The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-08
TO TIGHTEN BURDEN
OF PARCEL POST
Postoffice Department Has Issued Some
Instructions for Users of System
During Holiday Season.

| Washington, ID. c.. Dec. 8.--During the
next three weeks Uncle Sans infant
prodigy-the parcel post service-wil be
called upon to perform a Herculean task
in connection with the transportation
and delivery of millions of Christmas
gifts. Postmaster General Burleson, who
is responsible for the conduct of this
service, has made extraordinary prepare
tions to prevent congestion in postotfces
and to insure prompt delivery of these
parcels. Several thousand additional
employees will be added to the force dur
ing the holiday season and the collec-
ton and delivery equipment will be aug
mented wherever necessary. Every pos
sible effort has been made to strengthen
those parts of the postal organization
which will be under the greatest strain
and Mr.. Burleson stated to-day that
with these special arrangements he is
confident OF the ability of the service
to handle. successfully the avalanche of
parcels that will be thrown upon it dur
ing the rush period.
The postmaster general is anxious,
however, lest the public fail to cooper
ate with him in observing certain inn
portant conditions necessary to enable
the postal authorities to effect the time
ly delivery of Christmas gifts. In or
der to secure this cooperation he has
caused to be printed for distribution
throughout the country hundreds OF
thousands of circulars and placards con-
tanning directions for the proper prepa-
ration of Christmas gifts for transmits
sion by mail.
Christmas parcels should be mailed
early. For local delivery they should be
and for out of town delivery as early
as possible, but in any event in time to
reach the offices of destination at least
two days prior to Christmas.
Christmas gifts sent by mail should
be wrapped securely. The containers
or wrappers should be sufficiently strong
to withstand the necessary handling in
cident to transportation and delivery.
Glassware, crockery, Christmas toys
easily breakable, glass-framed pictures
etc, should be carefully packed in boxes
of metal, wood, leather, or corrugated
pasteboard with sufficient excelsior, raw
cotton, or similar matter to prevent the
contents from coming into contact with
any portion of the box. These parcels
should be marked Fragile" Postmast-
ers will refuse to accept for mailing
packages that are insecurely prepared.
Parcels should be addressed plainly.
The addresses should be complete and
plainly written in ink. The regulations
require that parcel post packages shall
bear the names and addresses of both
the sender and the addressee. If tag
is used the names and addresses of the
sender and the addressee should also be
written on the parcel itself.
Parcels sent in advance of Christmas
or some similar direction.
Written or printed messages such as
Merry Christmas" "Best Wishes" ETC., |
may be inclosed in parcels, but no other
written or printed communication should |
be placed therein, as this will subject |
the parcel to a higher rate Of postage. |
Parcels should not be sealed or other
wise closed against inspection. Sealed |
parcels are subject to the first-class rate |
Of postage.
Photographs, printed books, and other
printed matter are not included in the |
parcel post but are third-class matter,
on which the postage rate is one cent |
for each two ounces or fraction thereof |
Parcels not exceeding four ounces in
weight may be mailed in street boxes, /
when prepared in conformity with the
foregoing requirements. The postage on
such packages is uniformly one cent for
each ounce or fraction thereof. Parcels
more than four ounces are
only at the main postoffice or
It's stations.
Ordinary postage stamps are valid for
postage on parcel post matter. Christ
mas stamps or stickers of any kind 9TH
sr than postage stamps should not be
placed on the address side of mail mat
Ter, as this renders such matter un-
Valuable parcel post packages may be
insured against loss in an amount not
$25 on payment of fee of
i've cents In addition to the postage,
md for fee of 10 cents such packages
will be insured in any amount not ex-
~