The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-10-18
Nearly 5000 Packages Deliv-
cred from Local Office i'm
Thirteen Days
NEW RULINGS TO
PREVENT BREAKAGE
Important Conference of New England
Postmasters in Boston - Improper
Wrapping and Packing Responsible
for Damage in Transit.

That the parcel post mail has be-
come an important factor to he dealt
with at the various postof1iees of the
country and is Increasing in number
and bulk Is shown by the work i'm our
local postofiice during the first II DAYS
Of the present month. Under orders of
the department a strict account was
kept Of this branch of the service
from Oct. ! TO Oct. -. both inclusive.
with the following result, the above
period containing two Sundays. leaving
but II working DAYS:
Total number of parcels delivered
2,s4l, divided as follows: BY the city
carriers, 1850; by rural carriers, PCS;
BY automobile carrier, 1926. Parcels
received for dispatch 2,6ls, weighing
s.3li pounds and 10 ounces, amount OF
postage on same S225.s5.
Orders supplementing the general
regulations have recently been issued
by the department to postmasters say
ing that complaints have reached the
department of the frequent breakaae
Of or damage to articles sent through
the mails as parcel post. due evidently
TO improper packing or wrapping.
therefore postmasters must refuse to
receive for mailing parcels not proper
Y ~ indorsed or packed for safe ship
ment. Umbrellas. canes. golf
sticks. and articles of like character
must not be accepted for mailing un-
less they are strapped securely to
strips of wood of the same length and
are otherwise. wrapped and made suf-
fcientlv strong to Withstand the i'm
pact from heavier packages coming
against them in the process of handling
in their various stages OF transit.
The same rule must be strictly en-
forced a regards all other articles
liable to become injured or to iniure
other articles with which they may
come in contact in the process OF
transportation. Perishable articles -
particularly ripe fruits and berries -
also paints. oils and other liquids which,
if broken. would be destructive to the
contents of other parcels. must be de-
MED admission to the mails unless the
regulations as TO packing and wrap
ping are strictly observed.
At the meeting of the Association
Of New England Postmasters held in
Boston last Wednesday among whom
was Postmaster Kittredge Haskins Of
Brattleboro and at which First Assist
ant Postmaster General Roper was
present, the subject of parcel post was
freely discussed that il might be bet
ter understood and uniformity of ser
vice secured throughout New England
a Well as the entire country. 1t was
found that many parcels were damaged
or destroyed in transit and many com
, plants of loss had been made. and
the opinion prevailed that in most
cases il was due TO improper wrapping
or packing. light, thin wrapping paper
being used ami the packages tied up
: with ordinard twine string such as,
in many instances, Is used by grocers
in tying up packages for delivery to
their customers at home. Some pack
; ages are delivered at the pOstotiiee
! tied with ordinary linen thread. Every
i package should be wrapped in strong
r paper and securely tied with strong
1 cord or heavy twine.
. The matter of hat boxes containing
0 millinery came under consideration
and il was advised that such packages
o be refused unless the boxes were rein
h forced with strong, heavy cardboard
o and tied with strong twine that they
Il might resist the effect of heavier ar
f ticles with which they were liable tC
r come in contact No article should be
) received unless it plainly bore tbs
e name and postoffiee address of tn,
e sender with the word ''From - prefix
i ed. This is necessary for Identification
q Shouiu Ihe paTcel ldck Snlllcleu
It amount of postage which must be pre-
p paid, or should the package beeom'
Il broken or the name of the addresse,
t become obliterated in transit.
Mr.. Roper expressed great confidence
in the parcel post mail service and wa
anxious that all, including the farmer
of the country, should avail them
selves of its privileges, and to tha
Y end the postmasters should inform tn
public as to the rules and regulation
in regard to packing in order to insur
safe transit. etc.