Evening journal., 1912-12-28

Il is realized that individual orders
will be much more frequent
Marketing by Mail.
But so far as Wilmington is CON
cerned the general public is apparent
ly far more interested in the mar
keting phase" of the situation than
in any other, for now IL will be pos
sible, under certain restrictions, to
send by mail such articles as eggs,
butter, lard, fish, dressed meats, veg
etables, fruits, smoked and dried
meats, etc But that phrase, under
Certain restrictions" must be care
fully kept in mind or there will be
considerable loss and untold annoy
ance
First, it must be remembered that
all parcels containing perishable ar
ticles must be marked "perishable,"
and also that certain articles are
mailable only within the local or the
first zone This is very important, as
disregard or ignorance of the regula-
tions is almost certain to occasion
considerable loss at first For IN
stance butter, lard and perishable
articles. such as fish, fresh meats.
dressed fowls, vegetables, fruits. ber-
ries and articles of a similar nature
which decay quickly. when so packed
or wrapped as to prevent damage to
other mail matter, will be accepted
for local delivery; but when inclosed
in an inner cover Of wood, metal
heavy corrugated pasteboard, and
wrapped so that nothing can escape
from the package. they will be ac-
cepted for mailing to all Offices with
in the first zone.
UnmaiIable Articles.
There is, of course. a long list OF
unavailable articles. such as matter
manifestly obscene. all matter other
wise mailable which carries on the
outer wrapper "any delineations or
language of a libelous. scurrilous. de-
famatory or threatening character.
spirituous. vinous, matted. fermented
or other intoxicating liquors of any
kind; poisons of every kind, and ar
ticles and compositions containing
poison Except as prescribed under
the section relating to medicinesl
poisonous animals, insects and rep
tiles; explosives of every kind; in
flammable materials (Which are held
to include matches, kerosene oil, gas
oline, naptha, benzine. turpentine de-
natured alcohol, etc. internal ma
chimes and mechanical chemical or
other devices or compositions which
may ignite or explode; disease germs
or scabs (eXcept i'm accordance with
the regulations of the Treasury De-
partmenU; pistols or revOlvers,
whether in detached parts or other
wise; live or dead (and not stuffed
animals, birds or poultry, except as
described above) raw hides or pelts.
guano or any article having a bad
odor."
1t is not the intention of the Post
Office Department to work any hard
ship on the public. and while the
regulations are specific as to how
violations of the regulations shall be
treated, it is understood that the vdrl-
Gus postmasters will act leninently
with offenders wherever il appears
that there was no intention to violate
I the rules. but that errors arise
through ignorance of the law. There
/ is one point. however, which must be
remembered. and that is, that parcels
containing anything which does not
clearly come within the parcels rost
fourth class rates must be prepaid at
/ the full postage demanded by the
/ higher rate. in which case il is unmail
able if weighing more than four
pounds unless it is a single book
There is a distinction made here,
( however If a parcel shall be found
1 to contain two articles. one being
matter of the third class. that is,
printed matter and the other merch-
andise, it is changeable with postage
at the fourth class rate when such
postage is equal TO or greater tnan
that which would be changeable If
the third class rate were applied
However, when the postage ON a
parcel containing both third and
/ fourth class matter amounts 60 more
at the third class than at the fourth
class rate. owing to the graduated
zone rates. the parcel must be charged
with postage at the third class rate
one cent for each two ounces or frac-
4 ton of two ounces. and the weight
must not exceed four pounds
| Size and Weight Limits.
The size, as well as the weight, OF
parcels is fixed by law, ana must not
Z exceed 70 inches in its combined
length and girth. An official six-rooi
tape is to be furnished. and the meas
urements will be taken by passing this
around the thickest part OF the parcel
when what remains must reach from
end 10 end of the package. measuring
over whatever humps or inequall-
ties may project.