Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-30
BRINGS FACTORY
CLOSER TO FARM
Some of the Advantages of Par
GELS Post System to Be
Effective Jan. /.

Washington. Dec 3O.-A New Years
gift by the American government TO
the American people will be a thor
oughly equipped domestic parcel post.
Following consideration of the subject
in q general way for a third of a cen
fury, congress. last August. authorized
the postmaster general to establish
the new system Jan. /, 1918
In actual operation, it is expected
that the parcel post will bring the
factory and the farm into closer touch
with the consumer, and that it may
reduce the~cost of living The largest
city and the most obscure hamlet
alike will enjoy the advantages of the
parcel post. 1t will be open to all on
precisely equal terms
The new system will be a direct
competitor of the express companies,
particularly on small package bust
ness. BY it, shippers practically may
send from their own doors, parcels to
any one OF the 10000 postoffices in the
United States.
The rates of postage for parcel pos
matter differ radically from those OF
other classes Of mail. First, second
and third class mail matter now is
transported al a fiat rate for any dis
lance. Parcels post rates are based I'D
on a series of zones and they increase
as the distance increases. The first
zone includes all territory within a
radius Of approximately so miles from
the postofice at which the parcel may
be mailed; the second, $50 miles: the
third 300 miles; the fourth. 600 miles:
the fifth. 1000 miles; the SIKH, 1,4OO
miles: the seventh, 1900 miles: and
the eighth, all territory beyond $500
miles.
By the terms of the law, all mat
ter not now embraced in the first, sec
ord and third classes OF mail matter
may be forwarded by parcel post, pro-
vided single package does not ex-
coed II pounds in weight or is not
greater in dimensions than 70 inches
in combined length and girth, and is
not of such a character as to injure
postal employees or damage equipment
or other mail matter. In a WORD, l.
will include all kinds of merchandise.
Z The rates are computed on the dis
lance and on the weight of the pack
! age in pounds. Provision is made,
however, for small packages weighing
! from one to four ounces, which may be
/ sent a fiat rate of l cent for each
ounce; but for packages weighing more
than four ounces the pound rate of
| postage applies.
/ Within the postal district Of any
postoffice a local ra of cents for
/ the first pound and l cent for each
additional pound is prescribed. With
in the 80 miles representing the first
zone, the rate is Gems for the first
pound and cents for each additional
pound. This rate increases with the
distance until it reaches a maximum
Of IL cents a pound for delivery with
in he eighth zone, 1900 miles from
the point of mailing.
Under the regulations promulgated
by Postmaster General Hitchcock. the
maximum rate of u cents a pound ap
plies On all parcels, except those
weighing four ounces or less, address
ed to any point in Canada, Mexico
Cuba and the republic Of Panama. The
domestic rate also applies to any poinr
in the Hawaiian Islands, the United
Sta es postal agency at Shanghai. t
any point in Alaska, and between any
two points in Alaska II applies. like
wise, to parcels mailed in the United
States for delivery in the Canal Zont
, and to parcels going TO or coming from
! the Philippine Islands
In the opinion of the postal expert
I the new service will be the most q
gantic transportation proposition eve