The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-12-31
Plan Goes Into Effect On
Wednesday Jan. |
A Most Important Epoch IN
The Postal Service

important epochs In the development
Of the American postal service. The
last previous step of Importance was
taken when the Rural Free Delivery
System was put into effect fifteen
years ago. The introduction Of the
parcels post system had been agitat-
ed for ten years without material pro-
gress when Rural Free Delivery be-
came fact. Since then the demand
for the introduction Of parcels post
system in the United States became
80 urgent that Congress finally, not.
withstanding the most strenuous oppo.
sition from certain interested quar-.
ters, yielded to the wishes Of the peo-
pie and enacted parcels post law.
The framing of the law was not an
easy matter, az the whole scheme was
In the nature of an experiment upon
a tremendous scale. 1t Is true, the
farmers of the law had for their guild
ance the laws and regulations of q
number OF foreign countries where
the postal service has been In success.
ful operation for many years, but the
conditions OF the postal service in the
United States are SO radically differ.
ent from those of the postal service
in other countries that 1t was not an
easy matter to adapt their laws to
American conditions and require
ments.
At last the law was drafted, sub
mitted to Congress and passed and
January 1, 1913, was, fixed az the date
for its going into effect. The many
radical changes in the postal service
necessitated by the requirements Of
the parcels post system imposed a tire.
mendous burden Of work upon the pos
tai authorities and during the last
three months several of the depart
ments worked practically day and
night to complete the preparations for
the Inauguration Of the new service.
An entirely new series of stamps
for the exclusive use of the parcels
post service had to be resigned, en-
graved, printed and distributed; new
scales, with capacity of eleven
pounds, to meet the requirements OF
the new weight limit, had to be. con.
tracted for. manufactured and sent to
the various post Offices In the coun
try; maps showing the zones into
which the country has been divided
for the purpose Of fixing graduated
distance rate. and books containing
/ the various regulations and rules gov
.erning the new branch of the postal
service had to be printed and distrib
uted among the thousands Of post OF
fees throughout the country. In add
ton to all this special provisions af
to space, means Of handling the par
cells post, etc., had to be made at al
larger Offices, so as to have every
thing in readiness when the law goef
into effect next Wednesday.
| The postal authorities have. giver
the assurance that the preparations
are now practically completed, but
they realize that owing to the new
ness of the system and the lack o
previous experience as to its opera
tions, It may develop at first man,
defects and shortcomings which will
have to be gradually corrected. Tht
public Is expected to be patient ant
to give the postal department reason
able time to perfect the working o
the plan in all its details.
/ The Importance OF the new service
| can scarcely be adequately estimate'
at the present time. It contemplate
the transportation and delivery by TIN
postal service of the United State'
of parcels containing matter Of thu
fourth class, not exceeding clever
pounds in weight and six feet In cir
cumference from any point reaches
by the present postal service to an!
other point reached by that service
The parcels post service OF the gov
ernment extends far beyond the lin
tied sphere of the various express
companies. over more than one mil
lion miles Of rural routes and 435.oo
miles Of rail, boat and star routes
embracing about 10000 post office
and 285, 900 employees connected wit
1.-THE postal service. The rates OF trans
portation are a great deal cheape
than the corresponding rates OF tn
express companies. which means q
enormous saving to shippers, asid
from the greater facilities offered t
them.
: Under the new law everything wi
|. be mailable that is mailabie now a
!. fourth class matter. with the additio
I of thousands OF articles OF perisl
fable nature, ETC., which heretofor
. were not mailable at all Only lique
3 of an acoholic nature. poisons, e.
!; plosives, infiammable articles. infern'
machines. obscene matter, pistols