Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-12-30
PARCELS POST, THE new YEARS
GIFT OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION
IN, Associated pre--p

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-A New
Years gift by the American govern
ment to the American people will be
a thoroughly equipped domestic par.
eel post. Following consideration of
tbe subject in general way for a
third OF a century. congress. last
August authorized the postmaster
general TO establish the new system
on January /. 1913.
In actual operation, IL is expected
that the parcel post will bring the
factory and the farm into closer
iouch with the consumer. and that
II may reduce the cost Of living. The
largest city and the most obscure
hamlet alike will enjoy the advan-
iages Of the parcel post. 1t will be
open to all on precisely equal terms.
The new system will be direct
competitor of the express companies,
particularly on small package bust
ness BY II. shippers practically
may send from their own doors, par
cells 10 any one OF the 10000 post
Offices in the United States.
The rates OF postage for parcel
post matter differ radically from
those OF other classes OF mail First
second and third class mail matter
now is transported at a flat rate
for any distance. Parcel post rates
are based on series of zones and
they Increase as the distance in
creases. The first zone includes all
territory within a radius OF approxi'
A
at which the parcel may be mailed:
the second, $50 miles; the third, 300
miles, the fourth. 500 miles; the
fifth. 1000 miles; the sixth. 1400
miles. the seventh, 1900 miles; and
the eighth. all territory beyond 1900
miles.
By the terms OF the law, all mat
ter not now embraced in the first
second and third classes of mail
matter may be forwarded by parcel
post, provided single package does
moi exceed IL pounds In weight or Is
not greater In dimensions than ~
inches In combined length and girth
and is not Of such character as
to injury postal employees or damage
equipment or other mail matter. II
a word II win include all kinds o.
merchandise.
The rates are computed on the dis
lance and on the weight OF the pack
age In pounds. Provision is made
however, for small packages weighint
from one to four ounces, which ma,
be sent on flat rate Of one cen
for each ounce; but for packages
weighing more than four ounces tn
pound rate OF postage applies.
Within the postal district OF an.
postofflce a local rate of five cent
for one pound and one cent Tor eacl
additional pound is prescribed. WITH
In the so miles representing the frs
zone, the rate is five cents Tor tn
first pound and three cents for eac
additional pound This rate increase
with the distance until II reaches
maximum of II cents pound 10
delivery within the eighth zone. $50
miles from the point of mailing.
Under the regulations promulgate
by Postmaster General Hitchcock, tn
minimum rate of II cents poun
applies on all parcels except thos
Weighing -four pounds or less, address
ed to any point in Canada, Mexico
Cuba and the republic of Panami
The domestic rate also applies
any point in the Hawaiian island
the United States postal agency {
Shanghai, to any point in Alaska ali
between any two points in Alask
Il applies, likewise, to parcels maj
ed in the United States for deliver
in the canal zone and to parcels g
ing to or coming from the PhilippiT
islands.
In the opinion Of the postal exper
the new service will be the mo
gigantic transportation propositic
ever undertaken by the governmer
The service will extend over mo-
than 1,435,0O miles of transportatiS
lines, including 23S,S99 miles OF ra
ways, 164,399 miles of star route
29,2S3 miles of steamboat lines, al
l,O07772 miles of rural mail routes.
For parcel post matter, a distin'
i've set of postage stamps has be
provided. These distinctive STAN
must be used for all parcel post m
ter. II the packages bear ordina
postage stamps they will be held
postage.
Immediately upon the enactm'
Of the parcel post law, Postmas
General Hitchcock appointed a &C
mlttee OF postal officials to work
the details of the new system
TO put 1t into operation. The c'
mittee consists of the highest
thorities on all phases OF postal
ministratIon. Its personnel is Rot
8. Sharp. chief postoffice inspec
chairman J. C. Coons, superintend
Of salaries and allowances; 9.
Hnrrax, ohtae otnvI~ tn fha third