El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-09
CUTTING COST
Of DELIVERIES
Government Investigates
Cooperative Delivery
and Favors It.

"A study Of cooperative delivery
systems undertaken several months
ago by the commercial economy
board Of the council Of national de-
fence has shown that such systems
have commonly saved from 80 to SO
percent in investment and operating
costs as compared with the individual
systems replaced" said Maurice
Schwartz, general manager Of the
Popular. The first results Of the in
vesigation, covering cooperative sys-
tens in A cities and towns. have
just been made public by the board.
together with a number Of practical
suggestions on installing similar sys-
tens
"Of the A cities and towns studied
the board found that the cooperative
plan has been a success in 30, a fail
ure in five, and doubtful as TO results
IN u. largely because the systems in
the u places mad only recently been
installed These cities ana towns are
located in 20 differen- states. and
range in population from less than
luuO to more than 100000.
Big Savings Effected.
In one city of 1900 population Il
wagons were found to be doing the
~ NA n ~ 4AAAAA A44AGE the O4A system Ee-
CURED 20. One grocer in a town Of
1000 had cut his delivery expense
from Sl63S TO S8O6 a year. A mer-
chant in another town reduced his
delivery expense from S675 TO 1924
month Eleven stores in another
place reported an annual saving Of
5000. In one city nine wagons re-
placed Il, and in another II men, II
horses and one car replaced p men,
% horses and four cars
The savings generally did not
mean less service 10 the public. In a
number Of instances the service was
actually increased The public got
the benefit Of the saving in cheaper
prices
several factors, the board states,
contribute TO the saving which gen
orally results from cooperative de-
Iiveries Depreciation charges on
vehicles are generally reduced, pe-
cause. instead Of several wagons OF
trucks covering a single district a.
the same time, one does lne Nol n ~
place OF several complete ecu pm ems
ono will do. Wagons are likely 70 90
out more fully loaded More oellVeIless
are made per mile Of driving Several
suDervisors are replaced by one
unified and more economical planning
of routes is made possiole-
Suggestions to Public.
Five suggestions are made BY the
board on installing cooperative sys-
TEN. They are intended TO help mer-
chants who are not experienced IN ol-
ganiZlnE and carrying on cooperating
deliveries TO avoid the pitfalls when
have generally been the causes OF
failure
FIRST. the board says. particular
pains should be taken 10 secure I'M
partial valuation OF the eQulpmehl
turned over by the cooperating mer-
chants. In some cases old harness
and wagons have been given IN az
figures Tar exceeding their true
worth system in which this sort
Of practice is possible at the outset
naturally works under disad-
second. the board suggests that
merchants planning TO cooperate CON
side~ the advisability OF establishing
be brought in. and where all the
business Of the system can be con- 1
centrated-
suggests Using Care.
THE boards third suggestion IS 4
hat all details connected with C. o. d. ]
7rders be worked out with great 3
are. This is one Of the most i'm I
lortant problems 1t requires Tor ITS 4
solution responsible drivers, a spe- I
,iaI accounting system. and definite I
igreement with merchants as TO Wnen
hey may expect returns
Fourth. there should by all means.
he board declares. be a competent
Executive in charge Of the work
Above all things needed for the sue
.ess Of a cooperative system is good
mana cement.
The fifth suggestion IS that when
cooperative system takes over de-
livery work for any m ss,Eant. under
he usual plan of a flat charge for
it should be clearly under
TODD that all deliveries are to be
.andled through the cooperative sys-
EN- and that there are to be no sepa-
ate deliveries by the merchant.
Public Is Interested.
Since the board last June recon-
lended cooperative delivery systems
IS correspondence has indicated a
vide and growing interest in them,
Ot only from merchants, but from
he public which realizes their value
n saving. II is now working, either
through the state council Of defence
r directly with business men in a
considerable number Of communities.
n establishing such systems or in
reasinE the number Of merchants
anticipating in those already estab-
.shed.
The recommendation was issued az
war measure It's primary object
-as TO help make il unnecessary for
elivery men who join the army and
avy to be replaced by Ten who are
eeded IN munitions making. farming.
hip building. railroadinC. mining, or
ono oHnar. vital f~Hrre4r---