New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-30
PARCELS POST NEW
YEARS. GIFT OF j. S.
Plan Discussed for a Third of a
Century at Last to Become
Accomplished Fact.
MAY CUT HIGH PRICES
Expected to Bring the Factory
and the Farm Into Closer
Touch with the
Consumer.


Touch with the
Consumer.
Washington. Dec. pa New Years
.In ay the American government TO the
American people will be a thoroughly
equipped domestic parcels post. Follow
ine consideration of the subject in a gen
.tal way for third of a century, Con-
r.css last August, authorized the Post
master General to establish the new sys-
tenn on January /, 1913.
lu actual operation. it is expected that
the parcels post will bring the factory
and the farm into closer touch with the
consumer and that it may reduce the cost
OF living The largest city and the most
obscure hamlet alike will enjoy the adj
vantages of the parcels post. 1t will be
open to all on precisely equal terms.
The new system will be direct com
petitor Of the express companies, particu-
larly on small package business. By II
shippers practically may send from their
own doors parcels TO any one of the 5000
postoffices in the United States.
The rates OF postage for parcels post
matter differ radically from those OF
other classes of mail. First second and
third class mail matter now is transport
"a at q fat rate for any distance. Parcels
post rates are based upon a series or
zones and they increase as the distance
increases. The first zone includes all
territory within radius OF approximately
nifty miles from the postof1ce at which
the parcel may be mailed; the second, $50
miles; the third, 300 miles: the fourth. GOO
miles; the fifth, 1000 miles; the sixth, 14oO
miles; the seventh, 1,SOO miles, and the
eighth, all territory beyond 1900 miles
Within the postal district of any post
office a local rate of five cents for the
first pound and one cent for each addi-
tional pound is prescribed. Within the
fifty miles representing the first zone the
rate is five cents for the first pound and
three cents for each additional pound.
This rate increases with the distance IN
til it reaches a maximum of twelve cents
a pound for delivery within the eighth
zone, 1900 miles from the point Of mall
ing.
Under the regulations promulgated by
Postmaster General Hitchcock the maxi
mum rate Of Il cents a pound applies on
al parcels, except those weighing four
ounces or less, addressed TO any point IN
canada. Mexico. Cuba and the Republic
of Panama. The domestic rate also APP
Ilies to any point in the Hawaiian ISL
auds. the United States postal agency at
shanghai. to any point in Alaska and be-
tween any two points in Alaska. II APP
lilies likewise TO parcels mailed in the
United states for delivery in the Canal
zone and to parcels going to or coming
from the Philippine Islands.
lu the opinion of the postal experts, the
rev service will be the most gigantic
proposition ever undertak-
900 los the government. The service will
Nteud over more than 1,435.000 miles of
lines, including 23S,S9s
miles of railways 164.S99 miles Of star
routes. 29.2S3 miles Of steamboat lines
and 0O7.772 miles of rural mail routes.
For parcels post matter q distinctive set
OF postage stamps has been provided.
These distinctive stamps must be used for
bear ordinary postage stamps they VIII be
held for postage.
Iiqh Authorities on Committee.
Immediately on the enactment of the
parcels post law Postmaster General
Hitchcock appointed a committee OF pos
tai officials to work out the details OF the
new system and to put it into operation.
The committee consists OF the highest au~
thorities on all phases of postal admins
tration. Its personnel is Robert S sharp
chief postoffice inspector, chairman; j. u
Roons. Superintendent of salaries and AL
iowances; G. 3. Hurrey, chief clerk to the
Third Assistant Postmaster General; u
J.. Wood, superintendent or rural mails
and A. A. Fisher, chief clerk to the Second
Assistant Postmaster General. Associated
with the committee in an advisory capac-
ity is George G.. Thomson, CHIEF clerk OF
the Postofice Department These of1cials
have developed the plan Of the parcels post
and prepared the details OF its operation
The drafting Of regulations TO govern
matter transmitted by parcels post was
personally directed by Postmaster General
Hitchcock one Of these regulations is
that each parcel mailed must bear on Its
face the name and address Of the sender
preceded by the word From" Parcels
intended for dispatch must be mailed at
postoffice. branch postoffice, named or let
tered station. or such numbered STA
tiop as may be designated by the post
master. They must not be placed In
or upon letter boxes or package boxes
located I'm city streets. They may De
given however, to any rural or star route
carrier. Parcels must not be sealed, ana
must be so prepared as TO permit OF easy
examination. Such parcels as contain two
OF more classes OF mail matter are charge
able with postage at the rate prescribed
Tor the higher class
Must Use Care in Packing.
All matter which is declared unavailable
~ .sw viii be unavailable as parcels post
natter This includes obscene. indecent
and immoral matter. intoxicating liquors.
polsons. live animals, birds and poultry,
infammable articles and such things as
IaW hides or pelts or other articles hav-
Inc a bad odor The regulations prescribe
minutely methods 10 be used in packing
parcels Liquids and oils, paste ana
salyes. sharp instruments. ink powders.
pepper and SNUFF must be placed IN
vstertlght receptacles and in many IN
stances surrounded by absorbent material