The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-18
PARCELS POST
BUSINESS: HELP
Governments New Venture
is Expected to Open New
Field for Merchants.

ASA0 4O4 4v4$A S4404xS0s
1t Is the general opinion among To-
cal express company agents that tho
parcels post after Its Inauguration by
tho government January l, will not
generally tend to decrease thor busi-
ness.
They are optimistic and contend
there will 10 business for both. The
government on ono hand will not car
ry over IL pounds. The express COM
panies contend the bulk of business
will fall to them.
Arguments For and Against.
There are a great many arguments
advanced for and against the parcels
post. The express companies contend
that when an article is shipped
through them the consignor can place
a value upon it.
If The package is lost while en-
trusted to the company's care and can
not be recovered or If recovered 1t
has spoiled through being delayed,
the consignor car collect the value and
the. charges paid in expressing it.
To Trace Lost Articles.
The government, it is stated, will
not responsibility further than
directing efforts to trace the lost ar
ticle. The government has a strong
argument In the fact that it contracts
to deliver packages at the door of the
farmer whereby express shipments the
farmer must call at his nearest ex-
press station for a package.
None Over Eleven Pounds.
The government will not carry a
package to exceed II pounds. The
country will be divided into zones
ranging from SO to 1900 miles. Diff
ferent rates are made for each zone
n are fashioned after the postal
rates for letters. There is SO much
for the first pound and so much for
each additional pound or fraction
thereof.
Some Facts About Rates.
In some cases the express and par
others the parcels post will be lower
than express or vice versa.
Here is an instance. New York is
between 1900 and 100 miles from
Grand Forks. The express companies
will carry a 10-pound package from
Grand Forks TO New York for $1.15.
1t Will carry the same package for the
same rate to any eastern seaport, such
% Boston. at the same rate.
Rate to New York.
According to the parcels post New
York will be in the 1.4oo mile zone
from Grand Forks. The rate is 10
cents per pound for the first pound
n nine cents for each additional
pound or fraction thereof. The rate
for a 10-pound package to New York
by parcels post. therefore, is 81 cents.
To Send Package to st. Paul.
To send a 10-pound package to st.
Paul. which under parcels post is in
the $50 mile zone, will cost Al cents.
To send the same package to st. Paul
by express it will cost SO cents.
To send a 5-pound package to st,
Paul by parcels post the cost will be
rs cents. To send the same package
by express will cost 40 cents.
To send a %1O-pound package by par
cells post to San Francisco in the 1900
mile zone will cost by express $1.65.
To send a 10-pound package to Or
tonyili .a, MINI, il the $50 mile zone. II
Twfff'cosf 4FcenS by parcels post. BY
express it will cost 40 cents.
cypress COMPANIES Not Worrying.
This Is n comparison Of q few Of the
common distances. There are perhaps
points where the express rates will be
cheaper than the parcels post.
have people come to us with
packages" says n express company
agent. land inquire our rate. They saw
1t is too high and that they can send
1t by mail cheaper. They go to the
p%ostoffice an dhave it weighed. They
learn the postal rate and Invariably
they return to the express Office"
The parcels post will be an expert.
. ment. It will take years to have /,
working to a fine system.
Field for the Merchant.
The question may be raised as Ia
what advantage the Grand Forks mer.
chant can derive Of the parcels post.
That it will open a vast field for him
4! hardly to be doubted. 1t will en-.
able him to compete with the cata-
logue mail order houses. He can bid
tor the farmers trade and deliver his
goods at the door Just as the big mai
brder houses of the larger cities.
The merchant can get this business
by a systematic advertising campaign
Such as big mail order houses employ.
Comparison of Rates.
Below is a comparison Of parcels
POST and express rates on 10-pound
packages. The padcels POST rates are
tor zones; the express rates for PSI
miles.
Parcels post local livery, five cent,
per pound and