The Dickinson press., 1912-12-07

NateS ana 1--WE
Just before final adjournment last
August, Congress passed, almost unani-
mously, an amendment to the post Office
appropriation bill providing for three
kinds of parcels post. two Of which
have weight limit Of eleven pounds
and one weight limit of four ounces,
the law becoming operative January /,
1913.
Heretofore four pounds Of merchandise
could be sent any distance for one cent
per ounce. Under the new law only
packages of four ounces or less can be
sent at that rate, anything over that
going al pound rates.
The limit Of weight for packages Of
the other two classes under the
new law is eleven pounds and they
may not be larger than .seventy-two
inches in length and girth combined,
nor contain anything of such form or
kind as is likely to injure any postal
employe. mail equipment or other mail.
or Of a character perishable within a
period reasonably required for transpor-
tation and delivery. Everything. in,
cludine farm and factory products. not
by law embraced is first, second and
third class postage In fourth class mat
ter. except that seeds, cuttings. bulbs.
roots, scions. plants, samples of wheat
in natural state. potatoes, beans, peas.
chestnuts and acorns for planting may
be sent as heretofore at the rate of one
cent for two ounces OF fraction thereof.
Postage on packages over four ounces
is to vary according to distance. The
best rate is given each local Office for
delivery in the territory which il serves
viz: five cents for the first pound and
one cent for each additional pound up
to the limit, making fifteen cents for
eleven pounds. This will obviously be
of most good to the producer and con-
sumer, merchant and buyer, where rur-
al routes radiate from the central Office.
The packages must be mailed at the
central or branch posto6ices Or at num-
bered and lettered stations designated
by the postmaster. They may be mai IL
ed at the central Office for city delivery
or for delivery on rural route; and a
person on rural route may send to any
one else ON his route. or to anyone in
town or on any other route out from the
same office. The advantage of this is
readily apparent. The farmer can send
in his produce, freshly gathered, to his
customer in the city and at the same
time order from the merchants in town
supplies for delivery next morning. 4 No
long tedious trip to town and loss of
time on the farm. p,s.
For transmission beyond the local
Office the CHARGES are based on the
unit and zone systems. The
country outside of the Philippines is to
be divided into units of area thirty
miles square, forming postal .centers
and the government in very busy just
now getting out maps, charts and Aeys
for postmasters showing the location Of
these numerous units. These maps are
to be put up everywhere and it is safe
to predict that senders of packages will
be stu hing Biographies at home to fig
ure oqs themselves the cost Of send
ing hers Of there.
The immediate unit where the sender
of a package happens to live is for him
Zone /" which includes all territory
within radius Of tifty miles from the
center Of that unit. Within that
zone the rate Is i've cents for the first
pound or fraction thereof and three
cents for each additional pound OF
fraction thereof up TO eleven pounds.
There are eight. zones. the rate in
creaslns with the radial distance from
the center 81 .'zone 4. the sender q
home. Following is the table Of rates
XIII. s.sss.3; III 1 ID. 2 lbs. II lbs.
5O.mile zone -. .05 .03 IS
150-mile zone IL. .06 .04 .46
800 mile zone ........ .07 .0s 81
500 mile zone -. go. .0s .o6 .6s
900 mile zone /. ...... .Oe .07 .79
1.40o mile zone i. ..... 10 .O9 100
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