With this preliminary, let us now comment on the table. Don’t side-step it because it’s figures--unless, of course, you’re some _hired man_ of the express or railroad companies. The total of express companies in the footing is that given in the census report for 1900. There are probably several hundred more now. The corresponding total given for the number of postoffices is correct for July 1, 1910. There are fewer postoffices now than in 1900, the establishment of rural route delivery having reduced the number greatly. The reader must keep in mind that the figures named in headings of the three right-hand columns cover a “delivery” charge in addition to the home-rate mailing rate for the countries named. This delivery charge was covered in the international agreements. If the reader will study that table a little he will learn several things. If we have one hundred millions of people in this country, there is an express office for about each 5,000 of them, while there is a _postoffice_ for about each 1,666 of them. There is an _express_ office to about every 175 _square miles of our territory_, while there is a _postoffice_ for about each 60 square miles of our territory. The reader will have no trouble to see by the table that, if he ordered an 11-pound lot of hose and shirts or phonograph records, photograph films or other goods from New York City for delivery in Chicago, he would get the goods by a properly served parcels post for just 97 cents _less carriage charge_ than he now pays the express companies. If he live in Los Angeles, Cal., he would get the goods from New York for $3.04 less. Even if he lived in Buffalo, N. Y., he would get those eleven pounds of goods from the metropolis of his state for _48 cents less than he now pays the express companies_. Be sure, however, to notice those three right-hand columns. You will observe that the Right Honorable John Bovine, an exporting merchant of London--or a _manufacturer_, if you please, of Manchester or Leeds, England--can send that 11-pound package to you in Chicago, Hot Springs, Fargo or elsewhere in the United States--_send it by mail_, which no American merchant or manufacturer can do--at from 90 cents to $3.00 _less carriage cost_ than the New York merchant can send it to you by express--_the only means our present laws and methods permit him to use_. Baron Von Stopper, an exporter of Berlin, likewise has a large advantage over the New York merchant in supplying your _parcel_ demands. Even Senor Greaser of the City of Mexico, can ship--_by mail_--eleven pounds of kippered tamales or sombreros to any point in the country, save ten states within short-haul range of New York City, and have an _edge_ of 30 cents to $3.23 over his New York City competitor in supplying your _parcel order wants_. Great, is it not? Fine system, is it not, to “protect _home industries_?” To build up “foreign trade?”