The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-09-04
PARCELS POST
FOR JANUARY 1ST.


ment was made by Postmaster Gener-
ol Hitchcock tonight that the post
office department would be in readi-
ness on January /, 1913, to put into
general opedation the recently author
lied parcels post s. stem.
The postal express business, which
must be organized within the next
four months, will extend over more
than 100000 miles of rural delivery
and star routes, and will cover in its
various ramifications all systems of
transportation of parcels now utilized
by private express companies.
Mr.. Hitchcock has cancelled en-
gagements he had made for his vaca-
tion and will remain in Washington
to personally direct the organization
work The details of the parcels post
system will be worked out by a series
OF committees composed of officers
and exjerts OF the department The
general executive committee appoint
ed today consists of Chief Inspector
Robert s. Sharp, Superintendent John
G. Rooms Of the division of salaries
and allowances, Chief Clerk A. A.
Fisher of the second assistant post
master generals bureau and Superin-
tendent George l.. Wood of the di-
vision of rural mails
First Of ALL" said Mr.. Hitchcock
tonight, must be prepared classifi-
cation nf hn toll
cepted for transportation by parcels
post. The law admits to the mails
practically all kinds of merchandise,
including products of the farm, gar
den and factory, provided such ar
ticles do not weigh more than II
pounds nor exceed 72 inches in com
bined length and girth. The mode of
packing will be prescribed carefully. |
1t Is likely we shall employ extensive
ly hampers, similar to those used in
foreign countries in handling parcels
post mail. The law provides that
postage on all parcels shall be pre-
paid by afiixing distinctive stamps. |
This Will necessitate the designing and
printing of at least dozen denomi
nations of special stamps.
THE law provides indemnification
for lost or damaged articles, and this
question is one for careful regula-
ton.
The system of distance zones re-
suires the employment by postmas-
ters Of distinctive postal map On
no
directory of all Offices is being com
piled for use in applying the pre-
scribed rates of postage to the dis
tance shown on the zone maps.
The questsion of adequate trans
portation and terminal facilities for
the parcels post mail on railway and
steamship lines and in the city wagon
service will have to be worked out to
prevent possible congestion of the
ordinary mail"
The last question referred to nv
Mr.. Hitchcock involves one of the
most serious problems now confront
ing the postal officials as result of
the taking over of so large a volume
OF additional mail.
Any article is mailable if not over
III pounds in weight nor more than
~ inches in length and girth COM
bined, nor likely to injure the mails
or postal equipment or employees.
Flat rate of 1 cent per ounce up to
four ounces regardless of distance.
Above four ounce, rates are by the
pound or fraction therefore, and vary-
ing with the distance as follows:
Rural route and city delivery
First pound, S cents, each additional
pound l cent; IL pounds Is cents.
F1fty-mile zone-First pound Z
cents, each additional pound 3 cents;
IL pounds 80 cents.
150-mle zone-First pound cents
each additional pound cents; II |
pounds 46 cents.
3OO-mile zone-First pound z cents.
each additional pound 8 cents. II |
pounds. 81 cents
6OO-mile zonc-First pound 8 cents |
each additional pound 6 cents; IL
pounds 68 cents.
l'OOO-mile zone--First pound 81
cents, each additional pound cents
IL pounds 79 cents.
1.S00-mile zone-First pound nj
cents, each additionl pound 10 cents
! IL pounds Sill.
| Over 800 miIeg-Ffrsf mound 1ol