Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1913-01-02


government to the American people will
be thoroughly equipped domestic par.
GELS post Following consideration of
the subject in general way for a third
thorized the post master general to es-
tablish new system January l, 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 re-
duce the cost of living. The largest
city and the most obscure hamlet alike
will enjoy the advantages of the parcel
post. 1t will be open to all on precisely
equal terms.
The new system will be direct com.
petitor of the express companies, par
ticularly on small package business. BY
it shippers practically may send from
their own doors parcels to any one of
the 10000 postoffices in the United
States
Series Of Zones.
The rate of postage for parcel post
matter differ radically from those Of
other classes Of mail. First, second
and third class mail matter now is
transported at flat rate for any dis
lance. Parcel post rates are based up
ON series o. zones and they increase
- the distance increases. The first
zones includes all territory within ra-
dius Of approximately so miles from
the postoffice at which the parcel may
be mailed; the second, $50 miles; the
third, 300 miles; the fourth, 900 miles;
tho fifth, 1000 miles; the sixth, 1400
niles; the seventh, 1900 miles, and the
eight all territory beyond 1900 miles.
BY the terms Of the law all matter
not now embraced in the first, second
and third classes of mail matter may
be forwarded by parcel post, provided
. single package does not exceed IL
pounds in weight or is not greater in
dimensions than 10 inches in combined
length and girth and is not Of such a
character as to injure the postal en-
Ployes or damage equipments or other
mail matter. In a word it will include
all kinds Of merchandise.
Rates Vary With Distance.
The rates are computed on the dis
lance and on the weight of the package
in pounds. Provision is made however
for small packages weighing from one
ing more than four ounces, which may
be sent at flat rate of ] cent for each
ounce, but for packages weighing more
than four ounces the pound rate Of pos
tage applies.
Within the postal district of any
postoffice local rate of 8 cents foi
the first pound and | cent for each
additional pound is prescribed. Within
the fifty miles representing the first
zone the rate is 5 cents for the first
pound and 3 cents for each additional
pound. This rate increases with the
distance until it reaches maximum OF
IL cents pound for delivery within
eight zones, 1900 miles from the point
Of mailing.
Extends over 1,435000 Miles.
Under the regulations promulgated
by Postmaster General Hitchcock the
maximum rate of II cents a pound APP
plies on all parcels, except those weigh
ing four ounces or less addressed to
any point in Canada, Mexico, Cuba and
the republic of Panama. The domestic
rate also applies 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 par
cells mailed in the United States for
delivery in the canal zone and to par
cells going to or coming from the
Philippine islands.
In the opinion of the postal experts
the new service will be the most
gigantic transportation proposition ever
undertaken by the government. The
service will extend over more than
l,435,ooo miles of transportation lines
including 233,S99 miles of railways,
164,399 miles of stage routes, 20,2S3
miles of steamboat lines and about /, ;.
OO7,772 miles of regular mail routes.
Special Postage Stamps.
For parcels post matters IA dstnc-
tive set of postage stamps has been
provided. These distinctive stamps
must be used on all parcels post matter.
III the package bear ordinary postag
stamps they will be held for postage.
Immediately upon the enactment of
the parcels post law Postmaster Gen
eral Hitchcock appointed a committee
of postal officials to work out the de-
tails OF the new system and put it into