Evening journal., 1913-01-01
ARTICIFS
NOW GO BY
PARCELS POST
General GGe!!eE Public Takes Hold Of
Plan With Much
Enthusiasm
URGE USERS TO
STUDY MAP ZONES
By The United Press.

WASHINGTON Jan 1-Uncle
SANS scheme to assist NIr. Ultimate
Consumer in coping with the High
Cost -)f Living went into effect TO-
day. The parcels post was inaugur-
atod throughout the nation; the fed
eral government began its compeu-
ton against the express companies.
kilograms from postmasters TO the
Postofllce Department here today M
Idicated that the general public has
taken hold Of the parcels plan with
Enthusiasm The first days business
promises to be of an enormous mag
nitude.
Uncle Sans express business is
expected to aid in cheaper marketing
lof food products and to lessen trans
lportaiion cost in small packages-
the sort Of matter in which the eX-
press companies have heretofore had
"a practical monopoly. because OF the
high postage rate. The United States
Iis one OF the last of the world 8
greatest nations 10 adopt the parcels
post. The plan has been in operation
In European countries for several
Years
AS with express packages the rates
under the parcels post plan depend
on the distance the mail matter Is
lsent. Packages Weighing four ounces
or less will be sent at the old fiat
postage rate of one cent an ounce
to all sections OF the country. The
largest package mailable under the
parcels post is eleven pounds.
The minimum rate under the new
plan will be FIVE cents for the first
pound and three cents for each addi-
fional pound to any point not exceed
ing fifty miles from the office OF
mailing. The local ratio. which is
five cents for the first pound and one
cent for each additional pound, ap-
lplies to all parcels the delivery OF
which does not involve their trans
lportation on railway lines,--and this
means on rural routes or local car
riers' rounds The rates increase
for each successive one of the eight
zones into which the Post Office De-
lpartment has divided the country,
the maximum rate being twelve cents
a pound, which will carry parcel
lacross the continent or TO any of the
possessions Of this country. All par
cels must not be more than 6 feet
long or 6 feet IN girth.
A mailablo parcel may be insured
against loss to an amount equivalent
TO It's actual value, but not to exceed
$50.
The United States has been divided
into units thirty minutes square. There
are eight zones surrounding each
unit. the last zone including the
Philippine Islands and the farther
,mosi places on this continent An
eleven pound package to the islands
win cost $lS2
The parcels post is far more com
prehensive tha nthe average persoI
thinks II is possible under IL e
lsend almost any kind OF package, 9th
er than explosives, poisons, firearms
Intoxicating beverages, or abscen'
matter
Among the mailable matter are:
Butter eggs. vegetables, lard
fresh meats. groceries. medicines
pastes, salves. seeds of fruit nurser,
stock, candies confectionery, yeas
cakes, soap. flour, meal, millinery
toys. musical instruments5 salted
dried and smoked meats; ink pow
dcrs, pepper. snuff and paper.
or instructions in wrapping pack
ages. tfC Post Office Deartment put
particular stress on the shipmen
OF eggs Each egg must be wrappe'
separately and surrounded with ex
celsior. cotton. OF other suitable ma
tcrial. and packed in containe
made of double corrugated paste
board, metal or wood insuch name
as to place each egg on its end an
10 prevent them from striking to
gether or against the side or top O
the container They must be s
closely wrapped that even In cas-
one should break there would be n
leakage out In the other mail
Parcels post packages are stampe
and mailed just as other mail mat
fer-the only difference being tina
special stamps must be used. Pack
ages prepaid with ordinary stamp
will be carried at regular mail rates
any difference being collected fror
the addressee. The parcels pos
stamps are all green and measur
one and one-half inches-a new siz
IN government stamps They are oil
fainabie in nearly all denomination
up TO $1-the subjects Of the engraN
ings being:
1c, "Postoffice Clerk"
&c. "City Carrier"
Sc. Railway Postal Clerk"
&c. Rural Carrier"
SC. "Mail Train"
lie. Steamship and Mail Tender
15c. Automobile Service"
20c "Aeroplane Carrying Mall
25c. Manufacturing.
b0c, "Dairying."
75c. Harvesting
S1.00. 'Fruit-groWing."
In order that the postmaster
every city and his patrons may 50
exactly what the charges are Il
packages. every postoffice has bee
with special zone" an
Unit" maps-showing the exal
scale of charges for packages sent
any destination from that particuli
office. Preparation OF these mar
has kept the department busy Il
months