Cañon City record., 1901-12-05
HINTS ABOUT XMAS
MAIL MATTERS

getting ready to handle the business
in the best manner possible.
On being questioned about the
matter, the postotfice employees say
the Christmas business has already
begun. 1t is first felt in the money
order department. Many foreigners
send money back home for Christmas
presents, and this was begun last
week and continues over next.
Money is sent from Canon City to
almost all the European countries,
but the three countries, Italy, Austria
and Sweden, get more than all other
foreign countries together. Brook
side people and the coal camps send
lots of money to Italy. The smelter
people send money to Austria and a
good many residents send money to
Sweden.
The package business will begin
this week and continue right up to
Christmas. In fact many Christmas
packages we're mailed in the Canon
City postoffice last year on Christmas
day and afterwards. In many in
stances the parties had probably writ
ten in advance, telling the distant
relative or friend what was being
sent, and when Christmas day came
and no package naturally sup
posed the postmaster at his Office
had that package hid away some
where.
One of the greatest troubles with
the Christmas business is that people
do not mail their presents early
enough. In ordinary times it usually
takes a package day longer to go
across the country than a letter.
And at Christmas times when the
mails are full and everybody in the
mail service is buried yards deep
under packages it is well to allow two
or three DAYS longer than for ordi-
nary letter mail if the matter is to go
far.
Most people do not appreciate the
Importance of wrapping packages
securely. 1t should be remembered
that all mail matter is carried in bags.
They are crammed full and piled up
on top of each other. They are ham
mered around and jammed about
worse than baggage.
The mail is the best way in the
world to send packages If they are
properly put up. But everything
breakable should be in wooden boxes,
and all else well wrapped and tied.
Don't trust to light twines or rubber
bands They may become broken
and your package lost.
Everything Of . valuable nature
should be registered. This insures
safety and better care. and brings
you receipt from the one who gets
the package or letter 1t costs only
eight cents additional to register any
article.
The sender's name should be on
every article mailed.
Every article should be weighed no
and fully smped before it is mailed.
No packages are sent out from the
postoffice unless fully prepaid They
are held at this office and the ad-
dressee notified to send the required
postage. This explains why many
people do not get their Christmas
presents in time.
Most Christmas PACKAGES go at the
rate of one cent for each ounce
This applies to all merchandise
Books, photographs and printed mat
ter go at two ounces for one cent.
Do not put writing in with pack
ages. All packages are suppo osed to
be opened and rated up. 1t cost one
Canon City lady ten dollars for send
ing letter in with a small package
recently.
Do not seal the package or stick
the stamps over the strings. That
makes it first-class, and goes at letter
rate. Some books recentlv came to
the Canon City Office. The sender
had unthoughtedly pasted the stamps
over the strings. The package could
not be opened So the postoffice
where he matter was mailed weighed
it up, rated it out at 2 cents an ounce
and had about 80 cents due marked
on it. This frequently occurs with
smaller packages. Everything sealed
goes at 2 cents for each ounce-let-
ter rate.
During the Christmas rush people
who have packages to he weighed up
can best be accommodated at the
postoffice in the morning. They can
also be sure of getting their packages
off that day. Last year for a week
tefore Christmas the afternoon jams
at the Office were very great.