The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-12-06
PARCELS POST To
OPERATE AFTER JAN. |.
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF This VERY
IMPORTANT SYSTEM.

The Parcels Post system, which will
20 into effect throughout the country
on January l, will result in consider
able saving to good many, as in q
large measure it will take the carry.
ing OF small packages out OF the
hands OF the Express Companies al
present rates. Whether the system
will be injurious to any classes OF
business, remains to be seen. lit also
remains to be seen whether present
mail carrying facilities will be ade-
quate for the new system.
The cost il determined by the use
Of charts, marked by zones, or circles,
designating approximately the distance
i'm miles between sending and receiv-
ing points. The law provides for
seven distinct zones, and for an eighth
one for outside territory. ANY article
offered can be transported by Parcels
Post, providing it can be shipped with
safety, is properly packed, or wrapp-
ed, and weighs not over Il pounds.
There will be a list of prohibited arti-
cles, but this has not yet been made
up.
The size Of packages will also be
limited, for the present, to packages
which do not exceed II inches in
length and girth, and they must in all
cases be such az are not liable to in
jure employees handling them.
There will be some inequality in the
establishment of rates, as each post
Office il not the centre OF q particular
zone system, but the whole countryhas
been divided into $500 squares, and
these squares are to be the units of
area on which the zone rates are
based.
The postage rates, as we have here
tofore announced, will be as follows:
For Rural routes: &c for the first
pound, and 1c for each additional
pound.
50-mile zone: DC for the first, and
&c each additional.
150-mile zone: &C for the first, and
&c each additional.
30O-mile zone: &c for the first, and
SC each additional.
For greater distances, the rate pro-
portionally increases up to the eighth
and last zone, to lie for the first, and
12c for each additional pound.
Eventually, it is feared that in some
cases the enlargement of the Postal
system into this limited express bust
ness, will result in the slower delivery
of letter mail, due to the large amount
of packages that will be handled; and
there is also considerable doubt as to
how the delivery of packages on Ru-
raj routes will affect the present r.
ID. box, which IT, only of sufficient ca
pacity to hold letters and papers. 1t
is quite evident that difficulties will
gradually develop which will give the
whole postal service considerable trou-
l. sr,
with the carrier system in both cities |
and country.
Very meagre instructions have as
yet been furnished postmasters, but
the following seem to be of the most !
On and after Jan. /, ordinary post |
age stamps will not be valid for post
age on fourth-class matter (merchan-
disc, etc.,
The distinctive Parcels Post stamps |
must be used on all such matter, and
that matter bearing the ordinary is
sue of stamps will be treated az held |
for postage"
That all parcels must bear the re-
turn card of the sender; otherwise
they will not be accepted for mail
ing.
1t also appears that first-class mat
ter (writing or sealed, packages) and
matter (bookst catalogues, |
printed blanks, and most classes Of
printed matter) are not accorded Par |
GELS Post privileges, but only matter
heretofore rated as fOurth-class, to- |
gether with such additional matter as
may be defined.
The exclusion of books and printed |
natter seems a piece OF discrimination
hard to justify, especially as such
packages are 80 easily mailable, and
lack the bulk which il apt to make |
the Parcels Post system unwieldy. 1t
is also difficult to understand why or
binary postage stamps may not be
used.