The Washington herald., 1913-12-21
PARCEL POST
AIDS OLD SANTA
Uncle Sam Handling Record
Amount Of Christmas
Business.
NO DELAY EXPERIENCED
Every Imaginable Type Of Vehicle
Pressed Into Service for the
Delivery Of Packages.

Many years ago Uncle Sam and Santa
Claus went Iato partnership ahd have
been working hand in hand ever since
The chief aim of their mutual efforts ia
the safe delivery Of Christmas mail to
the homes Of the American people. This
year, their partnership has been made
unusually effective by the parcel post.
All possible doubts-and there have
been few-as to the advantages of the
parcel post and the benefit of this new
government service to the people Of the
United States are being put to flight
these days when Uncle Sam Is handling
record volume OF business and Is doing
II well. On the other hand, the CO.
operation with Santa Claus is hurting ex-
press companies.
Although by the addition Of the par
eel post, the bulk Of business done by the
Postofice Department has more than
doubled, there has been no trouble Of
any kind in the way OF lack Of help.
delay in deliveries, or congestion. On the
contrary, the deliveries are between
ltwenty-four and forty-eight hours ahead
of those at this time a year ago. For
example, every piece of mail that reached
the local postoffice by o'clock yesterday
afternoon was delivered to city addresses
last night.
Vehicle Committee at Work.
Every imaginable type of vehicle. from
the most modern OF delivery automobiles
to ox-carts. wheelbarrows, and even
baby bCggies, have been pressed into
service by Uncle Sam for the delivery OF
Christmas packages all over the country.
This is done through the medium of the
vehicle committee. OF which ]. A. Edger-
son, of this city, Is chairman, and the
parcel post committee. headed by John
c. Koons, of Washington.
Hundreds of grocery land other wagons
have been rented. not only here, but In
all other cities. In short. everything on
wheels and some things not on wheels,
are being used. In some country places.
1: was reported. little boys loaned Uncle
Sam their bicycles, while mothers offered
their baby carriages, and men their
wheelbarrows.
Owing to precautions taken the begin
ming OF this month. there is now hardly
any chance OF congestion, contrary to
certain reports circulated by opponents
of the parcel post system to the effect
that the government Is not able to take
care of the Christmas rush.
According to Assistant Postma ster
Louis ]. Robinson, there are enough
men and vehicles in the service now to
take care Of the business Approximately
100 additional men have been hired by
the postofice.
Express Companies Lose.
The natural consequence Of this splen-
did state Of affairs Is that the express
companies have lost the bulk of the busi-
ness done by them IN former years. II
was admitted by managers of local
branches Of some of the largest express
concerns that considerably less business
is recorded this Christmas than in former
years
On the first of the month 5000 circulars
were sent out to residents of Washington
giving detailed instructions as to how the
parcels post matter must be wrapped and
packed.
Another Improvement over FORMER years
as regards the shipments OF mail matter
is that this year such matter is made
up direct" which means that all the mail
for a certain city is put in one separate
sack, thus saving the trouble Of sorting
the mail on the train.