The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-11-08
THE NEW PARCELS POST
SYSTEM.

o @ 9 3 o o o o o o o o o o o o 9
Washington Post.
A few days before the adjournment
of the last congress it placed upon the
statute books the parcels post law, an
entirely new departure for the nation
al government, After years of effort
on the part of the postofice depart
ment Uncle Sam has decided to give
the new system Of carrying parcels by
mail a complete try-out, and, begin
ming January l, 1913, it will be in
operation throughout the country. Be-
cause of it's vital bearing upon the well
fare of the nation the new law had a
hard and stormy passage, but the
many advantages offered became SO
apparent toward the end that it was
passed in the closing hours of the ses-
sion by a-practically unanimous vote.
The establishment of the parcels
post in America marks new era in
the history of the nation Men who
have studied the system in foreign
countries say it will tend to reduce the
cost of living. They explain it will
bring the producer and the consumer
in closer touch, and in many cases do
away with the middleman. This in it
self is, a big factor with which to reck-
on. For instance, under the new law
any one of our ninety-odd millions
may order his groceries, dry goods,
and, in fact, anything needed to keep
the inner man going by mail from al
most any section of the United States.
In that way the consumer will benefit
by keeping posted and taking advan-
tage of lower prices offered in big
sales centres. Under the old law no
package could be sent through the
mails weighing more than four pounds.
Under the new law packages weigh
ing as much as eleven pounds may be
sent by mail.
New Scales and New Maps.
There are about $4,000 postofices in
the United States. Each one of these
must be equipped with a specially
prepared map made up so as to show
each individual postofice in the United
States as centre, with zones radiat-
ing therefrom. This zone system will
be explained later on. In addition
each postofice must be furnished with
a new parcels post guide giving the
names of every postofice in the Unit
ed States and It's territories, regula-
tions of the new system, and ali infor-
nation necessary to tell the public
Just what may be sent by parcels post.
All the old scales were built to
weigh only four pounds. Because of
the change in the limit of weight new
scales will have to be purchased that
will register a weight Of eleven pounds
or more. Then comes individual in
structions of every postmaster
throughout the country. This will be
followed by the making of contracts
for delivery of packages within towns
and cities not having rural carrier
service, the appointment Of thousands
of drivers for the new wagons, de-
signing and printing of distinctive par
GELS post stamps and many other
things of a like character. All of this
must be accomplished and the system
in full operation within the next three
unonIhs. From this may be gathered
some idea of the magnitude of the task
undertaken by Uncle Sam to provide
his people with an up-to-date system
of parcels post delivery.
VIII Garry Packages at Cost.
Frank H. Hitchcock, the postmaster
general, who has been working on
plans for the past month, was asked Dy
the writer what effect the Inauguration
of this system would have upon the
cost of living.
parcels post undoubtedly will ma
terially reduce the cost OF living IN
the United States was the answer.
e'I believe that, because the new sys-
TEN will offer a cheaper means OF
transportation for all sorts OF mer-
chandise within the limit of weight
eleven pounds. The government
will carry this matter practically at