The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-09-12
minnesota efficient
AND ECONOMICAL
minnesota's Work in the War on the
Part Of those Who Are at Home
and in Business.

The great task that confronts the
people of our state during the war
is to gather up the loose ends and
join in united effort to eliminate
waste and the expenditure of useless
energy in carrying on a business in
any Line. The great effort has been
in the past of individual firms to
give their particular customers "ser-
vice." with little regard to the econ
omic waste where the several firms
in small or large community dupli-
cate their lines or in the delivery to
their customers.
The State Commission of Public
Safety has begun exhaustive investi-
cations in nearly all lines that affect
closely the economic problems of all
classes. The effort is made to do
full justice to producer, manufac-
turer and consumer with the one
idea of elimation of wasteful dupli-
cation and the resultant addition to
the retail price in order to pay for
"service."
In nearly every hamlet, village and
city there is an opportunity for a
great saving in delivery systems. In
many instances the business men ha-
We already caught the idea and COOP
Grated in employing one or two de-
livery men where heretofore there
were as many of them as there were
stores in the community.
The Commission has found that
the wrapping and delivery of bread
forms large per cent of it's cost
price to the consumer In the cities
we find great waste in the dupli-
cation of delivery Five or six milk
men can be counted serving custom
ers in one block each day.
To eliminate these expensive sys-
TENS of which these are but the ex-
ample Of many, is a task that can be
taken up in almost every community
in the state.
In many sections of the state there
is an over-abundance of fruit and
vegetables. To provide market for
sections where they are plentiful and
to supply those that report a. scar
city is also a problem that can be
| solved by many communities for
themselves. 1t is also another line of
activity for the State Commission in
an effort to secure the cooperation
of all sections to secure an equitable
distribution of foodstuffs that are
produced within our state and to pl-
ace surplus stocks in storage for fu-
ture use.
All of these things involve ''get
together" movement on any PROPOSE
tion, large or small, and it is easily
recognized as the necessary, the pa
triotic thing to do if we are to give
the best account of ourselves as q
community, county or state in the
discharge Of our war responsible
ties.
Many of these things are adjusted
readily when once the state of the
public mind becomes accustomed to
their necessity of a scale of lower
prices are to be brought about or
further increases are to be avoided.
The evils of wasted energy and ex-
pense of production, delivery, etc.,
are generally the result of public de-
mand.
The public must be educated to
work in cooperation with those who
serve them and to sacrifice the un-
necessary things for those that are
absolutely necessary for their we'll
being.
The State Commission has great
work before them along these lines,
it is necessary that every individual,
firm and corporation work with it in
complete harmony to bring about the
ehmation of extravaganza, duplica-
tion of delivery and wastefulness on
part of the consumer.
A great amount of information
has already been gathered for the
State that; bears on the subject of
high prices to the consumer and the
special committee of which Col. C. H.
March is chairman, is laboring faith
fully to arrive at conclusion that
will enable it to make a satisfactory,
intelligent and practical report. Co.
operation and information from all
sources is being solicited by this
! Committee, and the newspapers will
! be asked to give all publicity poss-
ible to the work and it's result.