Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-08-31
PARCE[S POST JANUARY 1 Postmaster General Hitch cock Will Organize the
 System and Cancels
 Engagements
CHA SSIFY Al TICLES
Government Will Indemnify For LOss-Distinctive Stamps
 to Be Used.

Washington, Aug. 30.-Announce- ment was made by Postmaster Gen. eral Hitchcock, Thursday, that the postoffice department would be in readiness on January 1, 1913, to put into general operation the recently authorized parcels post system.
 The postal express business, which must be organized within the next four months, will extend over more than million miles of rural delivery and star routes and will cover in it's various notifications all systems of transportation of parcels now utilized by private express companies. In or der to take up personally and imme- diately the work of organization of the new service MT. Hitchcock has can, celled engagements he had made for his vacation and will remain in Washington to direct the organiza- tion. The details of the parcels post system will be worked out by series of committees composed of officers and experts of the department. The general executive committee appoint ed consists of Chief Inspector Robert $. Sharp, Superintendent John c. Koons of the division of salaries and allowances; Chief Clerk A. A. Fisher of the second assistant postmaster generals bureau, and Superintendent George l.. Wood of the division of ru- ral mails.
 First of a1l,'' said Mr. Hitchcock, last night, must be prepared clas- sification of the articles that can be accepted for transportation by parcels post The law admits to the mails practically all kinds of merchandise that can be transported safely, in- cluding the product of the farm and garden as we'll as factory products, provided such articles do not weigh more than II pounds nor exceed 72 inches in combined length and girth. The mode of packing will be pre- scribed carefully. The present equip ment Of the mail service is not adapt ed to the carriage of such merchan- disc and, therefore new equipment must be provided. It is likely we shall employ, extensively, hampers similar to those used in foreign coun- tries, in handling parcels post mail The style, size and material of such hampers must be determined and ad- vertisements issued for their pur- chase.
 The law provides that postage on all parcels shall be prepaid by affix4 ing distinctive stamps. This will ne- cessitate the designing and printing of at least a dozen denominations of special stamps, ranging in value from one cent to one dollar. Provision for the collection and delivery of the price ofaa parcel must be made. Reg ulations governing this phase of the system already are being prepared.
 "The law provides indemnificaton for loss or damaged articles, and, since many of the articles to be car ried will be fragile or perishable, the question of indemnity is one for care- full regulation.
 "The system of distance zones re- quires the employment of postmasters of distinctive postal map on which ehe zones are represented Such map already has been prepared by the department and arrangements are be- ing made for the printing of about 150,000 in order that each postoffice and postal station in the United States may be supplied with two copies. A directory of all offices is being con- piled for use in applying the pre- scribed rates of postage to the dis tances shown on the zone maps.
 The question of adequate trans portation and terminal facilities for the parcels post mail on railway and steamship lines and in the city wag- on service will have to be worked out with such care as to insure the prompt movement of such mail and to prevent possible congestion of the ordinary mail"
 It is realized by Mr. Hitchcock that it is important at the outset to pro- vide for sufficient additional equip ment and transportation facilities to avoid clogging of the usual mail channels. This involves one of the most serious problems now confront ing the postal officials as a result of the taking over of SO large volume