New-York tribune., 1913-07-20
PARCEL POST RATES TO
Be REDUCED IN MONTH
Material Decrease in First
and Second Zones Becomes
Effective August 10.
lip TO TWENTY POUNDS. TOO
Farmers and Merchants Will
Benefit - Burleson Expects
10O-Pound Weight Limit
Some Time.

washington, July 19.-Plans for the ex-
,orsion and Improvement Of the parcel
nost and a reduction in rates were an
5ounced to-day by Postmaster General
pprleson. The changes. which are to te-
ooro. effective on August u. include an
Irc-ease from eleven pounds TO twenty
nounds in the maximum weight OF par
Gals and a material rate reduction in the
sret and second zones. The parcel post
nan Is 10 be abandoned as a means Of
computing rates and in place of 1t will
ha rate chart individualized TO every
postofice. The plans also contemplate
the purchase Of large number Of auto
mobiles for Parcel delivery.
TT is my expectation and belief said
,b4 Postmaster General, that eventually
and Il may be fifteen or twenty years co.
toe postal service will handle practically
All OF the small package transportation
tpsiness in the United States | expect
:, see the maximum weight limit In
creased to 100 pounds. and experience nay
.nonstrate he practicabilitv OF hand
ppg the parcel business at even lower
rates than We now propose.
'Tn making extensions and rate reduc-
films II IS necessary for US TO proceed
NTH caution. so as to afford ample OPP
nortunity 70 prepare for the Increased
business. For that reason we have mad3
the changes apply only to the first and
second zones.
"The rate Of postage on parcels weigh
iny IN excess Of four ounces in the pro-
ka from
Ave cents for the first pound and one
csnt for each additional pound or frac-
,ion thereof TO five cents for the first
mound and one cent for each additional
two pounds or fraction thereof, and the
rate for the second zone will be reduced
from five cents for the first pound and
three cents for each additional pound or
six cents for the first pound and four
cents for each additional pound or frac-
ton thereof to five cents for the first
pound and one cent for each additional
pound or fraction thereof.
NO change has been made in the size
or form Of the package"
Statistics collected by the department
show that about one-thlrd Of the total
number Of parcels mailed are handled
within the first and second zones. and the
Postmaster General believes the changes
as proposed will benefit greatly more than
one-third Of the public; and that the pro-
ducer, the consumer and the local mer-
chant will profit materially. He points
out, too that the farmers will be afforded
a cheap means Of transporting their prod
ucts directly to the consumer and that
the local merchant whose trade does not
justify employment OF extensive delievery
service also will be benefited.
At the outset II was estimated that
100000 parcels would be handled the
first year, but II now appears that. influ-
enced by the changes suggested, the num-
Der Of parcels carried during the ensuing
twelve months will be more than double
the original estimate.
Under regulations recently adopted the
use Of distinctive stamps is no longer
mandatory, and the public is permitted TO
mail parcels with ordinary stamps af-
fixed.
Postal experts estimate that with the
contemplated changes in the parcel post
system in operation the revenues Of the
department will show a substantial sur
plus.