Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-25
Additional Information Concerning
New Departure for Parcel
Delivery.
PERISHABLE GOODS MAY
BE SENT BY MAIL
Some Items of Import to Every
body Not Heretofore Given Con-
cerning New Government
Mail Service.

post regulations which go into effect
the first of the year, and yet there
is much more information that the
public must get before making use of
this new feature of mail service. 1t
is so far reaching in it's character
that almost everything may be sent
by mail, and as it bids fair to revolu-
tionize the carrying of packages and
parcels it behooves everyone to read
as much about it as they can. Here
are some instructions of general in
terest not before publshed:
The parcels post stamps are be-
ing distributed among the sixty thou
sand or more postoffices in the United
States in order to be ready for Janu-
ary l, 1913, when the law authoriz-
ing their use for the forwarding of
packages of bulk becomes effective.
1t is expected that one hundred mil
lions of stamps will be distributed on
= that date.
The parcels post stamps measure
one by one and one-half inches be-
tween perforation lines. The color is
red for all denominations. In a curv-
ed panel across the top supported by
panel perpendicular column at each
end appear the words United States
Parcels Post in Roman capital letters.
Triangular ornaments occupy both
upper corners. The denomination in
large numerals is in each lower cor
ner with a little of the subject and
the words cents or dollars between.
The subjects of the several denomina-
tions are: One cent, post Office clerk;
two cents, city carrier; three cents,
railway postal clerk; four cents, rural
carrier; five cents, mail train; ten
cents, steamship and mail tender; fif-
teen cents, automobile service; twen-
ty cents, aeroplane carrying mail,
twenty-five cents, manufacturing; fif-
ty cents, dairying; seventy-five cents,
harvesting; one dollar, fruit growing.
Beginning January 1, 1913. ordin-
airy postage stamps will not be valid
for payment of postage on mail mat
ter of the fourth class. Matter of the
first, second and third classes, bear
ing parcel post stamps and beginning
January l, 1913, matter of the fourth
class bearing ordinary stamps will be
same as held for postage.
The object of the parcels post is
TO permit mailing of merchandise and
parcels that heretofore have been
prohibited on account of weight. The
weight under the new law is limited
to eleven pounds and rates will be
governed by the distance the parcel
is carried
The first rate applies to rural car
rier and city delivery. 1t begins with
a minimum of cents for packages
UP to one pound and one cent for
each additional pound or fraction.
For the full weight of eleven pounds
the charge will be Is cents. This
will probably be found the most con-
venient feature of the Parcels Post
system and will no doubt be extern
sively used by local merchants and
their patrons on rural routes. In
stead of driving to town and consum-
ing much time an order can be made
by telephone and the goods sent out
by the rural carrier at a trifling ex-
pense. The next rate covers the so
mile zone and the minimum rate is
cents for the first pound or fraction,
8 cents for each additional pound,
and 35 cents for the maximum of
eleven pounds.
The next zone is of $50 miles rad
ius, then 800 miles, then 900 miles,
then 1000 miles, then 1,400 miles,
then 1900 miles. Each of these
zones has a rate of it's own and
reaches the full maximum of 12
cents for the first pound, IL cents for
each additional pound and $1.32 for
the maximum of IL pounds.
An important feature of the new
system is that all parcels post pack
ages must bear return card. Pack
ages not bearing the name of the
sender will not be transported thru
the mails. =
Another very important thing to
remember is that parcels post pack
jages must not be sealed. They are
: TO be tied securely and put up as
compactly as possible. but If sealed
they are subject to first class postal
rates