The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-09-07
PLANNING FOR PARCELS POST
Preparations Begun for Inauguratine
the New Postal System Jan. /,
1913-some Of the Details De-
scribed.


1913-some of the Details De-
scribed.
Announcement has been made by
Postmaster-general Hitchcock that
the postoffice department. would be
in readiness on Jan. /, 1918, to put
into general operation the =recnetly
authorized parcels post system.
The postal express business, which
must be organized within the next -four
months, will extend over more than
] 900 900 miles of rural delivery and
star routes, and will cover, in its va
rious ramifications, all systems Of
transportation of parcels now utilized
by private express companies
In order to take up personally and
Immediately the work Of organization
of the new service, Mr. Hitchcock
has Cancelled engagements he had
made for his vacation, and will re-
main in Washington to direct the or
ganization The details Of the par
GELS post system will be. worked out
by a series of committees composed
OF officers and experts Of the de-
partment. The general committee
consists Of Chief Inspector Robert
S. Sharp, superintendent John G.
sCoons of the division ofsalaries 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,
must be prepared aelassification
Of the articles that eaH#be accepted
for transportation by parcels post.
The law admits to the ails praeti-
eaIIy. all kinds Of raaa aandise hat
products of the farm aid garden, as
well as factory products, provided
such articles do not weigh more than
eleven pounds, nor exceed seventy
two inches in combined length and
girth. The mode of packing will be
prescribed carefully. The present
equipment Of the mail service is not
adapted to the carriage of such mer-
chandise, and, therefore, new equip
nent must be provided. 1t is likely
we shall employ extensively hampers
| similar to those used in foreign coun-
| tries in handling parcels post mail
| The style, size and material of such
hampers must be determined and ad-
/ yertisement issued for their purchase.
| 1.-THE law provides that postage on
all parcels shall be prepaid by affiX-
/ ing distinctive stamps. This will ne
cessitate the designing. and printing OF
at least a dozen. denominations Of
special stamps, ranging in value from
one cent to ST.. Provision for the
collection on delivery. of the price
of a parcel must be made. Regula-
tions governing this phase of the sys-
tenn already are being prepared.
The law provides Identification
/ for loss of articles. Since many OF
the articles to be carried will be fra
gile or perishable, the question of IN
demnity is one for careful regulation,
s'The system Of distance zones re-
aaires the employment by postmas-
tiers of a distinctive postal map, on
which the zones are represented.
Such a map already has been pre-
pared by the department, and arrange
ments are being made for the print
| ing of about $50, 900, in the order that
each postoffice and postal station IN
the United States may be supplied
with two copies a directory of all
offices is being compiled for use in
applying the prescribed rates Of post
age to the distances shown on the
zone maps.
ssThe question of adequate trans
! Dortation and terminal facilities for
the parcels post mail on railway and
steamship lines, and in the city wa
gon service, will have 10 be worked
out with such care as to insure the
prompt movement Of such mail, and
/ to prevent a possible congestion OF
the. ordinary mail.
/ 1T is realized by Mr.. Hitchcock thai
it is important at the outset to pro.
vide for sufficient additional equip:
n1ent and transportation facilities e
avoid any possible clogging of the
usual mail channels This involves
lone of the most serious problems nov
confronting the postal officials, as
result Of the taking over of 50 large
a volume of additional mail
4 <e4s=s<eaee-> -sesa % -.