The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-03
A GREAT REFORM.
The Parcels Post, or Government Ex-

press.
In England and continental Europe
the term Parcels Post" covers the
those light packages, too bulky for a
mail sack, which. are in this country sent
by express. Sir Rowland Hill, the pro-
moter of the Parcels Post" in Eng
land, performed a notable service when
he furnished the statistical information
that finally resulted in the establish
ment of a system that now transports
small packages through the govern
ment mail service, and the system has
been extended until all or nearly all
Europe now sends through government
agency nearly all those packages which
we are compelled to send by express.
In England the rates run from three
pence (six cents) pound (Our mer-
chandise postal rate on four pounds
or less is sixteen cents a pound) to
eighteen pence (thirty-six cents) for an
eleven-pound article not exceeding three
feet long Two pence flour cents) in
sures a parcel up to $25, and six pence
twelve cents) up to S125. In 1889
nearly forty million parcels were sent
through the English postoffice at a cost
to the people of about ten cents a par
eel, and SO we'll satisfied are officials
with the project that the manager Of
the London and Northwestern railway,
in a speech made in February, 1890,
said:
"The parcels post, compared with it's
elder brother, the letter post, is as yet
In it's infancy, but it has, at bound, be-
come one of the great institutions of
the country, and has fully justified it's
inception"
In Europe still greater progress has
been made. In Germany parcels up to
eleven pounds are carried within ten
miles for six cents, and beyond ten
miles any where in the empire for 1917
cents. Thus their charge is about the
same for a pound as ours for an ounce
Still more extensive is the operation
of the International Parcels Post, which
includes half the civilized world, out
side the United States Under it's oper-
alton, the carrying of an eleven-pound
parcel is but ten cents across each
country in the convention, and the en-
tire charge of such package from Ger
many to any Office in Egypt is but
forty-five cents. Sixty-five cents car
ries an eleven-pound package from
France or Germany to nearly any post
Office in South America. Three nations
of Europe alone sent over $4,000 900
worth of merchandise through the In
ternational Parcels Post, but we, who
allow few spread-eagle orators to
blow up our pride-bags on the Fourth of
July, are content to allow the express
companies to carry our packages at a
rate that is prOhibitive for all but the
most necessary business, and which
rate makes millionaires of the promo
tiers and tends to check a free inter-
change of products instead of promot-
ing it. But right here comes in the
most astounding evidence that our gov
ernment is controlled absolutely in some
of it's departments by these cormorant
corporations. An arrangement has been
made whereby an eleven-pound package
may be sent from CERTAIN GREAT
pOstOffices in the United States to any
Office in the West Indies, the Sandwich
Islands, Mexico and part of the South
American states for twelve cents a
pound, but if you want to send eleven
pounds to your mother in the next
county, the adjoining state, or across
the country to Oregon, you must pat
ronize the express company, and at a
cost that will vary from twenty-five
cents to several dollars. If your pack
age is less than four pounds the post
Office will carry It. for you at sixteen