Weekly journal-miner., 1913-12-10

to strengthen those parts of the
 postal organization which will be
 under the greatest strain and Mir
 Burleson statedss today that with
 these special arrangements he is
 confident of the ability of the serv-
 ice to handle successfully the ava
 lanche of parcels that will be thrown
 upon 1t during the rush period.
 The postmaster general is anx-
 ious, however, lest the public fail to
 cooperate with him in observing
 certain important conditions neces-
 sary to enable the postal authorities
 to effect the timely delivery of
 Christmas gifts In order to secure this cooperation he has caused 10 be printed for distribution through out the country hundreds of thou sands of circulars and placards con taining directions for the proper preparation of Christmas gifts for transmission by mail.
 Christmas parcels should be mailed early. For local deliv- cry they should be mailed not later than December 23d and for outtof-town delivery as early as possible, but in any event in time to reach the offices of desti- nation 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 incident to trans portation 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.n Postmssters will refuse to accept tor mailing packages that are in- securely prepared.
 Parcels should be addressed plainly. The addresses should be complete and plainly written in ink. The regulations require that par eel post packages shall bear the names and addresses of both the sender and the addressee. If a tag is used the names and addresses of the sender and the addressce should also be written on the par eel itself.
 Parcels sent in advance of Christ mas may be marked Not to be : opened until Christmas" or some | similar direction. Written or print ed messages such as "Merry Christ mas," Best Wishes etc, may he ill parcels. but no other written or printed communication should be placed therein, as this will subject the parcel to q higher rate of postage. Parcels should not be sealed or otherwise closed against Sealed parcels are sub feet to the first-class rate of post age.
 Photographs printed books, and other printed matter are not includ- ed in the parcel post, but are third-c class matter on which the postage rate is one cent for each TWO ounces or fraction thereof.
 Parcels not exceeding four ounce, il weight may be mailed in street ooXcs, when prepared in conform ty with the foregoing require ncnts. The postage on such pack lges is uniformly one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof. Parcels more than four ounces are only at the main post office.
 Ordinary postage stamps are valid 1 Or postage on parcel post matter. Christmas stamps or stickers of any kind other than postage stamps should not be placed OH the ad- lress side Of mail matter as this -enders such matter unmailable.
 Valuable parcel post packages may DC insured against loss in any mount not exceeding S25 on q pay nent of fec Of five cents in ai lition to the postage and for .cc of ten cents such packages will De insured in any amount not cx- ,ecding $50.