Alamogordo news-advertiser. (Alamogordo, Otero County, N.M.) 1912-1914, 1912-12-28
The parCels-POsi.

of the world Uncle Sam VIII final
ly with the beginning Of the uaS
year, turn over new leaf and give
the people of this country taa.e
of the parcels-post service which
they have so long been pleading
for 1t is only taste that he VIII
give them however, for The law was
| framed specially to favor the ex
press companies and other ir.erea
that are opposed TO cheap SER
vice for the people, says a Washing
ton newspaper correspondent
Herculean efforts have had ID
be made by the post-office depart
ment to get ready for the new de-
| parture. There are about $4,000
post-offices in this country viii
$4,000 rural carriers and 2S5,10(
employees in all, and the posta
business which is the larges
single business of any sort in tht
world 10000 miles Of raj
routes and million miles Of rura
routes. So you see there is some
ground to cover. Hitherto our gov
ernment has practically allowed thl
the express companies a monopl
ly OF the business of Carrying smd
parcels, and what these concert
have done to the people is. in Il
language of the poets, "a plenty.
At length, as a sop TO the ruff
communities, which have been praf
tically isolated from the world u
cause of the lack OF transporLatid
facilities, half-hearted parcels-pd
service is to be introduced. TIKI
was the most liberal law howeva
that could be secured on the SUD
ject, seeing the organized opposI
tion that mad SO long obstructeI
such legislation. The system is id
geniously devised 50 as TO do a
little for the people as possiblI
while yet appearing to do muc1
/ Numerous limitations and restrid
tions are placed on the service.
For example YOU may send
pound OF butter or a package Of cal
| pet-tacks, bat not a Bible or othe
book; good reading is TO be taxel
as high as ever Theninstead d
adopting a uniform rate for all did
| tances as is the rule with all otlI
sr classes OF mail matter, th|
most complicated system of "zoneI
rates ever devised by man is prd
| gided IL will be strange if al
he postmasters in the country dI
aot 20 stark mad after trying d
figure out the rates on a few pack
ages. Those who have tried To solv
his Chinese puzzle say it will COS
more 70 find out what the propd
/ rae is i'll each case than il will d
transport the package
The system win be INTRODUCED
| throughout the entire country
once, Jan. /. Postmasters ad
trying to familiarize themselves vii
! the requirements, and the publ
are asked to do the same. Fad
pos.-oiliee will be provided wild
zone maps and Official guides. AM
Instructions will pe posted up I'D
de benefit of the public. Patro1
are warned by the officials not
r. to make use of the service til
hey have taken at least shot
curse in the new science, which
something like astronomy, somj
hing Ike geography and consideI
..hly like differential and integrl
| alcuius,
Each pOst-office is also 10 hat
: special pair OF scales 70 wei
Up 10 II pounds. the parcels linn
fhen also ii will have six-foot u
Q measure the parcels strau&
0 say this viii not be- red u
You can send any shape and size
/ paC kage, provided il doesn't d
-ain anything that will injure
mails and provided ID does nos md
sure over six feet in length d
sirfh combined. That Is Il can
So inches long II not over
inches around, and SO on. 81
cases will still have TO gO by 4
press and it will not be possible /
send by post baby-carriages. I'll
pigs. cages OF birds, or human 4
ings, as Is the case In some otht
countries.
The sender must positively plaC
his name and address on the pacl
age, else II will not be- sent bI
will be held for correction; "a
must not use ordinary stamps q
any parcels-post package. or M
fourth-class matter whatever ait'
Dee. 81. You must use the speed
stamps which are being prepared.
. These new stamps are beautiei
everyone says they are the most a
tistic set ever issued by this (
any other government They col
stst OF IL denominations. from oI
! cent TO 81. all printed n red b
! sides a few others In green 4
postage due" purposes. The silm
} are extra large. being over twice b
size OF the regular stamps. The d
: signs show scenes connected Wt
}. the postal service and the Indu
tries which will supply most OF 4
I. parcels-post matter For eXamT
! there Is a postoffice. letter narrls
! and railway mail clerks a. wnr
!, railroad trains and steamers, a
+ mail-wagons. and also dairying "a
. yesting and similar scenes Tho
d who expect TO use the "P p
the parcels-post will be rglls
. much. can provide themselves vi
9 guide and map at their post otfl
g for IS cents.
. Postmaster General Hiiohco
says In regard to the new seryiS
Il consider the best feature Of
parcel post system the immense 4