The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-20
BURLESON ENLARGES
PARCEL POST SERVICE

eie"ch 10 twenty pounds. 1 expect 10
see increased to 100 pounds. and ex-
pericnce may demonstrate the pracu-
cability of handling the parcel bust
ness At even lower rates than We now
propose.
In tho making Of extensions and
reductions of rates. II is necessary for
us 10 proceed with caution. so as 20
AFFORD ample opportunity to prepare
for the increased business. For that
reason we have made the changes pro-
posed apply only TO the frst and soc
ond zones. I appreciate fully the scn-
t!ment FOR an Increase in the weight
limit and reduction in rates TO all
zones but II Is necessary for us. in n
sense TO feel our way"
Mr. Burleson announced the changes
as follows
The first zone shall include the ter
ritory within the local delivery OF any
office. and the first zone rate OF post
age Will apply TO all parcel post mall
deposited at any Office FOR local de-
livery or for delivery by city carrier
or on rural routes emanating from that
post-ofiicc
The second zone shall include the
remainder Of what is now the .rst zone.
together Win the prcscn, second zone.
and shall Include all the units OF area
located in whole or IN part within 4
radius Of approximately $50 miles from
any given post-onlce.
The rate OF postage on parcels
weighing in excess OF four ounces in
tho proposed FIRST zone viii be reduced
from cents for the Nrst pound and
cent for each additional pound or
fraction thereof. 70 cents for tho frst
pound and cent for each additional
two pounds or fraction thereof, and
"a
reduced from cents FOR the first
pound and cents for each additional
pound. or cents for the nrst pound
and cents for each additional poun !
or fraction therco: to cents FOR the
first pound and ! cent for each add
tional pound o. fraction thereof
Maximum Twenty Pounds
The maximum weight OF parcel post
packages Viii he Increased from eleven
pounds 10 twenty pounds, the Increase
Of weight TO apply only TO tho tirst and
second zones No change has hecn
made In the size or form OF the pack
age"
Statistics collected by the depart
ment show t, I quite one-third OF the
total number OF parcels mailed are
handled within tho proposed hrst and
second zones. and the Postmaster Gen
ereln believes the increase in tho
weight limit and the reduction OF the
rates OF postage in the first and second
zones, as proposed. will benefit greatly
more than one-th!rd OF the public; and
that the producer. the consumer ana
the local merchant Will profit nateri-
ally by the CHI. gcs
He points out. too that the farmers.
who were led TO anticipate much bene-
~ from the parcel post service will
be afforded cheap means of trans
porting their products directly 10 the
consumer. and that the local merchant
whose trade does not justify the en-
ployment OF extensive delivery serv-
ice also will be benefited as the sys-
TEN will put him in close touch with
his customers.
At the outset 1t was estimated that
900, 100000 parcels would be handled
during the first year OF tho operation
! OF the parcel post system, but II now
/ appears from the statistics that, in
/ fiuenccd by the changes proposed to-
day. the service will be so popuiarized
that tho number Of parcels carried
during the ensuing twelve months will
be more than double tho original esti-
mate.
The rate sheet, which Is to be used
as a substitute for the parcel post map
/ will be prepared as soon as practi-
cable and attached to the parcel post
/ guide. The rate chart, to be made for
each separate post-ofiice, will be
worked out from the local point OF
the unit in which the post-ohlce is
located. The simplicity of the plan,
it is thought will make easily deter
minable the rate Of postage from that
unit to any other on any mailable par
eel and will greatly facilitate the
| handling of parcel post matter at
| post office windows.
| Under regulations recently adopted
! the use of distinctive stamps no longer
| Is mandatory, and the public now is
| permitted to mail parcels with ordi-
nary stamps affixed
Insurance Zee Reduced,
| The insurance fee. which originally
was 10 cents, was found to he eXces
sive and an order. effective July l. re-
| duced to cents the fee on parcels
insured to actual value up to $685. and
a 1o-cent fee is exacted only on par
cells insured to actual value of more
this arrangement the business of in
surfing packages has more than dou-
bled. particularly In the sending OF
valuable merchandise
During the present month an i'm.
mense business has been built up ir
tho handling of parcels forwarded
under the c. o. ID. regulation inaugu-
rated July ], 1913, which Is said to
be proving popular not only among
merchants, but among the people gen
orally.
Postal experts estimate that. will
the proposed changes in the parcel pos
system In operation, the revenues o
the Post-Office Department will he SO
plus at the end of tho current flsca
vear.