Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-12-30
Thought New System VIII
Bring Farmer and Factory
Closer Together
viii be Direct Competitor Of
Express Companies on
Small Packages
10y Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-A New
Years gift by the American gov ern.
ment to the American people will be
a thoroughly equipped domestic par
cells post. Following consideration of
the subject in a general way for a
third Of a century, congress, last Au-
gust, authorized the postmaster gen
eral to establish the new system on
January /, 1913.
In actual operation, it Is expected
that the parcels post will bring the
factory and the farm into closer touch
with the consumer, and that it may
reduce the cost Of living. The largest
city and the most obscure hamlet,
alike, will enjoy the advantages OF
the parcels post. 1t will be open to
all on precisely equal terms.
The new system will be a direct
competitor of the express companies,
particularly on small package BUSH
ness. BY it., shippers practically may
send from their own doors, parcels
to any one of the 10000 postofices
in the United States.
The rates of postage for parcels
post matter differ radically from
those of other classes of mail. First,
second, and third class mail matter
now is transported at a fiat rate for
any distance. Parcels post rates are
based upon a series n zones and they
increase as the. distance increases.
The first zone includes all territory
within a radius Of approximately SO
miles from the postOffice at which the
parcel ma be mailed; the second,
$50 miles; the third, 800 miles; the
fourth, 600 miles; the fifth, 1000
miles; the sixth, l,40O miles; the sew
enth 1900 miles, and the eighth, all
territory beyond 1890 miles.
BY the terms of the law, all matter
not now embraced i'm the first, sec
ond and third classes of mail matter
may be forwarded by parcels post,
provided q single package does not
exceed II pounds in weight or is not
greater in dimensions that 70 inches
in combined length and gltth, and is
not of such a character as to injure
postal employees or damage equipment
or other mail matter. In a word, 1t
will include all kinds Of merchandise.
The rates are computed on the dis
lance and on the weight of the pack
iage in pounds. Provision is made,
however, for small packages weigh
ing from one to four ounces, which
may be sent at a fiat rate of n cent
for each ounce; but for packages
weighing more than four ounces the
pound rate of postage applies.
Within the postal district OF any
postoffice a local rate of five cents
for the first pound aud one cent for
each additional pound lis prescribed
Within the so miles representing the
first zone, the rate is five cents for
the first pound and three cents for
each additional pound. This rate in
creases with the distance, until IT
reaches "a maximum of twelve cents
a pound for delivery within the eighth
zone, 1 800 miles from the point OF
mailing.
Under the regulations promulgated
by Postmaster General Hitchcock the
maximum rate of twelve cents a
pound applies on all parcels, except
those weighing four ounces or less,
addressed to any point in Canada,
Mexico. Cuba and the Republic OF
Panama. The domestic rate also APP.
plies, to any point in the Hawaiian
Islands, the United Postal agency at
Shanghai, to any point in Alaska, and
between any two points IN Alaska. II
applies, likewise, to parcels mailed in
the United States for delivery In the
Canal zone and to parcels going to or
coming from the Philippine Islands.
In the opinion OF the postal experts
the new service will be the most 81
ga1tic transportation proposition ever
undertaken by the government. The
service will extend over more than
1,435,0O0 miles Of transportation lines,
including 2Sss 500 miles Of railways,