The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-12-31
Are Measured by Latitude and Longi-
tude, Each Dimension Being
Thirty Minutes.
THE LOCAL RATE Is LOW
Bemidji Merchants Can Deliver Into
The Country at Advantage Over
Outside Houses.

Uncle Sam will branch out into the
express business and become a com.
petitor with the national express
companies. He will do this through
the parcels post. After six O'Clock
Wednesday morning, the postofice
will accept parcels weighing not over
eleven pounds for carriers delivery
anywhere the United States mail is
carried.
The parcels post system as it will
be introduced tomorrow is based on
whao is known as the zone system,
The country is divided into units for
ever interchangeable as they are based
on latitude and longitude A unit is
an area of land which is thirty minu-
ties wide and thirty minutes long. The
first zone is found by taking any unit
and joining it with the eight which
lie adjacent. 1t has an average haul
Of fifty miles. The other zones are
found by taking any city as center
and drawing zone circles. The de-
partment has issued distinctive map
for-eye Dostofhee in the country.
Under the law as it will go into
effect, the shippers at home have a
decided advantage over the shippers
abroad, for the rate for local delivery
is much less. For instance, a Be-
midi merchant wishing to send a
package to a town of Northern Gus
toner, will pay nine cents for five
pounds. A storekeeper at Puposky
shipping to the same customer will
pay seventeen cents although both
are in the same zone and ship to the
same person. The difference lies in
the fact that the town of Northern
customer is R. F. D. Bemidji while
the Puposky package must come
through the Bemidji office before it
can be delivered
Minneapolis lies in the third zone
and it will cost a Minneapolis house
twenty-seven cents to deliver in Be-
midi five-pound package while the
local merchant will have no mail to
pay. The express on that package
from Minneapolis is about the same
as the mail rate. To deliver five
pounds here from Chicago, which lies
in the fourth zone, will cost thirty
two cents. To deliver in the town of
Northern, the Bemidji dealer has a
margain of eighteen cents on Minnea-
polls houses and twenty-three cents
on Chicago houses.
The minimum rate under the new
plan will be five cents for the first
pound and three cents for each addi-
tional pounds to any point not ex-
ceeding fifty miles from Bemidji The
local rate, which is five cents for the
first pounds and one cent for each
additional pound, applies to all par
cells the delivery of which does not
involve their transportation on rail-
way lines-and this means on rura
routes or local carriers rounds
The rates increase for each success
sive one of the eight zones, into
which the postoffice department has
rate being twelve cents a pound
which will carry a parcel across the
continent or to any of the possessions
of this country. All parcels must not
be more than six feet long in com.
bined length and girth. A mailable
parcel may be insured against loss il
an amount equivalent to it's actual
value, but not to exceed $50.
The United States has been divid.
ed into units, thirty minutes square
There are eight zones surrounding
each unit, the last zone including the
Philippine Islands and the farther.
most places on this continent Ar
eleven pound package to the islands
will cost 1892.
The parcels post is far more com
prehensive than the average person
thinks. It is possible under it to senG
almost any kind of package other
than explosives, poisons, fire arms,
Intoxicating beverages, or obscene
matter.
Among the mailable matter are:
Butter, eggs, vegetables, lard, fresh
meats, groceries, medicines, pastes,
salves, seeds of fruit, nursery stock,