Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-11
Lower Rates Approved.

For First and Second Zones.
Twenty In All Others.
Books Admitted.
Washington, Dec. 6.-Postmaster- Gen
eral Burleson's proposal to increase the
weight limit of parcel-post packages in
the first and second zones from 20 to 80
pounds, to admit books to the parcel post
and to reduce rates in the third, fourth,
fifth and sixth zones was approved today
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
The maximum weight of parcels to all
zones beyond the second was increased
from II to 20 pounds.
One of the reasons in raising the weight
limit in the local zones is to encourage
the utilization of the parcel post as a
shipping agency for farm produce to the
cities. After January l farmer living
at any point in Maryland, as far south in
Virginia as Newport News, Petersburg
or Lexington, Va, in one-half of Penn
sylvania, two-thirds of New Jersey and
all Delaware, can ship to Baltimore a
market basket" weighing fifty pounds
for 81 cents.
The increased weight limit in the local
zones will also give the Baltimore 'mer-
chants an opportunity to ship direct to
the Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and
Southern Pennsylvania farmer and town
customer packages of merchandise weigh
ing as much as so pounds.
The commission's consent" to the pro-
posed changes was transmitted in three
letters from Chairman Clarklto Postmas-
ter General Burleson. The approved
changes in rates and weights, to be in
effect January l, 1914; follow:
To reduce the rates for the third zone
from seven cents for the first pound and
five cents for each additional pound to
six cents for the first pound and two
'ents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fourth zone
from eight cents for the first pound and
tx cents for each additional pound to
seven cents for the first pound and four
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth zone
from nine cents for the first pound and
seven cents for each additional pound to
eight cents for the first pound and six
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the sixth zone
from ten cents for the first pound and
nine cents for each additional pound to
nine cents for the first pound and eight
cents for each additional pound.
1t is provided by the Postmaster
eral, with the consent of the commission,
that the rate of postage on parcels con-
tanning books weighing eight ounces or
less shall be one cent for each two ounces
or fractional part thereof, and on those
weighing in excess of eight ounces the
zone parcel-post rates shall apply" This
is to be effective March l6, 1914.
Consent also was given by the commits
sion to the admission of shipments of
gold, gold bullion and gold dust in Alaska
and to and from Alaska in packages
weighing not more than IL pounds. The
rate of postage fixed is two cents an
ounce or fraction thereof for all distances.
1.-The Postmaster-General issued an
order effective August Is last increasing
the weight limit in the first and second
zones from II to 20 pounds and materially
reducing the rates Of postage for these
zones and stated at that time that this
step was in the nature of an experiment,
said statement issued tonight by the
Postoffice Department. :'After these
changes had been in operation for some
time record was kept of the number of
parcels handled in large number of
representative postofiices throughout the
United States and the report received
from these offices show that the changes
in the service have been greatly appre-
ciated by the public.
"The number of parcels handled in the
first and second zones since these changes
became effective show an increase of APP
proximately Is per cent. The average
weight limit has increased from 1.02 to
IL pounds per parcel and, notwithstand-
ing the great reduction in rates in the
first and second zones, the average post
age has increased per parcel from IT
cents to 10 cents"
The statement says Of the change re-
lating to books that it "has strongly been
urged by circulating libraries, schools,
colleges and publishers ever since the
establishment of the parcel-post service,
as the present restrictive weight limit
and rates on books are proh!bitive to a
great extent, except in the case of cata-
logues," and that it twas not deemed
advisable to place the order changing the
classification of books in effect on Janu-
airy l, as it was desired to give at least
three months notice to firms whose cat
alogues were now being printed"
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Winebrenner Gets $500.
One officer has found that it is poor