Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-12-24
Transmit Merchandise
Continued IRON rage One.)

d
Continued from rage One.)
post will mean to the people. 1t was
the law OF congress establishing the
system which made provision for a
division of the country into one and
into $4,000 units which are to be used
rs centers in describing the circles
which mark the boundaries OF the
zones. There has been no clear un'
derstandl1g, apparently, OF this zone
system, but really 1t is a very simple
mntter.
Each unit contains an area thirty
miles square. Now each unit is a
center from which the zones are
irawn and so every unit in the coun'
try, no matter where 1t Is situated will
nave zones drawn from 1t just exactly
IS Washington has them drawn from
Il. For instance, take KeOkuk, la,
which Is in a unit in the fifth zone,
From that will be drawn circles eX-
,ctly us they are drawn from Wash
ngton and they will be numbered
rom Keokuk as number one. or
curse, however, Zone Six will have
different geographical position as
'elated to Keokuk than II has as re-
ated to Washington, but as the radius
VI the circles drawn from Keokuk is
he same length as the radius Of the
'ircles drawn from Washington, keo-
mk's Zone Six will be just as far
rom its center as Washington's Zone
Xix Is.
How Rates Are Fixed.
1t can be seen from this readily
enough that the postal rates from
Washington to it's particular zone will
De the same as the postal rates from
<eokuk to It's particular zones Each
init being about thirty miles square
will of course contain in most cases a
lumber of postOffices but each office
n the same unit Is considered as be-
tng the center Of the circles from
which the zones are drawn. The rates
Of postage are fixed from the unit in
which the sending postoftice Is situat-
20, but the price to every place in any
zone Is just the same. To Illustrate.
II will cost exactly the same amount
20 send a parcel from Washington to
erie, Pa, that 1t costs to send it to
Atlanta. Ga, because Erie and Atlanta
With reference to Washington are sit
lated In the fourth zone. The rates
therefore, are fixed from the unit in
which the postoftice Is located, but
hey are the same from that office to
ny point In any n zone.
VI 1t will be e e by reference to the
able OF rates of postage that it will
ost more per pound to send a pack
sge a long distance that it does to
end It a shorter distance. The rate
Increases for a package weighing one
lOuld at the rate of n cent for each
one. No package weighing
han IL pounds can be sent under the
lew parcel post law. 1t should be
aid right here that on the long hauls
ne parcel post may not be able to
onpete with the express companies,
nut that on shorter hauls it can so
Ompete. 1t was the expressed desire
4 the legislators and OF the postoffice
'fficials that the parcel post system
hOuld be made of particular use to
,ersons having farm and factory pro.
ucts to transmit to customers. 1t is
,rObable that producers must study
he rates Of postage and the conven-
ence Of transmittal and compare
hem with the cost and convenience
inder present methods before indi-
idually a man can determine whet!l-
+ he Is to profit or not by the change.
hen there is another thing to be con-
idered and which only can be known
efinitely when fuller regulations have
zen made to specify exactly what
ind Of things can be sent by parcel
ost. 1t can be said in a general way
hat anything a be sent which is
rOperly wrapped and which will not
njure other mail matter with which
may come in contact.
Copy Foreign Countries.
It is probable that the government
III adopt a meal of transportation
or certain kinds of its merchandise
luch like those which have been
dODtcd in parcel post countries
broad. What the English call ham.
crs, basket-like arrangements, prob
bly, will be adopted, and as these
nh be kept separate from the ordi1-
ny mail matter it is believed that the
equations as finally adopted will al
Nv the sending Of eggs, butter, dress.
d poultry, live poultry, honey, fruit,
md other products Of the country.
The 11-pound limit for a single pack.
ge may work at first against any
cry extended use of the parcel post