The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-02
NUMBER So
PARCEL POST CHANGES.

Weight Limit increased from Eleven
to Twenty Pounds, and Rates
Materially Reduced in First and
Second zones-New Regulations
Effective Aug. is.
In accordance with an order re-
Gently promulgated by Postmaster
General Burleson, important changes
In the parcel post service will be-
come effective Aug. Is. including an
increase from eleven pounds to TWEEN.
ty. pounds in the maximum weight
OF parcels, material reduction In
the postage rates in the first and
second zones, and the abandonment
OF the parcel post map as a means
of computing rates and the substi-
tuition for it OF a rate chart indiVid-
ualized to every postoffice In the
United States.
While, for the present, the maxi
mum weight limit of twenty pounds
and the reduction in rates will apply
only to the first and second zones.
from any given postoffice--a distance
of about $50 miles-the changes con-
stitute the first long step toward
universal extension OF the system
and a general reduction in the rates
of postage on parcel matter.
1t is my expectation and belief
said Postmaster-General Burlesen,
that eVentuAt tlly-and it may be fif-
teen or twenty years-the postal ser.
vice will haSdle practically ali the
small package transportation bust.
ness in the United States. The max
imum weight limit, extended now
from eleven to twenty pounds, ex-
pect to see increased to 100 pounds,
and experience may demonstrate the
praeticability Of handling the parcel
business at even lower rates than
We now propose
Mr.. Burleson announced the
changes as follows:
The first zone shall include the
territory within the local delivery Of
any office. and the first zone rate
OF postage will apply to all parcel
post mail deposited at any office for
local delivery or for delivery By city
carrier or on rural routes emanating
from that office.
The second zone shall include tbs
remainder of what is now the first
zone, together with the present sec
end zone, and shall include all tbs
units OF area located In WhoIe OK
In part within a radius OF approx
mately 150 miles from any given post
office.
The rate Of postage On parcels
weighing in excess of four ounces In
the proposed first zone will be ra-
dueed from cents for the first
pound and | cent for each addition
al pound or fraction thereof to
cents for the first pound and 1 cent
for each additional two pounds or
traction thereof; and the rate for
the second zone will be reduced
from cents for the first pound and
3 cents for each additional pound.
or cents for the first pound and
4 cents for each additional pound or
fraction thereof, to cents for the
first pound and l cent for each ad-
ditional pound or fraction thereof.
1.-THE maximum weight Of parcel
post packages will be increased from
eleven pounds to twenty pounds,
the increase of weight to apply on
" to the first and second zones.
No change has been made In the
size or form OF the package
Statistics collected by the depart
ment show that quite one-third OF
the total number of parcels mailed
are handled within the proposed first
and second zones, and the postmas-
ter-general believes the increase in
the weight limit and the reduction
of the rates Of postage In the first
and second zones, as proposed. Will
benefit greatly mere than one-third
of the public, and that the producer.
the consumer and the local merchant
viii profit materially by the changes.
He points out, too, that the farm
ars, who were led to anticipate nuch
benefit from the parcel post service,
will be afforded cheap means OF
transporting their products directly TO
the. consumer, and that the local
merchant whose trade does not JUS
tify the employment of extensive
delivery service also will be benefit
ed, as the system will put him in
close touch with his customers.
At the outset it was estimated
that 3Oo,o00,000 parcels would be
handled during the first year of the
operation of the parcel post system,
| but it now appears from the statistics
that, influenced by the changes pro-
posed, the service will be SO popu-
larized that the number of parcels
carried during the ensuing twelve
| months win be more than double the
| original estimate.
| Under regulations recently adopted
the use of distinctive stamps no long
Ter is mandatory and the public now
lis permitted to mall parcels with
ordinary stamps affixed.
The insurance fee, which original
ly was ten cents. was found to be
excessive, and an order, effective
July + reduced 70 five cents the fee
on parcels insured to actual value