White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-08
PREPARING FOR
PARCELS POST
SYSTEM WHEREBY UNCLE SAM
WILL COMPETE WITH EX-
PRESS COMPANIES. BECOMES
OPERATIVE JANUARY fST.

After years OF e1ort on the part OF
the postofiee department the govern
ment is ready to give the new sys-
ten of carrying parcels by mail a
complete try-out. and beginning
January 1, 1913. it will be in opera
ton throughout the country.
The establishment Of the parcels
post in America marks a new era in
the history of the nation. Men who
have studied the system in foreign
countries say it will tend to reduce
the cost Of living. They explain it
will bring the producer and the con-
sumner in closer touch, and in many
cases do away with the middleman.
Under the new law passed by the
last session of congress, any n of
our ninety-odd millions may order
his groceries. dry goods. and in fact.
anything needed 10 keep the inner
man going by mail from almost any
section of the United States. In that
way the will benefit by
keeping posted and taking advantage
of lower prices offered in big sales
centers. Under the old law no pack
& could be sent through the mails
weighing more than four pounds.
Under the new law packages weigh
ing as much as eleven pounds may be
sent by mail.
All the principal nations of the
world have established parcels post
systems. Among them are England,
Germany, Austria. France, Belgium,
Japan, Mexico. Switzerland, Aus
tralia. the Netherlands, Italy, Hung
airy, Russia, Greece, Portugal Col
ombia, China, Chile, Roumania and
Luxembourg. The United States is
the last to do 90.
The rates for packages under the
parcels post system will be as fol-
lows: Each package may weigh as
much as II pounds. Rural route and
city delivery. ) cents for the first
pound, and l cent for each additional
pound; first zone, within fifty miles
of postofice, ) cents first pound, and
3 cents each additional pound;
second zone, $50 miles, 6 cents first
pound, &c each additional pound;
third zone, 300 miles, 7 cents first
pound, sc each additional pound;
fourth zone, 600 miles, s cents first
pound, &c each additional pound;
fifth zone, 1000 miles. 8 cents first
pound, &c each additional pound;
sixth zone, 400 miles, 10 cents first
pound, &c each additional pound;
seventh zone, 1900 miles, IL cents
first pound, 10 cents each additional
pound, eighth zone, over 1900 miles,
II cents first pound. II cents for
each additional pound.
On the day the last session of con-
gress adjourned the postmaster gen
eral appointed a committee, consist
ing of Chief Inspector r. s. Sharp,
John c. Rooms, superintendent of the
IL VI dAaAlt III aAAO " aA1Io1
A. A. Fisher, chief clerk of the Office
of the second assistant postmaster
general; Clarence B. Murray, chief
clerk of the office of the third assist
ant postmaster general. and George
l.. Wood. superintendent of the di-
vision of rural mails. These men
- ufArEfn0 10 Low Tho Ground urarE
for the new system.
A classification of the articles that
may be admitted to the parcels post
was first made. The parcels post is
open to practically every kind of mer-
chandise that can be transported, in
Guiding produce of the farm and gar
den, as we'll as factory products, pro-
vided, of course, that such articles
come with in the weight limit.
Robert S. Sharp is chief postal in
spector. He is also chairman of the
committee which has charge of max
ing plans and regulations for the in
auguration of the system. Sharp
gives an interesting resume OF the
plans so far outlined. 1t includes a
general plan for the establishment of
the system throughout the country,
and between the United States and its
insular possessions.
Immediately upon the appoint
of the committee" said Sharp, 1--WE
took up the question of a suitable
parcels post map to be so arranged
as Il be easily understood by any
body. TO make this clear, the law
provides that the whole country shall
be divided into units of area "iden-
teal" with the i~ntersecting parallels
of latitude and longitude on the basis
of 30 degrees.