The Washington times., 1912-09-12

eleven-pound package would cost 4s
cents by parcels post, ana the existing
express rate. under classification No. "a,
1. Z. c., Is 45 cents.
To New York.
The thiri zone includes points within
800 miles. This would apply to traffic
between Washington and New York.
The parcels post rate h ceLts for the
first pound and cents for each addi-
tional pound. The parcels post rate
Will be cheaper on all packages up to
ten pounds. The parcels post rate on
ten-poind package will be SO cents;
the express rate so cents. The parcels
post rate on eleven pounds will be 81
cents; the express rate IS cents.
The fourth zone includes points With
In GOO miles, the rate being cents for
the first pound and 6 cents for each
succeeding pound. The parcels post
rates here also are lower on the smaller
packages. ...
The fifth zone includes points within
1,O00 miles. the rate being 8 cents for
the first pound and cents for each
Chicago. At this distance the parcels
post rate affects reduction through
out the scale, the e'even-pound rate be-
ing 70 cents as against S5 cents by ex-
/, Omaha is within the seventh zone
from Washington which includes points
within l,s00 miles. The parcels post
rate Is IL cents for the first pound and
10 cents for each additional pound. An
eleven-pound package would cost Sill
by parcels post and $11O, or "a cent less
BY express. On packages less than
eleven pounds, in weight the parcels
post rate is lower than the express
rate.
The Eighth zone embraces all points
beyond 1900 miles, and the rate Is II
cents per pound. without reduction
for the additional weight above one
pound. The parcels post rate Is uni
formly lower at great distances. the
express rates being very high on the
extreme long distances.
Cheaper BY Express.
The proposed reductions in express
rates, which will be heard before the
Interstate Commerce Commission on
October 9, will, II put into effect. force
a number of Instances wherein pack
ages of ten or eleven pounds In weight
can be shipped more cheaply by express
than by parcels post. However, on the
smaller packages the parcels post will
have command of the field.
Owing to the large number of ac-
counting charges which the express
package in making up Its cost Of trans
portation the minimum charge Is much
higher than the minimum charge under
parcels post. Express companies. for
instance, charge as much to carry a
one-pound package from washington to
Baltimore. as to points as far distant
as the Mississippi river. The highest
parcels post charge on one pound up
to this extreme distance Is 10 cents,
while to Baltimore such a package will
be carried for cents.
Under the proposed rates, as outlined
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, the minimum charges Of express
companies will not be as low as the par
cells post minimum
There Is no doubt that on small pack
ages. including dress patterns, table
quantities Of farm produce, small hard
ware articles. boxes OF cigars, light
clothing and similar articles, that the
parcels post will effect a reduction not
only beneficial to Washington mer-
chants who cultivate out-of-town trade
but also to those persons who purchase
small packages from other cities