The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-02-15

having QenVery by carrier. After
the organization of a parcel post on
rural routes and in the city delivery
service is completed, it's extension to
include railway and other transport
tation lines can be more readily
accomplished without impeding the
handling Of the ordinary mail. In
establishing parcel post service
great care should be taken not to
cause a congestion of the mails and
thus embarrass the present opera
lions Of the post Offices. An attempt
to absorb Immediately under one
sweeping order the entire parcel bust
ness Of the country would be dang
erous experiment for our postal SER
vice. That the difficulties OF such a
plan may be avoided the department
favors a more gradual introduce
ton of a parcel post in the manner
proposed. To bring the issue clearly
before Congress, three items of $50
900 each have been inserted in the
estimates Of the postal service, two
Of these items to cover the initial
expenses of introducing a parcel post
on rural routes and in the city deliv-
cry service, respectively, and the
third item to meet the cost of an
investigation looking to the final
extension Of the service to the rail-
ways and other transportation lines.
If Congress will grant without delay
the desired authority and provide the
necessary appropriations 1t is believed
that before the end of another year
satisfactory parcel post can be
organized on rural routes and in cit
les with a carrier service, thus paw
ing the way for the final step in the
organization Of a general parcel
post"
And now, if the farmers and the
people of rural communities will
argue long, and frequently, among
themselves, studying the parcel rates
of mail delivery in other countries,
and insist on their representatives
in Congress supporting the measure,
the amount of money saved will be
small, compared to the comforts and
luxuries the family OF moderate
means will be able to buy; the
exorbitant rates of the express COM
panies and the limited territory they
cover prohibit these luxuries and
comforts to the people who have only
mail-delivery as their means of
obtaining them.
Another interesting item is that
relative to the Government owner
ship Of telephone and telegraph lines.
More adverse criticism has been
directed against this proposed plan
than against any other which Mr..
Hitchcock has formed. A page from
the report will be sufficient to make
the benefits apparent at once:
THE telegraph lines in the United
States should be made a part of the
postal system and operated in con-
junction with the mail service. Such
consolidation would unquestionably
result in important economies and
permit the adoption of lower tele-
graph rates. Post Offices are main
tanned in numerous places not
reached by the telegraph systems and
the proposed consolidation would
therefore afford favorable oppor-
tunity for the wide extension Of tele-
graph facilities. In many small
towns where the telegraph companies
have Offices the telegraph and mail
business could be readily handled by
the same employees. The separate
maintenance of the two services
under present conditions results in a
needless expense. Every reason for
the transmission of intelligence by
mail under government control can
be urged with equal force for SINH