The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-30
PARCEL POST IS NEW YEARS GIFT OF THE GOVERNMENT
 TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Washington. December 29.-A New Years gift by the American government to the American people will be thor oughly equipped domestic parcel post. Following consideration of the subject in Congress last August authorized the Post master General to establish the new sys- tenn on January l. 1913.
 In actual operation, 1t 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. It will be open to all on precisely equal terns
 The new system will be a direct competi- tor of the express companies, particularly on small package business. By it ship pers practically may send from their own doors parcels to any one of the 600O0 post offices 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 transport ed 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 ter ritory within radius of approximately 90 miles from the postoffice at which the parcel may be mailed; the second, 15O miles; the third, 300 miles; the fourth, 600 miles; the fifth, 1000 miles; the sixth, HOO miles; the seventh 1900 miles. and the eighth all territory beyond 1900 miles.
 What It Includes
 By the terms of the law all matter not now embraced in the first, second and third classes of mail matter may be for warded by parcel post, provided a single package does not exceed II pounds in weight or is not greater in dimension than 72 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, it will include all kinds of mer- chandlse.
 The rates are computed on the distance and on the weight of the package in pounds. Provision is made, however, for small packages weighing from one to four ounces, which may be sent at a fiat rate of l cent for each ounce; but for pack ages weighing more than four ounces the pound rate of postage applies.
 Within the postal district of any postof- fee a local rate of cents for the first pound and 1 cent for each additional pound is prescribed. Within the 50 miles representing the first zone, the rate Is cents for the first pound and 8 cents for each additional pound. This rate increases with the distance, until it reaches a max mum of 12 cents a pound for delivery within the eighth zone, 1900 miles from the point of mailing.
 Maximum Rate Set
 Under the regulations promulgated by Postmaster General Hitchcock, the maxi mum rate of 12 cents a pound applies on all parcels, except those weighing four ounces or less, addressed to any point in Canada, Mexico, Cuba and the repub- lie of Panama. The domestic rate also ap- plies to any point in the Hawaiian islands, the United States Postal agency at Shang- hai, to any point in Alaska, and between any two points in Alaska. It applies. likewise, to parcels mailed in the United States for delivery in the canal zone and to parcels going to or coming from the Philippine islands.
 In tile opinion of the postal experts the new service will be the most gigantic transportation proposition ever under taken by the government. The service will extend over more than l, ,435000 miles of transportation lines, including 233, ,s99 miles of railways, 164.399 miles of star routes 292S3 miles of steamboat lines and 1,o07,772 miles of rural mail routes.
 For parcel post matter, distinctive set