Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 207, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1913 — Express Company Decides to Fight the Parcel Post. [ARTICLE]

Express Company Decides to Fight the Parcel Post.

Officials and agents of the WellsFargo Express company struck a hard blow at the parcel post when they decided to fight the innovation of the government with its own weapon- low rates. It is asserted by officials of this company that other express companies are contemplating taking similar action in the war against the parcel post. In future city dweller who wants fresh butter and eggs upon his breakfast -table will, according to express officials, do well to consult the rate column of any express company^ Recently the express companies have created “an order commission and food products department.” The object of this department, according to the companies, is to “study the food problem from all viewpoints, to enlarge the order and commission feature of our business and to extend the company’s facilities to all without discrimination.” “The express companies have decided to fight the parcel post with its own weapon—low rates—” said L. F. Troja, industrial agent of the Wells-Fargo Express company. “The 25,000 employes of our company along its 90,000 miles of railroad track have been instructed to ascertain what kinds of shipments are obtainable from their offices, and to have shippeis apply for rates. “At the present time the express companies are willing to furnish rates on butter, eggs and cheese which will, enable the citizens of Chicago, and other large cities to ship in these commodities at a low price. ; ‘The companies are seeking to give 4 maximum weight for a minimum eharge of 35 cents per shipment, no matter what the distance. “For instance, the person who wishes to get English walnuts, prunes or other products from the Pacific coast may now obtain them for the lowered rate. “Perhaps the best way to make use of the cheap express rates is to form butter and egg clubs, agreeing to take at least thirty pounds at once of these commodities from one farmer. If these clubs are formed it will be easy for the express companies to have eggs selling in Chicago for 21 cents, which under ordinary circumstances would sell for 25 cents. Butter can also he purchased much cheaper by ithls means.” The express companies have arranged to inform farmers what farm products are * needed and where, and by this information bureau they will attempt to “beat the parcel post.”