The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-26
Parcels Post System to Save
Millions to American People
Like Rural Free Delivery, Its Usefulness Will Increase Year
ly-Details of Rates and Zones - Express Companies
Must Meet Government Competition.
The inauKuration

n Inauguration. with the COM
Imencement of the calendar a OF
the parcels post by the postotfice de-
partment. will put in operation the
ImoSt gigantic scheme ever undertaken
by any department OF the federal gov
lernment and establish a competition
with the express monopoly of the
country. which, by reason of the low
postal rates. will reduce my many mil
lions. the earning powers of the x
press companies. Ii will force those
corporations to meet the governments
iof the great business of the country
The millions of dollars which the ex-
press companies stand to lose by the
parcels post competition will go into
the pockets Of the people.
The service applies to the smallest
Ipostofttce in the country as we'll as to
the more pretentious cities and towns.
Compared With II. F. d. Service.
Like the rural free delivery system.
Established on a small scale some
years ago. which is growing in USE
lfulness by leaps and bounds. making
possible the delivery Of mail matter
to the most remote residence Of the
country. the parcels post will carry its
packages to every postoflce in the
country.
In addition the parcels will go over
jCSSAS ~. - OoSo "a " SAoll O
million miles. over the thousands Of
miles where the railway mail service
is operative, along star routes. naviga-
BILE rivers and all intervening points,
directly to the homes of the people.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, since
the passage of the bill by congress,
authorizing the establishment Of the
officers. has been working out the de-
tails for the establishment Of this
|stupendous undertaking. While in
large measure a concrete plan has
been mapped out, and m which its
designers feel sure will produce salts
factory results from the start. many
improvements will become necessary
service develop. The beginning Of the
system will be largely experimental.
The p~ostofflce officials will o o learn
by experience any errors they have
fallen into in devising the plans upon
which it is to be operated. n cor
lrections and improvements will quick
lily follow. until within the next few
Years it will be raised to a high stand
lard OF perfection.
Under the present postoffice regula-
ltions a package exceeding the weight
OF tour pounds could not be mailed.
THE rate Of postage on sue a package
lof merchandise so closely approx.
mates the charges OF the express com
and in some instances exceeds
1.-THE express tolls, that much OF this
business goes through the express
companies. Under the tariff schedules
OF the parcels post the rate for trans
iportation Is so heavily cut as to leave
Inc comparison with express rates. The
limit of weight has been raised from
four pounds to eleven pounds and thu
rates equitably arranged by zones
maxine the charges for like distances
from one point to another In any par
OF the country the same The coun.
ltry has been subdivided into eight toll
Zones, the first zone covering 50 miles
1.-The second $50 miles. the third 300
miles, the fourth 600 miles. the NTH
1000 miles, the sixth 1.400 miles. the
seventh 1900. and the eighth an,
distance over 1900, which would cover
1.-The transportation Of a package from
Washington to San Francisco or any
Isimilar long distance. The zone tariff
lrates apply this way: Say o wanted
Ito send a parcel from Washington t.
la point within the first zone Of 81
miles weighing eleven pounds. which
lis the limit of weight. the cost woule
Ibe 35 cents. or II the distance to h
lowered entered into the second zon'
the charge would be 46 cents 70
lover 50 miles and not exceeding 49,
LIST Zone I'd
Local Zone Zone
Weight Rate Rate Rate