Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-07-25
To Extend The Parcel Post.

Plans for the extension, Improvement
and reduction in rates Of the parcel post
were announced last Saturday by Postmas-
ter-General Burleson.
The changes. which are to become effec-
tive on August IS, include an increase from
II pounds to 20 pounds in the maximum
weight Of parcels, a material reduction in
the postage rates in the first and second
zones and the abandonment of the parcel
post map as a means Of computing rates
and the substitution for it Of rate chart
individualized TO every postofice in the
United States.
While for the present the maximum
weight limit Of 20 pounds and the reduc-
ton in rates will apply only to the first
and second zones from any given post
ofiice-a distance Of about $50 miIes-the
changes directed Saturday constitute the
first long step toward universal extension
OF the system and general reduction in
the rates of postage on parcel matter.
1T is my expectation and belief" said
Postmaster-GeneralB urleson. that event
ually and it may be IS or 20 years-the
postal service will practically handle all
OF the small package transportation bust
ness in the United States The maximum
weight limit extended now from II to 20
pounds expect TO see increased to 100
pounds and experience may demonstrate
the pTacticability Of handling the parcel
business at even lower rates than we now
propose"
From Baltimore's point of interest the
reconstruction Of the parcel post system
will be Of great benefit to merchants and
the business men and farmers who deal in
Baltimore. The local" or new first zone
includes all Baltimore city and all farmers
and towns on the rural free routes ema-
mating at Baltimore as well as routes con.
Meeting with them.
There are 10 rural routes out of Balti.
more For instance, the TowsOn postoffice
is a branch Of the Baltimore postoffice and
it has two rural routes running out Of it.
Woodlawn has two rural routes. Mount
Washington. Spanows Point, Brooklyn, Col
gate, Elkridee and Relay one each This
territory contains an estimated population
Of $4,000. A Baltimore merchant can
ship to farmers or suburban residents OF
these ruralJoutes packages up to 20 pounds
at cents the first pound and cent for
each subsequent two pounds. or a 20.
pound package at II cents A farmer
living on these rural routes has the same
opportunity Of shipping his produce in
market baskets to the Baltimore city kitch-
en- at the same rate.
The big slash in rates for the second
zone. with weight limit of 20 pounds
should prove boon to the Baltimore re.
tail trade. This zone embraces practically
all Of the Baltimore retail territory. All
Maryland. all Delaware. the Valley of Viz.
ginia as far down as stanton, the Pied.
mont and Northern section OF Virginia,
the Eastern Shore and towns so miles
below Richmond. the Western Panhandle
OF West Virginia. one-third of Pennsylya.
MIA and one-third of New Jersey are in.
cluded in this zone.
The rate will be S cents for the first
pound and cent for each additional pound
up to 20 pounds. A 20-pound pack can
b. sent within practically railroad dis.
tance Of 225 miles out Of Baltimore for
"a cents. The express rate is between
so and rs cents.
II the present test of the parcel post ex-
tension works out, il is understood that
more sweeping changes will be made the
first Of next year. Under the parcel post
act the Postmaster General has the au-
thority to make these changes with the
approval Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Statistics collected by the department
show that quite one-third of the total
number of parcels mailed are handled
within the proposed first and second zones,
and the Postmaster General believes the
increase in the weight limit and the re-
duction Of the rates Of postage in the first
and second zones, as proposed. will benefit
greatly more than one-third Of the public,
and that the producer. the consumer and
the local merchant will profit materially
by the changes.
At the outset it was estimated that
300.000.000 parcels would be handled
during the first year Of the operation Of
the parcel post system. but II now appears
from the statistics that. influenced by the
changes proposed. the service will be so
popularized that the number Of parcels
carried during the ensuing II months will
be more than double the original estimate.
The rate sheet, which is TO be used as
a substitute for the parcel post map will