cry service of retail storss. This
] shows that a large number of men
and vehicles can be released for mil
itary or other service that is essential
to the welfare OF the country
"The board points out. therefore,
that delivery service in retail stores
j can be very substantially reduced
Immediately by restricting the free
delivery OF small purchases, b. elm
mating specia. deliveries. and by
other means II possible, not more
than one delivery day should be
made on each route.
"The board urges, furthermore,
that the acceptance Of returned goods
be reduced to an absolute minimum,
and that all non.essential operations
in each store be eliminated
There is such urgent need for men
and equipment in other work that the
country cannot endure the waste that
Is occasioned by the abuse of the re.
turned goods privilege and accom-.
mediation deliveries of small pur.
chases.
we trust that we may have your
cooperation in making these correc-
tions immediately effective These
! changes in delivery methods should
] be introduced as early as practicable
/ certainly not later than Aug. l. 1917
The board will use every resource
at its command. including the coop
! Grafton Of the state councils of de
Tense, to assist in making these
changes effective
! TO meet this suggestion OF the com.
mercial economy board. the Dry
Goods Economist offers a plan where.
by the government take over the de
livery OF all packages. along the line
Of the present parcel post system. 1t
II pointed out that delivery sys.
tenn has already been established by
the pCstoifice department., and that
II would be able to take over the de-
livery vi pdNhu5SS ioI ntoiNp iHticiN
BY an Increase OF the working force.
This increase would be small N com
parisOn to forces now maintained by
stores collectively In that each store
ID compelled to cover the entire city.
n The delivery of purchases thru the
mail was recently tried out with sas
isfactory results by the Kaufman,
department store in Pittsburgh. Pa,
during strike of their wagon men,
II Is announced that Postmaster
General Burleson has given notice that
II merchants will submit to his depart
ment request for local delivery of
merchandise that he is willing t.. give
the matter serious consideration Hc
Is strongly impressed with the eur.
tailment which could be made in the
number of vehicles and men employed
He points to the survey made In
Washington by the department of In.
Dor, which showed that notwithstand.
Ing the excellent pavements and the
general use of automobiles in that
\ city, actual cost OF delivery OF goods
R was not less than eight per cent Of
\ the value of the goods sold and de
livered.