Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-12-29

pudSlZlQ ana IIldt IS CtlktJ dlF pdGKdSeS will have to be taken to the postof- fices by the sender This means that none of the numbe'red drug store sub-stations will be: allowed to ac- cept tn class of matter, though it may be deposited at any of the larg- CT postoffice stations.
 The delivery of the packages will be made with the samsi regularity that now, prevails in distribut ng the mail These deliveries will be made by wagon under fifteen day con- tract with those who are now carry ing the local ma Is in each city. At the end of the. fifteen day probation the government will make the con- tracts permanent.
 Another int sresIing feature of the new departure in mail delivery is the institution of. the zone system through which the government will fix the charges 10 be made on packages. In formulating this, system the govern ment has used the circles within circle plan adopted by sonel Euro pean countries.
 In all there are eight of these zones, each def ming territory and fixing chargss-4to be made upon par gels. The center of these zone cir cles to all intents and purposes is any postoffice in any town of the United States where ',hs' shipper may happen to reside. The zones have been also divided .nto units or sec tions in which towns and cities are situated
 For ins,ance the Parcels Post map with it's numbered units pr nted on it, will show that New York City is in unit TT, which of course is the first zone. The lmi.s of this zone are fifty miles. The second zone will be still greater and the' eighth zone will taken in Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands.
 As each locality makes its own f rst one it has been necessary for the pos office 'deps 1tment to print separate mars for all sections of the United States.
 As an explanation of how this sys- tenn will work, New York has been taken as an example. Suppose there- fore, that the shipper in New York wishes to send a package to Buffalo which is approx mately in unit 1162. He would take it to the postoffiee and the ,postoffice clerk would place it on a pair of newly cons; ructsd scales twenty thousand of which have been manufactured, and delivered to the various city postoffices throughout the Un ted SFaes. By turning a ratchet in these scales the clerk will designate the zone 10 which the pack age is consigned and when the weight is registered the charge will also be shown. s.-" .-.--
 The first zone of fifty m les in- icludes what is called a local zone. The maximum charge for the local zone is five cents for the first poumd and one cent for each additional pound. After that there is a grad ua, ed increase, the second one hay ing rad us of 150 miles, the third 300 miles, and so forth until the eighth zone, which includes every town over 1,SO0 miles away. Separate provision has been made for sll packages that weigh four ounces or less. Like the present sys- tenn of fourth class matter there will be flat rate of cent an ounce. If a. package we'ghs over four ounces it will be charged the pound rate.
 Every clerk and every postmaster handling the parcels post will nave a map and guide book holding the key to 1he numbered units in the map. The postoffioe, department has also issued a guide book and map that can be purchased for seventy-iive cents.
 A special series of stamps have been engraved and will be used ex- clusively on this class of mail mat ter. These stamps will be obtain. able on January |, at any postofflce station.
 Perhaps the g1,eatest benefit of the parcels post w'll be the farmer who desires to sell his goods direct to the