Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-30
SUGGESTS SCHEME
H. c. OF |.
B. C. MacKaye Would Use
Postal Service to Dis
tribute Produce.

Approximately 100000 annually
could be saved the people of WASH
ington by adoption of a direct plan
of distributing three staple farm
products-potatoes. eggs and butter
to purchasers through utilization of
a new proposed postal system of dis
tribution announced today by the De-
partment of Labor. The plan, as
proposed, would result in an annual
saving of about 100000 on each OF
the three commodities named, accord
ing to Benton c. Mackaye, it's origi-
nator. A report on the proposed
plan has already been submitted to
the fourth assistant postmaster gen.
eral and early action by the Post Of
flee Department is expected.
Distribution cost of the three staples
could be reduced from "a to 90 per cent
and the total cost or retail price by an
average of IS per cent, Mr.. Mackaye
said. This estimated saving of 26 per
cent is based however, on the aSsump-
ton that purchases can be made in
fairly large quantities-potatoes by the
bushcl, eggs by the crate ard butter in
50-pound lots. Where these products
have to be shipped in smaller lots the
aggregate saving would be less.
The plan, briefly. contemplates allo-
cation of a number of trucks by the
Post Office Department to definite food
routes in all directions f,om the Dis
trict of Columbia. The trucks would
pick up the commodities at various
points along their routes consigned to
persons. in Washington. who would call
at the city post office on delivery of the
product and market it themselves.
These postal marketing projects"
might well be worked out in one or
more of number of localities, Mr..
Mackaye said = in Montgomery
county, Md; in Virginia, southeast of
1ayi .l- in
Shenandoah river; in Fairfax county
| and elswhere The locality most
promising is in Fairfax county, Va,
Mr.. MacKaye believes. where plans
are already under consideration for the
development of farm colony
Plan for Distribution.
Distribution on arrival here of the
commodities could be handled through
any one of several organizations. Mr..
MacKaye suggests such organizations
as the Federal Employees Union and
other labor bodies, but says an or
ganization could handle the dis.-.o1 d
ton.
distribution Mr. MacKaye suggests
that Washington be divided into eight
cen market districts, to each of which
the commodities would be hauled by
truck. These city districts once or
ganized, he says. a close cooperation
rural supply units could be maintain
ed through the postal motor transport
service.
The Park View center in this city is
described by Mr.. MacKaye as an IDEAL
one for such food distribution. For
the purpose of community marketing
the local United States postmaster Is
named secretary of the distributing
agency. He then acts as the purchas-
| ing agent or selling agent OF the peo-
| pie forming the community.
A clearing house somewhere In the
central part of Washington could be
obtained, through which exchanges Of
the three staple products could be
made for meat and wheat.
Concrete engineering proposals for
| the cooperative development OF
few localities in and around a city
| like Washington. similar development
| for two or three other centers and ar
rangements made for exchange be-
tween them would constitute at least
| one constructive approach toward real
| izing the solution of the high cost of
living Mr.. MacKaqe siad.