Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-11-05

1 . ~ ~ fN~f W ~ 49,
1t will be remembered, the postmaster
general gave orders that postmasteri
in all the large cities employ baggage
wagons for the delivery OF the holi
day mail, the carriers being unable
TO handle 1t on time. After Jan. J.
next, the department heads believe
this holiday rush will be extended
over 365 days in the year, instead oil
being confined to the few weeks just
before Christmas. Consequently, one
Of the big problems of the special
commission Is this question Of wagons
for the delivery OF the parcels post
packages. Then there are to be men
TO handle them. Arrangements must
be made for the prompt collection OF
the packages. and all of the minute
details which precede a satisfactory
administration of the new law must
be carefully worked out.
1t Is a big job, as members of the
special commission frankly admit.
Asked what they are doing. its mem.
bers point to the many different mat
tiers they have in hand. Asked what
they have already accomplished, they
are unable to say that a great deal Of
completed work at present stands to
their credit. But all of the details
are under way, and in all probability
within a month matters will begin to
reach a head rapidly as the result OF
the present planning.
TO the postmaster Of Boston belongs
the credit of suggesting to the de.
partment that in all probability the de-
partment would find the bulk of its
parcels post business in the small
packages now delivered by private
companies between city merchants
and their customers. He pointed out
that there are about 500 of such com
panies doing business in the Greater
Boston district, and of course, there is
a relatively large number doing bust
ness in every large city in the coun'
try. The price for such a delivery
varies from ) cents to 10 cents. A
large number of smaller storekeepers
employ these delivery companies in
preference to having delivery depart
ments OF their own Now, it has been
figured that the parcels post cost OF
delivering these bundles will be much
less than the sun charged by the pri'
vate companies, and thus it happens
that in Boston and the other large
cities of the country, as well, these
companies will diminish in number
and the work they are now doing will
be turned over to the federal govern,
ment.
Until the postmaster at Boston
called he attention of the department
to this phase of the situation, here has
been a general inclination to believe
that the parcels post would do its
greatest business in the rural and not
in the urban districts of the country,
The Boston suggestion, as soon as re-
ceived, however, vas acted upon, and
the special commission has been
spending a great deal OF it's time in
working out the detail Of this pros
pectively large urban delivery bust
ness from the smaller stores and
shops, which will fall into the hands
Of the postoffice department.
Urban Zones Being Mapped.
This zone of parcels post delivery
within the free delivery limits must
be accurately marked, and delivery
| routes laid out. On the official mar
Of the parcels post above referred to
these numerous small will al,
appear, and for the next month the
tOpOgraphers of the department wi
be busy drawing the boundary lines
Of them on the big map. OF course
few of these difficulties will be en-
countered in the rural sections of the
country, and in the towns which dc
nat have free delivery. In the rura
neighborhoods the parcels post pack
ages will be delivered by the rura
carriers, who, if they find their work
too heavy for present equipments will
have to expand their facilities. In thu
smaller lows these packages will e
directly to the lC cal pOstOflices and bt
called for in the usual way by patrons
The most difficult problems to b'
worked out it is therefore seen, have
to do with the delivery Of parcels pos
packages in the free delivery. pre-
cincts Of the larger cities. The out
come Of the matter will probably be
If the department lis correct in tn:
estimates it has had of the amount O
urban business it will have, that TIN
postofIice department will quickl.
come into the ownership of a yer.
large number of wagons and horses
or be compelled to have the city dc
livery business done by contract.
"Of course, the present carrie
force, in no city, will be able to han
die any large part of this parcels pos
business" 1t was suggested to a prom
inent p%ostoffice department official.
"Of course not, was his reply
Except that in the outlying city dis
tricts the carriers may be able to tax
care OF part of it. In the down tow
districts each carrier handles abou
eighty pounds OF mail a day. He viii
take out say forty pounds on his frs
trip in the morning, twenty-five on hi
second trip and fifteen on his thir
trip. These down town carriers thu
have about all they can do. In tn
suburbs, the carriers, having muc
lighter bundles, Ia probably TAX
care Of a part of the parcels post bus
ness, but their work must be supple
mented, in all probability, by specia
delivery in wagons"
Million Miles Of Rural Delivery.
In addition to doing the work Q
private express companies in the eli
les of the country, the parcels pos
must be extended over more than