Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-09-07
PARCELS POST TO BE START.
ED FIRST or COMING YEAR
Extension Of Mail System to Cover
More Than Million Miles of Routes
Postmaster General Points to
Some Important Changes That Must
Be Worked Out For the system.

Be Worked Out For the System.
Washington, ID. c., Aug. 30--An-
nouncement was made by Postmaster
General Hitchcock last night that the
postofiice department would be in
readiness January /, 1913, to put
into general operation the recently
authorized parcels post system.
The postal express business. which
must be organized within the next
four months. will extend over more
than a million miles of rural delivery
and the star routes and will cover, in
it's various ramiiications, all systems
zed by private express companies.
In order to take up personally and
Immediately the work of organization
of the new service, Mr.. Hitchcock has
cancelled engagements he had for his
vacation and will remain in Washing
ton to direct the organization.
The details of the parcels post sys-
TEN will be worked out by a series of
committees composed of officers and
experts of the department
Law Is Explained.
First of all" said Mr.. Hitchcock,
last night, must be prepared class
ifcation of the articles that can be ac-
cepted for transportation by parcels
post. The law admits to the mails
practically all kinds of merchandise
that can be transported safely, includ-
ing products of the farm and garden
as well as factory products, provided
such articles do not weigh more than
IL pounds nor exceed ~ inches in
combined length and girth
"The mode of packing will be pre-
scribed carefully. The present equip
ment of the mail service is not adapted
to the carriage of such merchandise,
therefore new equipment must be pro-
vided
1T is likely we shall employ, extern
sively, hampers, similar to those used
in foreign countries, in handling par
GELS post mail. The style, size and
material of such hampers must be de-
termined an advertisements issued
for their purchase.
''The law provides that postage On
parcels shall be prepaid by affixing dis
tinctive stamps. This will necessi-
tate the designing and printing of at
least dozen denominations of special
stamps, ranging in value from one cent
to 81. Provision for the collection on
delivery of the price of parcel must
be made. Regulations governing this
prepared.
Question Of Indemnity.
"The law provides Naturalization
for lost or damaged articles and since
many of the articles to be carried will
be fragile or perishable, the question
of indemnity is one for careful regula-
ton.
THE system of distance zones re-
quires the employment by postmasters
OF a distinctive postal map on which
the zones are represented Such a map
already has been prepared by the de-
partment an arrangements are being
made for the printing of about 10000
in order that each postoffice and postal
station in the United States may be
supplied with two copies. directory
of al lofiices is being compiled for use
in applying the prescribed rates of
postage to the distances shown on the
zone map.
'The question of adequate transpcr-
tation and terminal facilities for the
parcels post mail on railway and
Steamsip lines and in the city wage
service, will have to be worked out
with such care as to insure the prompt
movements of such mail and to pre-
vent possible congestion of the or
binary mail"