The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-12
Better Express Service
Campaign of Education Will Be
Started Monday Next-Ship-
pers Often at Fault.

With the purpose of bringing about
a sharp Improvement in the railway
express service a campaign will be be-
gun Monday in ali sections of the
country, ]. D. Jenkins, local agent
for the American Railway Express
Company, SAID yesterday. This cam
pai3n will be undertaken by the 1885,
900 men and wome1 employed in the
express business and their object will
be the raising of the standards Of
packing, Wrapping and marking eX-
press shipments. Express drivers and
CLERKS will be instructed to insist
courteouslv, but firmly, that the COM
pany's rules be complied with.
Mr. jenkins said yesterday that only
the express company knew Of the
great loss and trouble caused through
lac:: Of proper marks on packages.
The mo mark evil, he declared, was
serious and persons who suffer from
thei- own carelcssress have accused
the express company when the latter
was helpless It is the intention Of
the company, during its campaign of
education to attack this problem
vigorously.
Lack Of Identification marks is COM
bined with inferior twine and weak
cartons in causing a heavy wastage
each year Trunks and suit cases are
frequently offered with old marks still
plain. and because of this lack Of pre-
caution such baggage goes astray.:
Business men will be invited to lend
III on,,f
improving the express service and the
company feels that its campaign IS
going to yield results that are of di-
rect benefit to all concerned. start
express shipments right" is the slo-
gan of the campaign.
'It is an acknowledged fact that the
average American business man re-
CARDS satisfied customer as Il direct
asset to his business. He would do
nothing that might jeopardize his
good relations with that customer.
But if the goods he sent the custom
er arrive in bad order, if the contents
are damaged or pilfered because they
were exposed during the journey, or
if, may be, entire shipments are lost
because of inadequate marking or in
secure packing. the customer may not
wait long for explanation. but place
his business elsewhere" Mr.. Jenkins
said.
I'm such a case the payment Of the
claim by the express company does
not remedy the evil or serve to en-
courage more business. 1t is a costly
and unnecessary waste and both the
;hipper and the consignee are disap-
5oineed and disgruntled, while the ex-
press company itself is faced with the
necessity Of practically buying in the
Goods a general dissatisfaction with
the service is nevitable-and no one
IS the gamer.
I'VE believe that there is remedy
for this evil in the fact that the loss
of or damage to shipments can IN
many cases be attributed to the un-
safe condition il which it is tur led
over to the express company to han
lle.4 Experience has shown that
shiMnlent started right seldom Goes
wrong. Starting right means imply
that it has been securely wrapped and
packed, that it can stand up for itself
and is plainly and properly marked
not only with the name and address
Of the consignee.. but with those also
of the shipper The use Of Poor
quality Of paper or twine or inat.e!a-
tom to the condition of shipments
turned over to the express service is
something which we are trying to dis
courage. But nothing is more esen-
tial than the cooperation of shippers.
md as they are keenly concerned in
the matter, we are hopeful Of getting
them to help US