Eastern Utah advocate. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1895-1915, 1913-12-25

Probably the greatest Christmas
present for the ycar 1913 TO be re-
ceived by the people OF the United
States from the government Ia the
parcel post system.
Within the past year the parcel
post system has grown from Its de-
but upon the great commercial stage
OF the American nation to the iarg-
eat express system for the distribu-
tion OF small parcels in the entire
country. and promises. at the outset
of the second year OF lite history. 20
finally consume the major part OF
the express business, or to transfer
Il from individual ana speculative
concerns To the hands OF the people
OF the United States In general.
Utah. like every other state IN tho
union. has been benefited by the 80
tabiishment OF this powerful and ex-
tensivc agency which. unlike most
big institutions. has been Of greater
benefit to the individual fartheet
separated from the center OF bust
neas and industry. farthcst from the
densey populated parts OF the state
and farthest from the railroads. the
automobile roads and even from the
good wagon roads OF the common
wealth.
The parcel posi- Ia being used on
an enormous scale. on scale which
increases its magnitude with every
day OF its operation. II is a great
factor In business. with possibilities
almost illlmitabic. and which affect
the social and economic life OF city.
town. village and country. Although
grown In the one year of ita lie to
dlmonaiona almost lnconccivable. Il
Ia merely In the infancy OF service.
While the stations In Utah are
b. no means as active as are those
OF tho East. whore already n mail
order business OF vRst extent had
been established. and Ia nov ma
terLaliy augmented. yet even the To-
cal station IL a yeritable revelation.
and gives partial understanding OF
what tho entire aystem. In all the
popuious and metropolitan cities. as
we'll as In the suburban and rural
districta OF the country must be.
Although few statistics are "a yet
available. figures for the year not
yet having been gathered by the
postal clerks. still sufficiently ae-
curate once can be had TO give an
Idea OF the scope OF the new actiy-
ity. The Salt Lake postoffice Ia nj
this time OF the year handling about
5000 parcels daily. and during even
the quiet seasons an average OF
1000 packages have passed through
the Zion mails. Az an average OF
four pounds. now somwhat under
the average. the total weight OF the
express matter handled by the salt
Lake postoffice may be approNima-
ted at 5000. 900 pounds.
Another point from which to
view tho growth OF the parcel post
business an the last year Is the com
parlson OF the stamp sales OF 1919
and 1913. While the total Increase
OF the sales over those OF last year
may not be attributed 70 the growth
OF the parcel post System. a very
large part OF II may be 80 attriou-
tod During the year 1912 there
we've sold at the Salt Lake postof-
flee S453,sss.7O worth OF stamps
During the present year a is estim-
ated that the total sales will reach
$500 ,O79.93. assuming that the sales
from December eth 10 December 81
would be as great as during each OF
the other eleven months. As the
postal activities during this month
have been greater than during any
other month Of the year, this estim-
ave is conservative. Therefore the
Salt Lake station has had an In
crease OF approximately S6S.lsl--
IN the sales OF stamps this year
over that OF last year.
Incidentally. this increase OF safes
OF stamps has boosted the salt Lake
station into the $4,000 class In
which the postmasters receive sal
aries of $1,000 annually, This
growth can be better understood
when Il Is known that there Is only
one class above that. the soooo
class. except In the case of special
legislation. Special Legislation has
already been enacted IN the cases