The daily sentinel., 1912-12-30
PARCELS POST NEW YEARS. GIFT TO AMERICAN PEOPLE, CLEARLY
EXPLAINED BEEN AGATEO FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS IN CONGRESS
Provided for Lost Articles Of Use Of New System Set Down by the
Postmaster General and Units Explained Carefully by Able Writer onStafo
the Associated Press Published for the Benefit Subscribers Of the Daily Sentinel
Associated Press.

, nestle parcel most Following con-
sideration of the subject in a general
way for a third of a century, con-
. gress, last August authorized the
postmaster general to establish the
new system on January lst, 1913.
. In actual operation, it is expected
that the parcel post will bring the
factory and the farm into closer touch
. with the consumer and that il may
reduce the cost of living. The larg-
est city and the most obscure ham
, let alike will enjoy the advantages
of the parcel post. 1t Will be open
TO all on precisely equal terms.
, The new system will be a direct
competitor of the express companies.
particularly on small package bust
ness. BY 1t, shippers practically may
send from their own doors, parcels to
any one of the 10000 postoffices in
the United tSates.
The rates OF postage for parcel
post matter differ radically from
those of other CLASSES of mail. First
second and third class mail matter
now is transported AT flat rate for
any distance. Parcel post rates are
based upon series of zones. and
they increase as the distance in
creases. The first zone includes all
territory within radius of approx
imately 80 miles from the postoffice
at which the parcel may be mailed
the second. 80 miles; the third,
500 miles; the fourth 600 miles: the
/. fifth, 1000 miles; the sixth. 400
miles; the seventh, 500 miles, and
the eighth all territory beyond 500
miles.
BY the terms of the law all matter
not now embraced in the first, sec
~, t,t. aIn g
may be forwarded by parcel post,
provided single package does not
exceed | pounds in weight or is not
greater in dimensions than ~ inches
in combined length and girth, and is
not of such character as to injure
postal employees or damage equip
ment or other mail matter. In a
word. it will include all kinds OF
merchandise
Zones Explained.
The rates are computed on the
, distance and on the weight of the
package in pounds. Provision is
made. however, for small packages
, weighing from one to four ounces,
which may be sent at flat rate OF
1c for each ounce; but for packages
, weighing more than four ounces the
pound rate of postage applies,
} postoffice local rate of &c for the
first pound and lie for each addition
al pound is prescribed. Within the
, 80 miles representing the first zone,
the rate is &c for the first pound and
Sc for each additional pound. This
} rate increases with the distance. un-
til IL reaches maximum of l2c a
pound for delivery within the eighth
, zone, 500 miles from the point OF
mailing.
Under the regulations promulgat-
, ed by Postmaster General Hitchcock
the maximum rate of lie a pound
applies on all parcels, except those
, weighing four ounces or less, address,
ed to any point in Canada, Mexico,
Cuba and the Republic of Panama
, The domestic rate also applies to any
point in the Hawaiian Islands, the
United States Postal agency at Shang-
, hal, to any point in Alaska, and be-
tween any two points in Alaska II
applies, likewise, to parcels mailed
, in the United tSates for delivery in
the Canal Zone and to parcels going
to or coming from the Philippe
. islands
Is Gigantic Move.
In the opinion of the postal eX-
! perts the new service will be the
most gigantic transportation propo-
sition ever undertaken by the gov
ernment, The service viii extend
over more than 435,0O0 miles of
transportation lines. including 233.-
S99 miles of railways, 164. 4.399 miles
of star routes, 20, ,2S3 miles of steam
boat lines, and i,O07,T72 miles of
rural mail routes.
For parcels post matter. dis
nt bnu
been provided. These distinctive
stamps must be used for all parcel
, post matter. II the packages bear
! ordinary postage stamps they will be
held for postage.
Immediately upon the enactment
: of the parcel post law Postmaster
: General Hitchcock appointed a com
mittee of postal officials to work
out the details of the new system and
to put II into operation. The COM
mittee consists of the highest au-
thorities on all phases of postal ad-
ministration. It's personnel is Rob-
ert 5: sharp, chief postoffice inspect
or, chairman; i, C.. Kouns, superin-
tendent of salaries and allowances;
I G. b. Hurrey, chief clerk to the
third assistant postmaster general; G.
r il. Wood, superintendent of rural
mails, and "A. A. Fisher, chief clerk
to the second assistant postmaster
general. Associated with the com
mittee in an advisory capacity is
: George g. Thomson, chief clerk of
the postoffice department. These Of
, ficials have developed the plan of
the parcel post and prepared the de-
tails of its operation.
The drafting of regulations to gov
ern matter transmitted by parcel
al taH IaN
: master General Hitchcock. One of
Il these regulations is that each parcel
y mailed must bear on its face the
II name and address of the sender pre-
II ceded by the word From" Parcels
intended for dispatch must be mailed
: at postoffice, branch postoffice,
II named or lettered station or such
numbered station as may be desig-
u mated by the. postmaster They must
o not be placed in or upon letter boxes
or package boxes Nlocated in city