The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-01-03
THE PARCELS POST.
Went into Effect Jan. 1st All Over the
4 United States VI

The inauguration of the parcels
post plan in the United States oil
Wednesday January 1, 1913, mark
ed one of the most important epochs
in the development of the American
postal service. The las. previous
step of Importance was taken when
the rural free delivery system was
put into effect fifteen years ago.
The Introduction of the parcels post
system had been agitated for ten
years without material progress
when rural free delivery became a
fact. Since then the demand for
the introduction of parcels post
system in the United States became
30 urgent that Congress finally, not
Withstanding the most strenuous OPP
position from certain interested
Auarters, yielded to the wishes Of
the people and enacted a parcels
post law.
The framing of the law was nor
an easy matter, as the whole scheme
was In the nature of an experiment
upon a tremendous scale. 1t is true
the trainers of the law had for their
guidance the laws and regulations of
q number of foreign countries where
the parcels post has been in sue
cessful operation for many years,but
the conditions of the postal service
in the United States are SO radically
different from those of the postal
service in other countries that it
was not an easy matter to adapt
their laws to American conditions
and requirements.
At last the law was drafted, sub
mitted to Congress and passed, and
January l, 1918, was fixed as the
date for its going into effect. The
many radical changes in the postal
service necessitated by the require
ments of the parcels system impos-
ed a tremendous burden of work
upon the postal authorities and dur
ing the last three months several o,
the departments worked practically
day and night to complete the prep
arations for the Inauguration of the
new service.
An entirely new series of stamps
for the exclusive use of the parcels
post service had to be designed, en-
graved, printed and distributed; new
SCALES, with capacity of eleven
pounds, to meet the requirements of
the new weight limit, had to be con-
tracted for, manufactured and sent
to the various postoffices in the
country; maps showing the zones
into which the country has been di-
vided for the purpose of fixing g
graduated distance rate, and books
the various regulations
and rules covering the new branch
of the postal service had to be. print
ed and distributed among the thou
sands OF postoffices throughout the
The public has been slow to awak-
an to the vast Importance of ths
parcels post. 1t has been so long dis
81 ssed and so frequently defeated
hat merchants, manufacturers and I
others have ceased to take 1t into /
arcount
1t must be taken into account for
III o. the plans. of 1913. 1t is go
.ng to give an impulse to free trade
throughout the country, the effe't
If which cannot be estimated in ad-
,snce.
The express companies are awake
% its meaning, and have already
the value of competl
ion. What no rule or regulation,
10 order from any commission could
accomplish, the competitor accom-
dishes even in advance OF the day
II the opening of his enterprise.
Now let the merchants everywhere
Master this new system. Let them
ealize what it means to them. Let
hem avail themselves of this oppor-
unity of extending the beneficent
influence of commerce.
Concerning weights. rates. quality
# package and so on certain sim
''e rules must be observed.
The parcels post law, will affect
'nly fourth-class mail matter, add
his class of mail natter is defin-
ID SO as to include all mail matter,
farm and factory products,
lot now embraced in the first, sec
md or third class
No single package must exceed
'leven pounds in weight, nor be
,reater in size than seventy-two
nches in length and sirth combin-
ID.
Neither must it be Of such a chac-tl
lcter as to injure any postal en-