The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-06
TEN BUSHELS GET
WRONG STAMPS
Flow of Parcels Bearing Ordinary
Stamps Unchecked, Despite
Repeated Warnings. &
SERVICE PROVING POPULAR
Richmond Seed, Drug and Gro
Gerry Dealers Adopt Parcels
Post for Small Packages.

/ Ten bushels OF misstamped packages
IN the local post-oflo are bringing
premature furrows to the otherwise
classic brow OF Acting Postmaster
Southwark and unging his temples
with an unt'mely gray. They represent
the net product OF the widespread ig-
norance which still prevails touching
the regulations that govern the use
OF the new parcels post
The maroor~d parcels fall into two
distinct classes. BY far the largest
number were held up because they
wera mailed with the ordinary stamps
formerly in use for fourth class mat
ter. Most OF the others are unavailable
because they violate parcels post reg
ulations governing the manner OF
packing, and because they contain
matter which Uncle sam declines to
carry. y few arc imperfectly ad-
dressed. and others bear no address
at all.
After the publicity that the par
cells posi- rules have been given by the
newspapers said Mr.. Southwark, at
would seem that everything connected
with them should be perfectly clear.
But in spite Of everything we can do,
the stream OF unavailable packages
flows on unchecked. 7 have come 10
the conclusion that large number Of
people viii never learn what Is re-
CURED until they lose one or two
packages
The Cardinal Sins.
There IS .one Cardinal falling Hun
dreds Of people mali parcels daily with
ordinary stamps. deposihng many OF
them IN the stree. boxes. Whenever
such a parcel IS brought 10 the central
Office attention Is Immediately called
20 the mistake. and - is possible to
remedy T. When they are dropped IN
the street boxes. however. there can
De no correction unless the package
bears the return card OF the sender,
in which case he Is notified by the
post-ofice.
IT the earnest request OF Acting
Postmaster Southwark. the nnosype
man - asked 20 set the following
don'ts In black:
Don't drop amy package In the street
boxes. Take IL 40 the central ONCE.
TO either of tho letter stations. OF IA
the post-ofiice in south Richmond.
Don't put ordinary stamps on any
package. The, are not good Tor
fourth-cIass matter. In every case,
distinctive parcels post stamps must
b. used. and they emit he bought ex-
cept ut III, four stations named.
DONE make the mistake Of thinking
that because parcel weighs less than
four ounces you can mall II with ordi-
nary stamps such packages are sub
ject 20 the same stamp rules as larger
ones. the only difference being that
they enjoy Hat rate OF L eens an
ounce regardless Of distance.
Don't mail amy package Without
writing your return address In the
upper Ieft-hand corner. II you fail 10
do Tint and mail the parcel with ordf-
nary stamps, you may kiss the pack
age goOd-by.
service Extremely Popular.
All fears as TO the extent 20 winch
the new service would be USED nave
hean set at rest by the volume OK par
co.'s post traffic in the first four days
Of its operation From every section
~ the country comes the report that
The service is big success. IN
single day last week the New york
ri,- oost-oefce received 5e.li3 pack
ages This number. II IS expected. VII:
be- more than doubled as soon as tne
parcels post benefits become more gen.
orally known
In Richmond several OF the large
mail order houses have adopted TIE
service exclusively for their small
rackaze business The who4esaie anu
retail seed houses. hardware. cry sooos'
grocery and drag dealers, parteuiasiE'
are finding She parcels pos, serves
economical and especially su'teo ~
their needs. smong the freak pack
- r,atled in the local Office last
week was a section Of stove pipe aho
49,, ..-.,.r- mound ham, which was sent
20 san Francisco
Predicts Large Increase.
II. q i-,nosstbie to say TO what eS-
tent the parcels post is cutting into
the business Of the express companies.
said Acting Postmaster Southwark
,-rffs much however. is certain; inc
nosf-offce is now taking care or
large number Of small parcels when
were formerly sent by other agencies
This is evident from the increase IN
volume over the package-forWarolns
business which was conducted oy the
nost-offce under the old fourta-class
ror,.,ations. The new business must
come from somewhere
Mr. southwark expressed the opinion
that the parcels post viii grow daiiy
more popular. and that a growing num-
ber of shippers will adopt u exciu-
sively as a safe and speedy carrier
Tor their smaller packages In tns
expectation. he said. he will recon-
mend this month that parcels posi-
facilities be extended to several con-
venientlv situated substations-
Notwiths - ndinz the wide utilization
% the new postal service. the express
COMPANIES in this CITY say that they
are experiencing no falling or IN the
a.,ornt of their traffic Both thu
southern and the Adams Express Com
NAMES. while admitting that a certain
class II their small-package business
has been diverted. stated that they eN- {.
met no serious inrcads from the par
cells post.