New Britain herald., 1919-08-15
MOTOR TRUCKS
HAS FOOD SUPPLIERS.

Y V in tile city, as we'll as money-malzing propesition ilplts own right, is being { nes and n)fe generally recognized. Itffkesafs~fo say that the time is I coming when we will depend upon an extended system of trucks for our table supplies, for the beef and eggs for which we are now paying so much and the farmer is getting so little. The middleman will be the truclfewner before very long and We will fad benefit. AS an experiment along this line. the Post Office Department. last year. planned forty routes and operated trucks over them in order to help the consumer to buy direct from the producer. It is said that the experi ment proved three things--increase profit to the producer. :. decreased prices for the consumer, and that the line itself might make :: profit. On specimen line, between McConnells- burg, Pa., and Philadelphia, the farmers increased their price on eggs from 28 cents to 40 cents a dozen. and yet the consumer in Philadelphia paid fifteen cents dozen less for his eggs than the grocers were getting. Other farm produce had the same history
 There are many farms about 
 connecticut that bear products that we might use in New Britain, for instance, if a line should be .estab :! lished out of here. It is common knowledge that the farmer upstate is getting very small amount for one dozen eggs and is only finding his market through grocer in the nearest town who gives him credit in trade for the eggs. He would be glad to sell his eggs for forty cents 8 dozen and would probably, be anxious to enter into contract to deliver all or ms supply to market truck which called upon him, say twice a week. It would not take long for the buyer to dispose of his goods in New Britain at fifty cents for the dozen, 1 giving him profit of twenty per cent. ! on the eggs, and, if enough were 1 handled, a mighty, good return beyond his truck expense. The readiness of the market would stimulate produc- tion in the farming districts within 1 a very short time. We believe that for one who takes the trouble to go l and who lets it be known where and l when he is going to sell his goods in 1 town, there is an opportunity for tEeI building up of 8 good business. He would have to go back into the coun- try for quite a distance in order to l get the stuff but it would be bought l just as surely as the supplies of the 1 packers are bought now
 As far as the United States is con- l cerned, the sum of s300,O0O has been 1 appropriated for continuation of the experiment.. Congress was asked for eight million dollars for the purpose. l but did not see fit to grant that 1 amount. According to Fourth As sistant Postmaster-Genera Blakeslee, l who is also responsible for the figures l on the PennsyIyania line, it is a sys- tenn that will lower prices, but this was overlooked in the general melee | at Washington.
 
 A, The packers find their greatest in- tluence in controlling the prices of l foed in the domination over the rail- roads,. It is by, this means that inc l small shipper is prohibited fron marketing his goods, even to nearby towns. A truck line would do away with the nailroad domination to some extent. l
 Finally, in the words of ssr. Blakeslee: a@ 1
 There are about 100,0 900 Army
 motor. trucks now standing idle in this country. By allowing
 those cars to stand in one spot we are losing about s4,oo0,oo0
 worth of tires in 30 days. could :, take those trucks and put them
 to work tomorrow earning money
 instead of losing it. | s1f the government will not take up the plan, will not private interests sometime do so? If there is money l to be made here-and it appears that fti1ere is-we have one of the most ! plcasant solutions of our troubles
 lower prices for producer and con- sumer and a profit for the man who