Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
MERCHANTS TO CONSIDER
CURTA|L|NC DELIVERIES
Enormous Expense of Service to Be
Cut Down as War
Measure.
RELEASE MEN AND EQUIPMENT
Retail Association Meets Tonight
to Hear Report OF Committee
Which Has Consulted Economy
Board Of National Defense.

Definite action on the recommended
ton of the Commercial Economy Board
of the Council Of National Defense that
all unnecessary services shall be elimi-
mated in the retail trade. as we'll as in
other lines of business, Is expected TO
be taken by the retail merchants of
Richmond at n special meeting tonight
Merchants said last night that while
delivery service would probably be re-
duccd. in order that the 100000 men of
draft age now engaged in the delivery
of merchandise in this country could
be put to more important work, that
they would not make any radical
changes.
Retail grocers introduced to their
customers about two weeks ago re-
duced service. and since that time have
only been making two deliveries to
each customer daily. This action was
taken at the suggestion of the Council
of National Defense. The matter had
been further considered by a special
committee of the merchants. composed
of j. G. Corley. L. G. Schmidt. Gilbert
Grecntrce, Max j. Cohen and w S.
Rhoads. which conferred with the
Commercial Economy Board. This
committee will make it's report at the
meeting tonight, the report describ-
ing in detail the desires of the board.
WILL HAVE COOPERATION
OF BUYING PUBLIC
In following the desires of the gov
eminent. the merchants believe that
they will have the cooperation of every
citizen of Richmond when it is realized
that tho requests made are by necessity
and for patriotic reasons. The cnor-
nous number of men required for war
purposes. in the field and at home. will
necessarily mean that the retail deal
ers will have TO rely upon the trade
not to expect the many convenienceS
the merchants are now extending. In
order to assist the merchants in CO.
operating with the government in re-
leasing thousands of men, customers
are asked to:
Buy absolutely no mercha ndisc eS-
cept what you know YOU will keep.
Return no purchased goods after
forty-eight hours.
Expect only one delivery each day
Reduce the c. o. d. delivery to a
minimum.
Shop as early as possible, SO that you
will not have to wait on account of in
sufficient help at the now-existng
busy hours"
Settle bills on the terms they were
sold.
IL these requests are IuneEcu ", csiCll
shopper Will be doing his or her part
in helping the government to win the
war.
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
SENDS OUT STATEMENT
The Council of National Defense has
Just sent out the following letter:
I'm the present emergency it is alb
solutely necessary that the country's
resources be used to full advantage to
I, Ia
that all unnecessary services shall be
eliminated in retail trade as we'll as
in other lines of business. The Com
mercial Economy Board has made a
careful investigation of the economies
that are possible In the delivery SER
vice of retail stores. This shows that
a large number of men and vehicles
can be released for military or other
service that is essential to the vel
fare of the country.
The board points out. therefore
that delivery service In retail stores
must be very substantially reduced
Immediately by restricting the free de-
livery of small purchases, by elimi-
mating special deliveries. and by other
means. If possible, not more than enc
delivery day should be made on each
route.
There is such urgent need for men
country cannot endure the waste that
is occasioned by the accommodation
delivery of small purchases.
THE board has found. furthermore
that in numerous small and medium
sized cities and town central and CO.
operative delivery systems have re-
| suited in large savings. Less than half
OF the men and equipment are required
The board therefore recommends that
central or cooperative delivery sys
TENS should be introduced generally In
small and medium-siZcd towns.