Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-01-03
THE PARCELS POST
WHAT IT MEANS
TO THE COUNTRY
New System VIII Become Enec.
tive Next Wednesday
MARKS IMPORTANT EPOCH
IN POSTAL SYSTEM

( More to the People Than They i'm.
I aeine--Tho Demand Has Long Been
Great for the system and Fight HAS
Lasted for Ten Years
WASHINGTON. u. G.. Dee. 2s.--
/ The Inauguration OF the parcels post
plan in the United States on wednea-
day next Jan. l. 1913. will mark one
of the most important epochs IN the
development OF the American postal
service. The last previous step OF
Importance was taken when the ru.
raj free delivery system was put
into effect fifteen years ago The In.
PRODUCTION OF the parcels post system
had been agitated for ten years with.
out material progress when rural
free delivery became fact. Since
then the demand for The introduction
of a parcels post system 10 the Unit
ed States became SO urgent that Con.
gress finally. notwlth standing the
most strenuous opposition from Ger.
tain interested quarters yielded to
the wishes OF the people and enacted
parcels post law
The framing of the law was not an
easy matter, as the whole scheme
was in the nature Of an experiment
upon tremendous scale Il is true.
the trainers OF the law had for their
guidance the laws and regulations OF
a number OF foreign countries where
the parcels post has been in success.
full operation for many years, but the
conditions OF the postal service In the
United States are SO radically differ,
ent from those Of the postal service
| In otehr countries ttssA Il was rot an
easy matter TO adapt their laws to
American conditions and require.
ments.
At last the law was drafted. sub
mitted to Congress and passed and
January /, 1913, was fixed as the date
for its going into effect. The many
radical changes In the postal service
necessitated by the requirements of
the parcels post system imposed a
tremendous burden OF work upon the
postal authorities and during the last
three months several of the depart
ments worked practically day and
night to complete the preparations
for the inauguration of the new ser.
vice.
An entirely new series OF stamps
for the exclusive use of the parcels
post service had to be designed, en-.
+graved, printed and distributed; new
scales, with capacity of eleven
pounds, to meet the. requirements of
tracted for, manufactured and sent
to the various postofiiees in the eoun-
try; maps showing the zones into
which the country has been divided
for the purpose of fixing graduated
distance rate. and books containing
the various regulations and rules gov
erning the new branch of the postal
service had to be printed and distrt-
buted among the thousands OF post
offices throughout the country. In ad-
dition TO all this special provisions
as to space, means of handling the
parcels post. etc, had to be made at
all larger Offices, so as to have every
thing in readiness when the Law goes
into effect next Wednesday.
The postal authorities have given
the assurance that the preparations
are now practically completed. but
they realize that owing to the new
ness OF the system and the lack OF
previous experience as to its opera
tions. IT may develop at first many de-
fects and shortcomings which wilI
have to be gradually corrected. The
public is expected TO be patient and
to give the postal department reason
able time to perfect the working OF
the plan in all its details.
The Importance OF the new service
can scarcely be adequately estimated
at the present time. II contemplates
the transportation and delivery by
the postal service Of the United
States of parcels containing matter
OF the fourth class, not exceeding
eleven pounds in weight and six feet
in circumference from any point
reached by the present postal service
to any other point reached by the ser
vice. The parcels post service OF the
government extends far beyond the
limited sphere OF the various express
companies, over more than one mil
lion miles OF rural routes and $4,000
miles OF rail, boat and star routes,
embracing about 10000 postofices
and 2s5. 1000 employees connected with
the postal service The rates OF
transportation are great deal chea-
per than the corresponding rates OF