Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-09
Parcel POST GROWS
By RATE CHANGES
ikcREAsE OF MAXIMUM WE,oHrs
AND LOWER TOLLS CREATE
NEW BUSINESS.
MORE EXTENSION PLANNED
~ POSTMASTER GENERAL
Increase Of Weight Limit, Admission %
BooI<s to Parcel Service and othsP
Suggested Changes Approved BY In
tsrstats Commerce Commission =
cataIos Houses Not Pleased.
Washington.

! Washington, Dec. S-Postmastes
General Burlesons proposals to In
crease the weight limits Of parcel post
{, packages In the first and second zones
from twenty to fifty pounds. to ad-
init books to the parcel post and to re-
duce rates In the third, fourth, NTH and
sixth zones, was approved by the inter-
{! state commerce commission.
/ The maximum weight OF parcels ia
j all zones beyond the second was Tn
creased from eleven to twenty pounds.
The approved changes in rates and
weights to be in effect january. 1914.
follows:
/ To reduce the rates for the third zone
from cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional
pound. to 8 cents for the first pound
and 2 cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fourth
zone from cents for the hrst
pound and 6 cents for each additional
pound to seven cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional
pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth conc
from cents for tho first pound
and cents for each additional
pound to cents for the first
pound and 6 cents for each additional
pound.
To reduce the rates for the sixth
zone from 10 cents for tho nrst pound
and 8 cents for each additional pound
to cents for the first pound and s
cents for each additional pound.
Public censidsrsd.
Tt seems obvious" says the commits
sion, that the service to the public
will be promoted by these changes pro-
vided the revenue from the service -
not less than the cost thereof Your ex-
periences and statistics seem to show
clearly that the revenue viii not be
less than the cost Of the service.
We can conceive Of no opposition
to the increased weights and reduced
rates proposed except from the car
riers that transport tho mails. We
have had some objections from them on
the ground that tho increased weight
should not be permitted until provision
for additional compensation to the car.
rters has been made"
The Book Rate.
It II provided by the postmaster gen.
eral, with the consent Of the commits.
sion that the national postage on, books
weighing eight ounces or less shall be
one cent for each two ounces or frac-
tional part thereof. and on those
Weighing In excess Of eight ounces, the
zone parcel post rates shall apply
This IL to be effective March is. 1914
Serious objections to tho proposed
change in the rates on books and cat.
alogues were made chiefly by maiiers
Of heavy catalogues. but the commits
sion says It feels that the changes are
in the interest Of the public generally.
Gold, Gold Bullion, Gold Dust.
Consent also was given by the DOM.
mission to fhe admission Of shipments
Of sold. gold bullion and gold dust In
Alaska and to and from Alaska In
packages Weighing not more than elev-
en- pounds. Tho rate Of postage hxed
Is two cents an ounce or fraction
thereof for all distances.
1.-The postmaster general issued an
order effective August 15st last In
creasing the weight limit in the first
and second zones from eleven to twenty
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 post
Office department.
On the Right Track.
AFTER these changes had been In
operation for some time Q record was
kept Of the number Of parcels handled
in large number Of representative Of
fees turnout tho United States and
the reports received from these Offices
show that the changes In the service
have been greatly appreciated BY the
public. The number Of parcels hand
led in the first and second zones since
these changes became effective show
an increase approximately 16 per cent.
The average weight limit has also In :
creased from 1.02 70 IL pounds per
parcel and notwithstanding the great
reduction In rates in the first and Sec
don zones the average postage has In
creased Der parcel from ~ cents to
10 cents"
For General Intslliosnes.
The statement says Of the change re"
latinr to books that It has strongly
been urged by circulating libraries.
schools. colleges and publishers ever
since the establishment Of the parcel
post service, a. the present restrictive
weight limit and rates on books are
prohibitive to q great e1tent except IN
the case Of catalosues and that 1t was
not deemed advisable to place the or
der changing tho classification Of books
in. effect on January 1st 40 It was desfr-
ed 20 give It least three months no.
tice to firms whose catalogues are now
being printed.