Arizona republican., 1912-12-30
Will Come As a New Years Gift By the American Government to the Amer ican People After Years of Waiting.
OPEN TO ALL
 ON EQUAL TERMS
Will Be a Direct Competi- tor of the Express Com panies of the United
 States Particularly in Handling Small Packages

WASHINGTON, Dec 29-A New
 Years gift by the American Govern
 ment to the American people will be thoroughly equipped domestic Par eel Pest Following consideration
 of the subject in general way for a
 third of century, congress, last Au- gust, authorized the postmaster gen.
 eral to establish the new system on
 January 1st, 1913.
 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 larg-
 est city and the most obscure hamlet
 alike will enjoy the advantages of the
 Pa1cel Post. It will be open to all
 on precisely equal terms.
 The new system will be direct
 competitor of the express companies,
 particularly on small package busi-
 ness. By it( shippers practically may
 send from their own doors, parcels
 to any one of the 60;OOO postoffices
 in the United States.
 The rates of postage for Parcel
 Post matter differ radically from
 those of other classes of mail. First.
 second and third class mail matter
 now is transported at a flat rate for
 any distance. Parcel Post rates are
 based upon a series of zones and they
 increase as the distance increases.
 The first zone includes all territory miles from the postoffice at which tba H0 Aa 15O miles; the third, 300 miles; the fourth, 500 miles; the fifth, 1000 miles; the sixth, 1,400 miles; the seventh, 1900 miles, and the eighth, all territory beyond 1,S00 miles. By the terms of the law, all matter
 not now embraced in the first, second and third, classes of mail matter may be forwarded by Parcel Post, provid- ed a single package does not exceed II pounds in weight or is not greater in dimensions than 72 inches in com ! bined length and girth, and is not I of such a character as to injure postal employees or damage equipment Or other mail matter. In word, it will include all kinds of merchandise. The rates are computed on the dis l tance and on the weight of the pack age in pounds. Provision is made, 1 however, for small packages weighing | from one to four ounces, which may | be sent at a flat rate of one 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 rate of five cents | for the first pound and one cent for | each additional pound is prescribed. l Within the 50 miles representing the I first zone, the rate is five cents for
 the first pound and three cents for each additional pound. This rate ' increases with the distance until it 1 reaches a maximum of twelve cents 8 pound for delivery within the eighth zone, 1900 miles from the point of mailing.
 Under the regulations promulgated | by Postmaster General Hitchcock, the maximum rate Of twelve cents a pound applies on all parcels except | those weighing four ounces or less. addressed to any point in Canada, Mexico, Cuba and the Republic of Panama The domestic rate also applies to any point in the Hawaiian | Islands, the United States Postal Ag l ency at Shanghai, to any point in l Alaska and between any two points l in Alaska. It applies, likewise. to | parcels mailed in the United States l for delivery in the Canal Zone and
 to parcels going to or coming from l the Philippine Islands.
 | In the opinion of the postal experts l the new service will be the most | gigantic transportation proposition ever undertaken by the government. l (Cnntinuad on Pa apA TNhrAAl