100 years ago: Consolidated delivery system proposed for downtown merchants

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 20, 1913:

  • “The Butcher boy and the Grocery boy are to be only memories in the minds of Lawrence housewives in the near future if plans that have been made for a co-operative Merchants’ Delivery are successfully put into operation in this city. And in the place of these two well known characters in the household drama will come a single person who is to take the place of the two and in addition to bringing the family groceries and the roast for dinner may leave a spool of thread or a yard of silk or maybe a pair of shoes when he calls in the morning…. The new System is to be known as the Merchants Delivery. It is a plan that has been adopted in a number of cities and has proven to be very satisfactory…. If the system is installed as is at present planned, about eleven teams and wagons and as many men will be required. Each man will have a regular route and he will collect his orders from the various merchants who come in and will make the delivery of his route, much as a mail carrier does.”
  • “The old fire engine is in commission again. Yesterday morning when the break in the water main on Massachusetts street left the city without a water pressure for fire protection, the old engine was rapidly overhauled and soon was ready in case of an emergency. The engine was drawn up into the stall usually occupied by the hose wagon and would have been put into operation should a fire have occurred on the main street. The cisterns on the street are all filled and with the engine in operation the firemen would have been able to combat very effectively an ordinary fire. Fortunately, however, there was no alarm yesterday and today the water pressure has been again restored in the city mains.”
  • “Prof. A. M. Wilcox, of the Greek Department, spoke to the students of the University in chapel this morning on the subject of Class Memorials. Prof. Wilcox suggested that each class purchase some piece of statuary and donate it to the University as a class memorial.”
  • “James Underwood’s face still looks natural, although a trifle disfigured, but even his best friends fail to recognize his manly voice in the lisping tones which now ooze through his lips. This may be a joke to the public, but it is no joke to Underwood. Sunday evening Mr. Underwood was cranking a car when he slipped and bumped his chin against the machine. The force of the fall was so great that his teeth cut clear through his tongue and his lower lip was badly bruised. Since Sunday Mr. Underwood has been living on liquid foods and is in no shape for an oratorical effort.”