Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-09-28
NEW PARCEL POST SYSTEM
Vast Change In the Mailing Of Nearly
All Merchandise Other Than
Printed Matter.

| Printed Natter.
The new parcel post is now q law
and goes into effect January LIST. 1918.
1t was enacted by Congress August oath
as part of the postoffice appropriation
bill. 1t does not in any way affect the
postage on seeds, cuttings, bulbs. roots
and plants which continue as fixed by
Section 4S2 of the postal laws and regu-
lations. 1t authorizes the Postmaster
General to "reform from time to time
the classification, weight, limit, rates,
zone or conditions" of parcel post, sub
ject to the consent of the Interstate Com
mercs Commission. II provides for q
joint committee Of three from each house
Of Congress to further inquire into the
general parcel post and all related sub
jects, and to report to Congress at the
earliest date possible.
The new law provides "that hereafter
fourth-class mail matter shall embrace
all other matter, including farm and fact
ory products not now embraced by law
in either the first, second or third class,
not exceeding IL pounds in weight, nor
greater in size than ~ inches in length
and girth combined, nor in form or kind
likely to iDjure the person of any postal
employee or damage the mail equip
ment or other mail matter and not of o
character perishable within q period
reasonably required for transportation
and delivery"
Postage on fourth-class matter weigh
ing not more than four ounces shall con-
tinue to be fiat rate of cent for each
ounce or fraction thereof for all distances
as at present; but all other fourth-class
matter weighing four ounces or more
shall be at the new pound rates. The
new law then divides the parcel post in
to two services, one which may be called
local parcel post, the other the zone sys-
tom Of parcel post
The Local Parcel Post.
"On all matter mailed at the postoffice
from which q rural route starts, for de-
livery on such route, or mailed at any
point on such route for delivery at any
other point thereon, or at the Office from
which the route starts, or on any rural
route starting therefrom, and on all mat
ter mailed at city carrier Office, or at
any point within its delivery limits, for
delivery by carriers from that Office, or
at any Office for local delivery, 5 cents
for the FIRST pound or fraction of pound
and cent for each additional pound or
fraction of a pound"
That is perfectly plain. The rural
carrier or the city carrier must now ac-
cept packages for delivery within the
area of the local postoffice at cents for
the FIRST pound or less, increasing cent
for each additional pound up to total
of IL cents for IL pounds, provided the
parcel complies with the above rsgula-
tion as to size and character.
The Zone Rates.
Rates for greater distances are:
For delivery within the first zone, ex-
cspt as above, cents for the first pound
or fraction of pound, and cents for
each additional pound or fraction of q
pound.
For delivery within the second zone,
cents for the first pound or fraction of
pound, and cents for each additional
pound or fraction of pound.
For delivery within the third zone, 7
cents for the first pound or fraction of a
pound. and cents for each additional
pound or fraction of pound.
For delivery within the fourth zone, 8
cents for the FIRST pound or fraction of a
pound, and cents for each additional
pound or fraction of pound.
For delivery within the fifth zone, 8
cents for the first pound or fraction of a
pound, and z cents for each additional
pound or fraction of a pound.
For delivery within the sixth zone, 10
cents for the first pound or fraction Of q
pound, and 8 cents for each additional
pound or fraction of a pound.
For delivery within the seventh zone,
ii cents for the first pound or fraction of
a pound, and 10 cents for each additional
pound or fraction of a pound.
For delivery within the eighth zone
and between the Philippine Islands and
any portion of the United States, Porto
Rico, Hawaii, Alaska or Samoa, IL cents
for the first pound or fraction of pound,
and IL cents for each additional pound
or fraction of pound.
The rates on parcels to foreign coun.
tries is not changed. 1t remains at /
cent for every ounce up to ii pounds
weight to all countries in the postal
union.
Carriers to Collect Accounts.
The Postmaster General is also re-
quired to provide, by regulation, for the
naturalization of shippers using the
parcels posts for shipments injured or
lost, by insurance or otherwise, and,
when desired, for the collection on de-
livery of the postage and price of the
article shipped, fixing such charges az
may be necessary to pay the cost of those
additional services.
The benefits which will accrue as a
result of the system are enumerated as
follows:
Reduces cost Of shipping small mer-
chandise.
Increases size of parcels which may be
carried.
Protects country merchants against
mail order houses.
May force lower express rates.
| Permits G. o. d. shipments.
| Charges may be prepaid or collected.
Minimum charges for eleven pounds,
10 cents.