The Cairo bulletin., 1913-01-01
PARCELS POST
Law GOES into
Effect TODAY
Uncle Sam Will Deliver Meat,
Bricks, Eggs and Ladies
Millinery.
RATES ARE FIXED BY ZONES
Can Be Insured, Registered or
SPECIAL Delivery Stamps
Applied.
RATES ARE FIXED BY ZONES

Washington, Dec. 3l.--A New
Years gift by the American Govern
ment to the American people will be
thoroughly equipped domestic Par
eel Post Following consideration
of the subject in a general way for
a third Of a century, Congress, last
August, authorized the Postmaster
General to establishe the new sys-
tenn on January J., 1913.
In actual operation, it is expected
that the Parcel Post will bring the
factory and the farm into closer
touch with the consumer. and that It
may reduce the cost of living. The
largest city and the most obscure
hamlet alike will enjoy the advant-
ages of the Parcel Post. 1t wi be
open to all on precisely equal terms.
The new system will be a direct
competito- Of the express companies,
particularly on small package busi-
ness by 1t, shippers practically
may send from their own doors,
parcels to any one of the 10000
postoffices in the United States
The rates. of postage for Parcel
Post matter differ radically from
those Of othe- classes Of mail. First,
second and sthird Z ass mail matter
now is transported at fat rate for
any distance. Parcel Post rates are
based upon series Of zones and
they increase as the distance in
creases The first zone includes all
territory within radius of ap-
proximately so miles from the post
office at which the parcel may be
mailed; the second, $50 miles; the
third, 500 miles; the fourth, 600
miles; the fifth, 1000 miles; the
sixth. 1,40o miles; the seventh. L.
500 miles. and the eighth, all terri
tory beyond 1900 miles.
BY the terms Of the law al matter
not now embraced in the first, sec
ond and third classes of mail matteg
may be forwarded by Parcel Post,
provided a single package does not
exceed II pounds in weight at is net
greater in dimensions that 72 inches
in combined length and girth, and
Is not of such "A character as to in
jurc postal employees or damage
equipment or other mail matter. Ii.
a word, it will include al kinds OF
merchandise.
The rates are computed on the
distance and on the weight of the
package in pounds. Provision is
made, however. for small packages
weighing from one to four ounces,
which may be sent at fiat rate of
one cent for each ounce: but for
packages weighing more than four
ounces the pound rate of postage ap-
plies.
Within the postal district of any
postoffice oeal rate of five cents
for the first pound and one cent for
each additional pound is prescribed.
Within the so miles representing
the first zone, the rate is five cents
for the first pound and three cents
for each additional pound. This
rate increases with the distance un-
til it reaches a maximum of twelve
cents a pound for delivery within
the eighth zone, 1900 miles from
the point of mailing.
Under the regulations promulgat-
cd by Postmaster General Hitchcock
the maximum rate of twelve cents a
pound applies on all parcels, except
Ethose weighing four ounces or less,
addressed to any point in Canada,
Mexico, Cuba and the Republic OF
Panama. The domestic rate also .ap-
D les to any point in the Hawaiian
Islands, the United States Postal
Agency at Shanghai, to any point in
Alaska and between any two points
in Alaska. 1t applies, likewise, to
parcels mailed in the United States
for delivery in the Canal Zone and
to parce's going to or coming from
the Philippine Islands.
In the opinion of the postal ex-
perts the new service will be the
most gigantic transportation propo-
sition ever undertawen by the Gov
ernment. The service will extend