The Republican journal., 1886-07-22
Liquids BY Mail.
THE NEW REGULATIONS OF THE POST OFFICE



THE NEW REGULATIONS OF THE POST OFFICE
DEPARTMENT.
For very long time petitions have been sent
to the post office department from business
men in different cities praying that the postal
regulations may be so modified that liquids,
under suitable conditions as 10 safety, may be
admitted to the mails. This has been done,
and hereafter liquids may he sent through the
mails if packed in accordance with the rcgula-
tons which have just been issued, and if not
ln1laminable, combustiblc, poisonous, or liable
to injurc the postal officials. The following
are the regulations:
Ordered, That sections 90, 223 and 224 of
the postal laws and regulations be and they are
hereby amended rs to read aS follows. and
all subsequent orders and regulations conflict
ing with this order are modified accordingly.
viz:
See. 222. luHable und Non-DoHable.-Li-
quids. except as hereinafter provided. poi>ons.
explosive or inlammablc articles live or dead
(and not stuffed animals, insects, or reptiles
Except as prescribed in the next sCction),
fruits and vegetable matter liable to decompo-
stion, comb honey. guano. or any article eN-
halln@ bad odor must not, under any circum-
stances, be admitted to the mails but liquids
not liable to explosion or spontaneous combuS-
ton or ignition by shock or iar (and not in
1lamlnabie, such as kerosene oil. naphtha. ben
Zlnc, turpcntlnc, and of like character) soft
soap, paStcS or contertons, Ointments, ~alvcS.
and articles OF similar consistency, may be nd
mltttd to the mails for transmission, within
the United States and Territories. when en-
closed in conformity with the conditions pre-
scrlbed in the next section. The provisions of
these regulations do not apply to packages or
parcels addressed to foreign countries now
prohibited from transmission by the acts OF the
Universal Postal Union OF any postal conveu-
ton or arrangement with any foreign postal
administration.
Sec 223. Irer0HtioaS .lyainH Iajaly IN
Mc .D"HS.--\rtices of the fourth class, not
absolutely excluded from the mails but which,
from Their form or nature, might, unless prop
erly secured, destroy, drface or otherwise
damage the contents of the mailbag, OF harm
the person of amy one engaged in the postal
service, may be transmitted in the mails when
they conform to the following conditionS
|. hen not liquid or Equitable, they must
he placed in BAG. box, or removable envelope
or wrapping, made of paper. cloth OF parrl-
mcnt.
,. Such bag, box. envelope, or wrapping
must again be placed in Il box or tube made of
metal or some hard wood, 18th Sliding clasp
or scrcW-lid.
B. In cases of articles liable to break the in
side box bar, cnNelopr, or Wrlpping must be
surrounded by SaWdr~t, cotton, or other elastic
substance
f. Liquids and oils (not exceeding four
ounces liquid measured, paStcS. salvc>, or urt-
rles easily Equitable must conform to the fol-
lowing conditions: Whcn in wlaS> bottle or
Nlas such bottles or Yial> must be strong enough
TO stand the shock of handling in the mails
and must hc enclosed in wooden or }apier
machc block or tube not less than thrcc-SiN-
teenhS Of an inch thick in the thinuc>t part
strong enough to support the weight Of mails
piled III bags and resist rough handling: and
there must be provided between the bottles
and its wooden ease a cushion of cork crumbs
cotton. felt asbestos, or some other absorbent
sufficient to protect the gla>, from shock in
handling; the block or tube to be closed bv a
tiyhtly-ftting >crcw-lid of wood or metal, with
a rubber OF other pad adjusted as to make
the block or tube Watcr-tiyht. and TO prevent
the leakage of the contents in case of breaking
of the glass. When enclosed i'll i tin cylinder,
metal case, or tube, such cylinder. case or tube
should have >crrW-il with Il rubber or cork
cushion inside, in order to make the same water
tight. and should be securely fastened in a
wooden OF papler-mache block (oprn ONLY at
one en,D, and not les in thickness, and strength
than above prescribed. Manufactures or deal
crs intending to transmit articles or samples in
considerable quantities should submit sample
package, showing their mode of packing. to the
postmaster at the mailing office, who will see
that the conditions of this section are carefully
observed.
). In ease of >harp-pointed instruments, the
points must be capped or cncI,cd SO that they
may not by any means be liable to cut through
their enclosures; and where they have blades.
such blades must be bound With Wire 50 that
they >hatl remain firmly attached to each other
and WITHIN their handles or sockets. Nee,iIr>
must pc enclosed in metal packages, 50 that they
rannct by any means prick through or pass
out o. their enclosures.
&. Seeds or articles not prohihitrd which
are liable from their form or nature 10 loss or
damage, unless specially protected, may he
mt iI, St,.l, I