Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-02-07
TINE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LETTER
OFFICE OF PosTMAsTER-G GENERAL, I
WASHINGTON, ID. c. +

OFFICE OF PosTMAsTER-GENERA I
WASHINGTON, ID. G. +
December Il, 1871
Nh dear. Congressmdn:--lna answer
to your iRquiry for information as TO
the local parcel post on rural routes.
/ take pleasure In informing you that
in my assnual report l recommended
spch a service at the rate of five cents
for tho first pound and two cents for
each additional pound or fractional part
of an'additional pound up to IL pounds;
for ounces or less, cent; over 2
ouFees and up to ouneess.2 cents;
over 4 ounces and up to 8, 3 cents; over
Sand up to u ounces, cents; over IL
ounces and up to pound, 5 cents.
The object of this recommendation is
to enable the local merchants to hold
and increase their trade on the rural
route, and to give 30 the farmers and
patrons of these routes some of the ac-
commodatiOns which. the machinery of
the rural service, if properly utilized,
will permit.
II is the intention ofitbe Department
to frame b:n in such form that the
parcels will be limited to those origi-
mating at the post Office from which
the rural route emanates, and to con-
fine the service at this special rate to
such purpose. The question as to
whether the postage should be charge
able to the patron or paid by the retail
merchant who ships the goods is mere
ly matter of Arrangement OF uncer-
standing between the merchant and
his customer.
According to the bill proposed by the
Department. mail order house will
not be able to ship goods by freight
and forward the same by the special
parcel post on rural routes.
There are 3s:2l5 ,uraf routes in OPP
Grafton, supply ing about fifteen million
people, and even at the low rate of Z
cents a pound, or % cents for I pounds.
1t wonld oaly require three packages Of
maximum weight to be taken out each
TIP over these rural routes in ordor
TO wipe out the deficit of the posted
service. The increased cancellations
would raise the salary of postmastcrs
of the fourth class and the establish,
ment Of this service would finally be
instru mental in making the rural routes
self-sustaining. The rural service WILL.
In all probability. cost the Government
this year S3RO00,OO0 and yep the BEN
efts derived therefrom cannot be meas
ured In dollars and cents. A. local par
eel post on those rural routes would
be Of incalculsble benefit to the patrons
Of the routes as well as the local mer-
chants. 1t would tend also.in time to
bring about the improvement Of the
yoads TIN oughout the country and thus
add to the valusti Of the filrms with
the inreased' INSTRUMENTATION afforded
by the postal service and better roads.
The statement has been made that
this special rate on rural routes would
be the entering wedge for similar rates
on.the general parcefpost. That is I'M
possible. for the reason'that in the case
Of the general parcel post the trans
pertation by railroadsis factor which
adds very largely to the cost OF the
service, while in the case of the local
raral parcel post there arerno additions.
al expenses because the service 10 al
ready In operation.
faithfully yours.
tSIeSEp) GEO. voS L. NEVER.
Hon. j. r. RdRsdeli.
House Of Representatives.
Washington, d. c.