The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-01
SEND pACKlGES
BY MAIL TODAY
UNCLE SANS PARCELS POST
SYSTEM 10 rKAUGUnATED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
ALL READY HERE
local OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY
ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE
RUSH OF MAIL FROM
THE START.
ALL READY HERE

Clerk Devote, of the local postoffce,
stood at his window opening into the
west yestibuls of the federal build
ing at o'clock this morning ready
10 take all packages adorned with
Uncle Sans new parcels post stamps.
yesterday Acting Postmaster South
ward. Superintendent of Mail Lawder
and numerous clerks and assistants
were busy, preparing ior the opening
morning. Last night they 9rested sat
tsned that there would be no hitch
and that preparations were complete
for handling the parcels for the time
at least.
Depend on Regular Force.
For the present dependence will be
placed upon the regular force with
the help that may be required from
the substitutes. After fifteen days the
federal department will assign such
force an e trial may have demon
strated to be needfuI.
There il but one thing which Ia
causing the local officials worry, and
that Is the probable lack of space.
When the building was designed no
provision was made for any but a nor
mai increase In the quantity OF mail.
and II Is possible that In the course
or time room will be needed That,
however. liz In the future, and thera
will be little dsfficulty this early In
the game on account OF crowding. The
parcels for local delivery will bs dis
trtbuted for the time being by the
regular carriers. just A. the regular
force Will handle the mail In the of
fice. Five hundred dollars has been
appropriated for present local needs.
One form for the new parcels post.
that Of the return receipt for insured
packages. has not yet been delivered
to postrnasters, owing to the rush of
work incident to inaugurating the
great governmental express service.
Assistant Postmaster General James
j. Britt has issued instructions to
postmasters to use the return-receipt
Tor registered letters until the new
form Is received, stamping The word
insured" on the signature OF the
card.
VIII DO Popular.
Mr.. Southwark expects the parcais
post TO be popular from the start, be-
ieying that many merchants in the
city Will take advantage OF the oppor-
tuuity to send the smaller parcels more
eheaply to their out-of-town customers
oy mail than by express. From the
nrst day he expects to handle hun
dreds OF parcels, these growing into
the thousands In a short time. ssMer~
chants have told me-" be said yester-
day, that they expect to use the mails
literally. one OF them alone declared
that he expected to send thousands OF
packages during the frst few days
or the new year"
The rates OF postage which Will
prevail here are as fpliows.
For rural route and city delivery,
cents for the first pound, each ad-
ditional pound cent. or Is cents for
eleven pounds, the maximum weight
accepted
For. the fafty-niie zone. S cent? for
the f3rst pound, each additions, pound
cents or IS cents for eleven pounds.
For the Is0-mile zone. 6 cents FOR
the FIRST pound. Z cents for each al :
ditonal pound. or a6 cents for eleven
pounds
For the 30o-r,ile zone, cents for
the first pound. cents for each al :
ditionai pound, or ~ cents for eleven
pounds.
For the soe-n1ile zone. 8 cents for
the first pound. s cents for each al
ditional pound, or SO cents for eleven
pounds.
For the 1.ooo-r mile zone. cents for
the FIRST pound. 7 cents for each ad-
ouiona! pound, or 70 cents for eleven
pounds.
For the 1,4o0-miIe zone 10 rarts
for the first pounds, cents FOR each
additional pound. or 500 for eleven
poundH
For the 1.so0-miie zone. II can.x
Tor the first pound, 10 cents for each
additional pound, or Sill for elsvan
pounds.
Over 1890 miles. 10 cents for the
first pound. IL cents for each sdai-
tional pound, or $1.s2 for eleven
pounds.
No Intoxicants or rofsons.
Inc character OF packages that can
De shipped has been frequently de-
scrioeo and included practically
everything except Intoxicating liquors.
certain poisons and infiammabIe ma
teriaI. No packages weighing more
than eleven pounds will Do taken Far
transportation and all parIsha bls
goods must be marked as such This
class OF express will not be taken If
billed for distance and tho govern
mont reserves the right to DESTROY
fresh meats. fruits and SO forth which
reach the first stages OF decay before
relfvery can be made. Eggs NAV he
shipped, but must be marked al such
Liquids must be Enclosed In certain
Kinds Of psckaEes, SHARP nasnsss ia
sfTusmsnts .snust DO 40 packes +ssws
they viii not be a source OF danger
willis being handled.
what effect the Inauguration or ffe
system will have upon the express
companies 10 unknown The EXPRESS
companies profess 70 have no fear ~
the competition OF the governmen.
ana have as yet taken no steps to-
ward reducing the rates. In soms
instances. the express company rates
are lower than those OF the govern
ment' particularly In the case OF
iarFe packages billed for a long dis
lance. AZ the express comnania.