Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-11-21
PARCELS POST SYSTEM

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. t.
The Parcels Post System, which was
established by an Act of Congress of
August "a, 1919, to begin. operation
Jan. 1, 1913, has awakened great in
terest all over the country, especially
in the rural districts AID among the
numerous mail order houses. Other
countries have, for some years, enjoy
ed the benefits of this cheap and con
venient method of delivery for small
packages, and our Government has al
so, for some years, had treaties with
several foreign countries by which it
agrees to deliver parcels sent in this
manner from such countries to persons
in the United States. There seems to
be no reason, therefore, why this coun-
try should not put the system into op-
Grafton to the benefit of large por-
tion of it's people.
The scheme as yet, however, is look
ed upon by the Postoffice department
as only an experiment that may fail;
hut which will probably become a per-
manent and valuable institution.
Its success will depend great deal
upon the rates charged in comparison
with those of express companies. 1t
was learned by the writer at the Post
Office Department today, that, while a
considerable part of the Office force is
extremely busy trying to perfect the
plans, there are still many important
details not yet settled.
The Act of Congress which created
the parcel post system provides in
effect as follows:
Fourth class mail is extended to in
clude anything and everything that is
not now included in the first, second
or third classes, provided the packages
DO not weigh more than eleven pounds
nor measure more than seventy-two in
ches in length and girth combined,
and provided they are not of shape or
character to injure other mail matter
or to become spoiled before delivery in
a reasonable time This is practical
ly the whole substance of the bill ex-
cept as to rates, which will be discuss
ed presently. 1t can be readily seen
that it is an easy matter to regulate
the size and weight of packages to be
admitted, but to decide just what is
perishable within the reasonable per
ioA required for delivery and what is
likely to injure other mail matter, are
the questions now puzzling the Post
office Department, and it's special COM
mission which, in conference with
senator Bourne, the author of the bill,
is now trying to cecide the unsettled
details Shall live animals be admit
ted, and such articles as milk, butter,
eggs and whiskey' 1t is the evident
intent of the bill to provide for carry
ing dressed poultry, butter, eggs, and
liquors, for farm and factory products
are especially M ntioned in it But
such articles must of course be Put
in safe and suitable containers. Such
containers may be sold by the Depart
mente as envelopes are sold now.
Dangerous explosives, such as dyna-
mite aud nitro glycerin, must of
course, be excluded. But even the
most powerful acids and corrosive
liquIds may, under the law, be ad
mitted if they are put in safe contain
ers. Live pigs and turkeys will usual
ly be excluded on the score of weight,
and at any rate, it will be cheaper to
mail them killed and dressed, but live
for short hauls may become
a common part of the postman' deliv-
bry.
For the purpose of fixing rates, eight
zones have been created based uron
units that are squares about 30 miles
On each side, or half degtee of lati-
Jude. But for practical purposes, we
nay say that the first zone includes all
points within so miles of the postoffice