Note 423 — III THE RATE FOR PARCELS

"The department believed and still believes that the parcel post, in time, will become an important factor in improving and cheapening the food supply of the great cities. Hence, on March 25, 1914, twelve of the large post offices were designated for special test of a farm-to-city service. Farmers were invited to register their names and designate the commodities they desired to sell. Lists of farmers and of the articles each offered were then printed and distributed by the carrier force. The results exceeded expectations; shipments of country products at the twelve offices named so materially increased that now eighteen additional offices have been named for similar exploitation of the farm-to-city service. The department's preliminary experience warrants the conclusion that direct shipment of food products that are consumed substantially in the same form in which they are produced offers practical possibilities of reducing the cost of living."—Report of Postmaster-General, Washington, 1913-14, p. 12.