The Washington times., 1913-11-15
CHRISTMAS MAIL
PLANS ARE READY
Stamp Reserve Depots Great
ed and Parcel Post Facilities
Greatly Increased.

Postoffice Department officials and
those of the Washington City Postoff1ce
are confident of their ability to handle
with dispatch and on time the Christ
mas rush of parcel post mail.
Though there are grave doubts in
some quarters as to the ability Of the
service 10 carry without a break the
first big rush of parcel post mail, postal
officials are unanimous in the declara-
tion that it can and will be done, even
with limited funds.
Extensive preparations are being
made every day to meet the expected
rush. Seven stamp reserve depots were
created in different sections of the
United States by Third Assistant Post
master General Dockery today. Here
tofore every postoffice had to obtain
its stamps direct from Washington.
Today 5.00o.0o0 stamps were sent to each
of seven reserve cities. This action
was taken, Mr.. Dockery said, to make
a serious stamp shortage impossible.
For the next forty days." he said,
there will be an enormous demand for
starlps-greater. / believe, than many
postmasters anticipate, and the reserve
depots were created to offset any error
in their judgment. The stamps in the
reserve cities, San Francisco, Chicago,
New Orleans, Boston, Atlanta, Cincin-
ldll, dilu IGIlNtT, are IndOe I'D IN pack
ages of from 500 worth to $500 worth
for immediate shipment in emergency
Special Arrangements Already Made.
Extra clerks and carriers are to be
put on in every city of the country, to
the limit Of available appropriations.
Second Assistant Postmaster General
Stewart, In charge of mail Transporter
ton. said today that there was not the
slightest doubt in his mind that the
first Christmas parcel post mail would
be handled without delay. We are,
speeding up the service to the highest
efficiency in preparation for the rush.
Arrangements are being made to fur
nlsh special facilities and all the add
uonal car space necessary, and post
office terminals are being established
in the big mail Interchange cities, such
as New York and Chicago. The uues-
tion of additional transportation facil-
lties and car space have been taken
up with the railroads. Every railway
mail division superintendent has re-
Gently been in Washington for confer
ence on Christmas mails. When the
tight of December 25 rolls around every
one of the fourteen railway mail serv-
ice headquarters will be clear.
we expect to be taxed to the utmost,
however" Mr.. Stewart continued, al
ready the mails are l5 per cent heavier
lhls year thdn they We're at the same
time last year."
Postmaster General Burleson and the
other officers of the department are
holding frequent conferences with the
idea of foreseeing every possible elner-
gency of the rush period. Suggestions
from all quarters are considered.
One of the main features of the pro-
gram 10 keep the mails moving just
before Christmas is the insistent pound
inc % thn Ar-fH l,-;cS
packages early Every postmaster in
the United States has been instructed
by First Assistant Postmaster General
Roper to prepare placards to this effect,
and to get in touch with his patrons
and impress them with the necessity of
early mailing.
Carriers To Work Extra Hours.
This year the old forbidden phrase,
do not open until Christmas" can be
used, and it is believed that this will
remove the prejudice of many persons
against mailing their packages early.
Elaborate preparations for a Christ
mas mail expected to total between
100000 and 100000 pieces have been
practically completed by the city post
office The Postmaster and his assist
ants are confident that the Washington
office will be clear OF all mail on
Christmas day. Beginning December
]. 80 extra carriers and clerks are to
be put to work.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Roper has given notice that the depart
ment will waive a strict construction of
the law providing that carrier cannot
work more than eight hours in ten
that is eight hours of actual work in
period Of ten hours. Mr.. Roper
has already ruled that the Christmas
rush Is an emergency as described in
the law.