The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-12-07
OFFICIALS find
!. PARCEL LAW IS
VERY INTRICATE
Postmaster Miller Sending Out
Letters of Inquiry to
Cairo Shippers.
HE WANTS EFFICIENCY
System is Complicated on Ac
count of Many Zones and
Varying Rates.

Postmaster Miller has been send
ing ont to Cairo merchants letters
requesting information relative To
the Parcel Post Law which becomes
effective Jan. /, 1912.
The information was sought as 4
basis for enabling the department
to make provision to handle efficient
ly this matter. He seeks to learn
the following from Cairo merchants
The average number of fourth
class parcels now mailed daily?
The average number mailed daily
when this law becomes effective?
Their average weight? Their aver
age size?
What proportion of the entire
number will be for local delivery?
win parcels be mailed in large
quantities at stated intervals or viii
there be regular daily mailing
What percentage of parcels viii
be insured? Registered? Perishab,e?
Fragile?
When the c. 0. D. feature is placed
in operation what percentage of your
parcels will be sent c. O. D.?
The local rate is applicable to par
cells intended for delivery at the of
fee of mailing or on a rural route
starting therefrom.
1t will be observed that the rates
of postage are largely reduced and
that the limit of weight is increased
from four to eleven pounds. Parcels
will be delivered at all free delivery
offices and to patrons residing m
rural and star routes; they may he
registered and may be accorded
special delivery service on payment
of the usual fees, and they may be
insured against loss in an amount
equivalent to their actual value. but
not to exceed S25, upon payment Cf
a fee of five cents. Distinctive stamps
must be used on all parcels, but II y
may be mailed in quantities of not
less than 1000 identical pieces with
out stamps affixed, the postage being
ipaid in money.
The Parcel Post Law effective IAN.
l, 1912, provides:
| THAT hereafter fourth-class mail
matter shall embrace all other mat
ter, including farm and factory PRO
| ducts, not now embraced by law in
| either the first, second, or third class
net exceeding eleven pounds IN
weight, nor greater in size than sew
enty-two inches in length and girth
combined, nor in form or wind likely
to injure the person of any postal en-
ploye or damage the mail equipment
or other mail matter and not OF 4
character perishable within period
reasonably required for transporta-
ton and delivery"
For the purpose of carrying this
law into effect the United States Isl
divided into zones with different
rates Of postage applicable to each.
There are eight zones, the first
zone embracing anything from local
territory up to miles. The second
zone is all territory included within
a radius of so to $50 miles. Third
zone comprises $50 to 800 miles. |
Fourth zone is all territory en-
braced within 800 to 600 miles. The
NTH zone includes all territory with
in 500 to LOO miles. The sixth zone
all territory within 1,000t
TO l,400 miles. Seventh zone COM
prises all territory within 1,400 toll
1900 miles The eighth and last
zone includes any territory exceed
ing 1900 miles.
The rates under the law vary from
five cents for one pound for the firstl
zone, up to S1.32 for II pounds, the
limit allowed under the law for any
package, for transmission within the
limitations of the eighth zone.
The exact postage required for
any package for certain distance
VIII be supplied the simmer upon Il