Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-12-30
164,S99 miles of star routes. 29,2S3
miles of steamboat lines and 1907
112 miles of rural mail routes

164,399 miles of star routes. 1928;
miles of steamboat lines and 1907,
772 miles of rural mail routes.
For parcels post matter, a distinct
i've set Of postage stamps has been
provided. These distinctive stamps
must be used for all parcels posi-
matter. If the packages bear ordi
nary postage stamps they will be held
for postage.
Immediately upon the enactment OF
the parcels post law Postmaster Gen
eral Hitchcock appointed a commit
tee of postal officials. to work out the
details of the new system and to put
it into operation. The committee con
sists of the highest authorities on all
phases of postal administration. Its
personnel is: Robert S. Sharp, chief
postofice inspector, chairman; J. c,
Rooms, superintendent OF salaries and
allowances; G. B. Hurley, chief clerk
to the third assistant postmaster gen.
eral; G.. l.. Wood, superintendent OF
rural mails; and A. A. Fisher, chief
clerk to the second assistant post.
master general. Associated with the
committee in an advisory capacity Is
George B. Thomson, chief clerk OF
the p~ostofice department. These OF.
ficials have developed the plaa Of the
parcels post and prepared the details
OF its operation.
The drafting of regulations to gov.
|ern matter transmitted by parcels
post was personally directed by Post
master General Hitchcock. One oil
these regulations is that each parcel
mailed must bear on its face the
name and address of the sender, pre-
coded by the word, From" Parcels
intended for dispatch must be mailed
at a postof1ice, branch postofice. nam
ed or lettered station or such mum.
bered station as may be designated
by the postmaster. They must not be
placed in or upon letter boxes or
package boxes located in city streets.
They may be given, however, to any
rural or star route carrier. Parcels
must not be sealed and must be so
prepared as to permit of easy exam
ination. Such parcels as contain two
or more classes of mail matter are
chargeable with postage at the rate
prescribed for the higher class.
All matter which Is declared VA
mailable by law will be unavailable as
parcels post matter. This sincludes
obscene, indecent and Immoral mat
ter, Intoxicating liquors, poisOns, live
animals, birds and poultry, iniam'
mable articles and such things as
raw hides or pelts or other articles
having a bad odor. The regulations
prescribe infinitely methods to be
used in packing parcels. Liquids and
oils, paste and salves, sharp instlU.
ments, ink powders, pepper and snuft
must he placed in water tight lecep.
tacles and in many instances sur
rounded by absorbent material TO
prevent damageyto other mail matter.
Articles such as millinery, toys,
musical instruments and glassware
must be labeled, Fragile"
One of the interesting features OF
the regulations concerns perishable
articles. In this class are placed but.
ter, lard, fish. fresh meats, dressed
fowls, vegetables and fruits and Der.
ries. Provision is made for carrying
almost every article produced on the
farm except live animals and live
fowls. In the local zone little packing
is required. Within the first <zole-
that is, for a, shipment of 50 miles
all these articles must be enclosed In
an inner cover and in a strong outer
cover of wood, metal or heavy CORFU
gated pasteboard and SO wrapped that
nothing can escape from the package
1t. has been demonstrated to the
satisfaction Of Postmaster General
Hitchcock that eggs a be trans
ported safely by parcels post. Oi
course, they may not be mailed in pa
per bags, but must be. enclosed In
proper containers.
Parcels which cannot be delivered
will take their course through the
dead letter office. If a parcel should
contain matter that, In course Of it,
Transportation, becomes Offensive, Of
to health, 1t may be destroy
gu ny IIO pOSU.lI1cICI. OuIuCllyVbNUI
perishable matter which does not be
come offensive or injurious to health
may be turned over to local municipal
authorities to be distributed to hos
pitfalls, asylums Or other similar ~.
situations. B
Provision is made in the law fol
the decentralization of shippers f0r
lost packages. The law ~prescrbes
that by insurance the actual value oi
lost packages will be give. to the
senders. Postmaster General Hitch
cock has devised q unique system for
handling insured parcels, consisting
of a shipping tag printed with two
coupons, one Of which 10 torn of and
given to the sender, the second re-
tailed by the postmaster at the send.
ing Office, the tag itself being attach
ed to the parcel and bearing the
name and address Of the person to
whom''N IL to be delivered. The fee