The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-30
P PARCELS POST
WILL REDUCE RATE
New Order Makes Big
Cut on Fourth-ClasS
Matter.
LAW IN EFFECT
ON JANUARY l
Important Ruling Regarded by
Postmaster Allan as Distinct
Step in Advance-Reduces
Rate Per Pound From 10
to S Cents in Fifty
Mile Zone.

An order promulgated yesterday by
Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock
serves notice that. beginning January
/, 1913, all merchandise hitherto
mailed as fourth-class matter will have
to be sent In accordance with the new
parcels post regulations. and Will be
mailable only when bearing the dis
tinctive parcels post stamps.
The rule is the most far-reaching
announced by the department in re-
cent years, and Is calculated to place
the traffic In fourth-class matter upon
a far more secure and economic basis
than has been the case in the past
All fourth-ciass matter is now received
and forwarded at the risk Of the
sender. Under the new ruling. each
package in this class will receive the
same registration as all other parcels
post matter, and will carry an in
demnity for nondelivery.
Great Reduction in Cost.
From the point Of view Of the send
err however, the new rule Is particu-
lariy welcome. because of the large
saving which II will effect. The rate
On fourth-class matter IL at present
! cent an ounce, or fraction thereof
After January 1 packages falling into
this class will be forwarded at the
rates fixed for the zone to which it is
destined.
Thus, a package weighing one pound
will be delivered by the Richmond
post-ofyice to any post-omce within
radius OF nifty miles for cents. Com
pared with this, the present charge for
the same service IL Is cents. In the
second zone, which includes all points
within $50 miles Of the sending ONCE.
the charge will be only 8 cents .
pound
cludes the departments fsGthest hunf
0utpCsfs In the Philippines and other
! colonial possessions. the charge will
be only - cents a pound cents less
than the highest rate now in force.
There Is only one important restrfc-
ton. Ali packages sent as fourth
class matter weighing not more than
four ounces will be charged for at
the present rate-1 cent an ounce.
ReEslar Stanps Not Good.
The Enthusiastically order car
ries a warning to the public that or
binary postage stamps will not be ac-
cepted for use on fourth-class matter
This is the distinct change to bear in
mind. Such matter bearing ordinary
stamps will be treated as held for
postage. Distinctive parcels post
stamps for this purpose will be put
on sale at all post-ofices when the
rule goes into effect.
Fourth class parcels will be mailabIe
only at poss-ofsces. branch post -ofnces.
iettered anc local-named stations. and
such numbered stations as may be
designated by the postmaster This
rf.f Ia 30
package boxes now distribute. over
the city. The complete list Of mall
Ing stations for this purpose will be
announced later by Postmaster Allan.
No package will be accepted for nall
Ing unless 1t bears the return card
of the sender.
A Step ln AAvaAce.
Il regard this ruling. a. well a. the
domestic parcels post system. - q dis
ttnct step In advance" said Postmaster
Allan yesterday. Tt viii be q most
important factor in bringing about .
reduction In the prices Of many COM
modities by providing a cheap ana
rapid form Of transportation.
To the city man 1, will o.1er many
farm products Of daily consumption.
brought to his table direct from the
farm at low cos; Of shipment. We
are As yet In the dark Is to what
specific things viii be admissible, but
II Is safe to say that the department
VIII admit all products the carriage
OF which will not endanger other mat
ter. Eggs. butter and similar products
Will am certain. be received for ship
ment"
One effect Of tie fourth class ruling.
said Postmaster Allan, will be to in
crease greatly the volume OF the local
package business. Under this Law A
person VIII be able TO deposit q one
pound package In the Richmond ONCE
and for the sum Of cents have II de-
iivered promptly 10 any address in
South Richmond. This feature Of the
new classification VIII make the post
once . formidable competitor % the
special messenger and forwarding
companies
Gowns WS6e FSesA.
The class thus admitted 90 cheap
transportation includes all merchan-
disc now nailable at I cent an ounce.
and In addition all farm and factory
products which are mailable and which
are rot row embraced BY Law IN either
the arss, second o- Third class. Certain
explosives. chemicals. liquids and other
dangerous matter Will. as usual. be
barred.
The eieven-pound limit. which Is
fyxeA tor separate packages saipped
by domestic parcels post win permit
a wide variety % consienm~n,s. In
ciua.ne dressed poultry, meats for the
family dinner. and = practically mex
hausssble list Of HOUSEHOLDS supplies
In TITS aeA % WIN oder lively com
v>sstson 20 the express companies.
BroaAly speakine. the domestic par
cells poxs WIN receive any paekaes
weighing not moro thao eleven
pounSs. saA measuving not more thar
seveasy.swe inches IN length an 9srts
csmSsaea. TIE shape ~ the packsg'
vUl kave 20 - sueh - u make IN
| pouGbao SaSgvy 90 the vesvsn Of ~!
| psussl swVssys - os0aGe - say ssee