Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1913-01-02
Uncle Sans New Years
Gift to the People
is Parcels Post.


prepared the details of its operation.
Mailed at Postoffice.
The drafting of regulations to gov
ern matters transmitted by parcels post
was personally directed by Postmaster
General Hitchcock. One of these reg
ulations is that each parcel mailed must
bear on its face the name and address
Of the sender, preceded by the word
90 From" Parcels intended for dis
patch must be mailed at postoffice,
branch postoffice, named or letter sta.
ton, or such numbered station as NAV
be designated by the postmaster. They
must not be placed in or upon 'ettcr
boxes or package boxes located in city
streets. They may be given, however
to any rural or star route carrier. Par
GELS must not be sealed and must be SO
prepared as to permit an easy examina-
ton. Such parcels as contain two or
more classes Of mail matter are charge
able with postage at the rate prescribed
for the higher class.
Some Matters Barred.
All matter which is declared un-
mailable by law will be unavailable as
parcels post matter. This includes OBJ
scene, indecent and immoral matter, in
toxicating liquors, poisons, live ami
mails, birds, poultry, inflammable arti-
cles and such things as raw hides or
pelts, or other articles having a bad
odor The regulation prescribe
infinitely methods to be used in packing
parcels. Liquids and oils, paste and
salves, sharp Instruments, ink, powders,
pepper and snuff, must be placed in
water-tight receptacles and in many in
stances surrounded by Absorb bent mater
ial to prevent damage to other mail
matter.
Articles such as millinery, toys, mu-
steal instruments and glassware must
be labeled Fragile.
Eggs Will be Acccu.ed.
One Of the interesting features of
the regulations concerns perishable ar
ticles. In this class are placed butter,
lard, fish, fresh meats, dressed fowls,
vegetables and fruits and berries. Pro
vision is made for carrying almost
every article produced on the farm ex-
cept live animals and live fowls. In
the local zone little packing is required
Within the first zone-that is, for a
shipment within fifty miles-all these
articles must be enclosed in an inner
cover and in a stronger outer cover of
wood, metal or heavy corrugated paste
board and so wrapped that nothing can
escape from the package.
Parcels May be Insured.
Parcels which can not be delivered
viii take their course through the dead
letter office. If parcel should con
tain matter that in the course of trans
portation becomes offensive or injur-
ious to the health it may be destroyed
by the postmaster. Unbelievable per-
ishable matter which does not become
offensive or injurious to health may be
turned over to local municipal authori-
ties to be distributed to hospitals, asy.
lums or other similar institutions.
Provision is made in the law for the
naturalization of shippers for lost
packages. The law prescribes that by
insurance the actual value of lost pack
ages will be given to the senders Post
master General Hitchcock has devised a
unique system for handling insured par
cells, consisting of shipping tag print.
ed with two coupons, one which is
torn off and given the sender, the Sc
cond retained by the postmaster at the
sending office, the tag itself being at
tached to the parcel and bearing the
name and address of the person to
whom it is to be delivered. The fee for
this insurance is 10 cents. In the event
of loss the government will pay the
actual value of the contents of the
package, not exceeding $50.
Postmaster General Hitchcock enter.
tains the belief that the parcels post
IS destined to become one of the most
important features of the postal serv-
ice.
Presbyterian Church.
Next Sunday evening the musical