The Sentinel=record., 1912-08-30
POSTMASTER GENERAL SAYS ALL WILL BE IN READINESS
 BY FIRST OF YEAR.
EQUIPMENT SERIOUS PROBLEM
Additional Facilities for Carrying Postal Express Business One of Of the Big Problems for De-
 partment to Work Out.

Washington, Aug 29-Announce- ment was made by Postmaster Gen eral Hitchcock tonight that the post office department would be in readi- ness on January 1, 1913, to put into general operation the recently au- thorized parcel post system.
 The postal express business. which must be organized within the next four months, will extend over more than million miles of rural de iy- cry and star routes and will cover Iii it's various ramifications, all systems of transportation of parcels now util- ized by private express companies
 In order to take up personally and immediately the work of organiza- tion of the new service, NIT. Hitch cock has cancelled engagements he had made for his vacation and will remain in Washington to direct or ganization The details of the parcel post system will be worked out by a series of committees composed Of officers and experts of the depart ment The general executive com mittee appointed today consists of Chief Inspector Robert s. Sharp. Superintendent John c. Koons of the division of salaries and allowances; Chief Clerk A. A. Fisher of the second assistant postmaster generals bureau and Superintendent George l.. Wood of the division of rural mails
 First of all,' said Mir Hitchcock tonight must be irepared a classifi- cation of the articles that can be ac repted for transportation by parcels post The law admits to the mails practically all kinds of merchandise that can be transported safely, in- oluding the product of farm and gard CT as well as factory products, pro- yided such articles do not weigh more than II pounds nor exceed 72 inches in combined length and girth. The mode of packing will be prescribed carefully. The present equipment ot the mail service is not adapted to the carriage of such merchandise and. therefore. new equipment must he provided It is likely we shall em- l ploy extensively, hampers similar to tlose used in foreign countries, in hand.ing parcels post mail The style, size and material of such hampers must be determined and advertise ments issued for their purchase.
 The law provides that postage on | all parcels shall be prepaid by affix ling distinctive stamps This will ne oesstate the designing and printing l of at least a dozen denominations ot special stamps, ranging in value from lone cent to one dollar Provision for the collection on delivery of the price Df a parcel must be made Regua | tons governing this phase of the sys
 tenn already are being prepared
 "The law provides Identification for lost or damaged articles and since
 many of the articles to be carried will be fragile or perishable, the question Of indemnity is one for careful regu- lation.
 "The system of distance zones re- quires the employment by 1ostmast- CTS of a distinctive postal map on which the zones are represented. Such a map already has been pre- Irared by the department and arrange ments are being made for the print ing of about 150,00O in order that each postoffice ard postal station in the United States may be supplied
 with two copies. A directory of arl
 oltices is being compiled for use Tn larplying the prescribed rates of pos age to the distances shown on the
 zone maps.
 "'The question of adequate trans lportation and terminal facilities for
 the parcels post mail on railway and
 steamship lines and in the city wagon
 service will have to be worked ont with such care as 10 insure the Iprompt movement of such mail and
 to prevent a possible congestion of
 the ordinary mail"
 It is realized hy MT. Hitchcock that
 it is important at the outset to pro
 vide for sufficient additional equip
 ment and transportation facilities tc
 avoid any possible c'ogging of tho
 usual mail channels. This involves
 one of the most serious problems nov
 confronting the postal officials as d
 result of the taking over of so large
 a volume of additional mall