The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-11

master and letter carrier will be pro-
vided with a six-foot tape measure.
How to Measure Packages.
The manner of measuring a package
will be thus: First, the parcel will be
measured on the top side for its
girth will be taken. The two meas
urements, no matter what the length
or girth, ESQ long as it is oblong in
shape) must not exceed the total meas
urement length of the tape-six feet.
The package or parcel must be
made up in regular lines of proper
ton, not bigger at one end OF the
other, or the middle, but equally the
same within ints entire length.
For instance, if a package is four
feet in length, its girth could not ex-
coed two feet. Another illustration is
one of light package, which is more
generally likely to be handled, is one
of this kind: A pitchfork, hoe or rake
providing there is nothing else in the
parceD would be measured thusly:
Five feet allowed for length and one
foot allowed for the prong or me-
chanical end of the implement So far
as weight is concerned eOther one of
such implements would not weigh the
limit of IL pounds, but the parcel in
which either one of these implem ents
was made up could easily contain
other small PARTICLES which would not
increase the girth of one food or in all
This is only an illustration to show
f at parcels to be transported under
the new system will vary in their
length and girth, as well as in their
weight.
AS a matter of course, it is expected
that many parcels will not weigh the
limit of II pounds. They are likely to
vary all the way from one to II pounds.
However, the larger full-lirnit-of-
weight parcels must necessarily be of 3D.
long shape SO that they may be more
o cd In frop faf
believed that many of the lesser size1
packages will vary in shape and be ac-
cepted for deliver.
Try Out First Few Months.
There is possibly no way whatever for
the postoffice department officials to de-
termine or even make q guess at this
time on the probable amount of business
which may or may not be transacted IN
der the parcel post system. On January
1, the postmaster general will have the
service in full operation in every post
the first few months this new service will
merely be on trfaE If the service comes
up to the full expectations of its adv1-
Gates, congress Will no doubt readily ap-
propriate the necessary funds to conduct
it on the most up to date and thorough
business fashion in order to render the
quickest and best possible express SER
vice to the people.
When deciding upon the rate of postage
to be charged for transportation of points
to points within the various eight zones
the idea was to establish q charge which
would not make a profit to the govern
ment, but merely one which would make
the parcel post self-sustaining.
No one familiar with the new system
will venture the belief that it will be g.
failure. On the other hand, it is con-
fidently anticipated that the parcels post
service will develop into one, if not the
greatest, express businesses in the world,
POstmaster's Equipment.
The equipment to be supplied postmas-
tiers necessary to the conduct of the par
Gel post service will include a zone man
specially prepared for each and every
postoffice. guide book containing rules
and regulations and the rates of postage
for the various zones, special postage
stamps to mark parcels insured against
loss or damage, insurance tags, scales
and 6-foot tape measure. Just how
much of this equipment will be furnished
rural carriers and star route men will not
be known until the contents of the guide
has been made public.
At present there are in the neighbour
hood of 1900 mail routes in the state of
Kansas, served by as many carriers IN
the aggregate, these rural routes cover
10000 miles, and over 100000 farmers and
urbanttes are served with a daily delivery
11afJ