Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-25
u. s. ASKS REPORT
ON PARCEL POST
Local Office Business in
Three Test Days Is ST ,235.63,
Carrying 2o,o68 Packages.


A report on the parcel post traffic
through the local office, prepared
under the order of Second Assistant
Postmaster General Stewart. was
forwarded to Washington today by
Postmaster Frank j. Book.
Similar reports were prepared in
every postoffice in the United States
and are being forwarded to Wash
ington this week. These reports may
be the means of effecting a decided
change in the parcel post system in
this country.
They cover the in and outgoing
traffic on April 16, II and IS, which
three days were selected at random
by Second Assistant Stewart in order
to strike an average Of the parcels
post business.
According to the report submitted
by Postmaster Book the parcel post
receipts for these three days in this
city was $1,235.63. A total of 20.06S
' parcels, weighing in all 1872 pounds,
were dispatched from the local office.
The average weight of each parcel
was IA ounces, and the average post
age paid on each package was six
cents. OF the 2O,O6S parcels dis
patched, 2SS were insured.
The packages were divided as fol-
lows among the various zones: Local
delivery, 40; first zone, 4,74s; sedond
/. zone. 1882; third zone, 1,925: fourth
zone, 1881; fifth zone. 2,O43: sixth
zone, so5; seventh zone, 227, and
eighth zone, 3S7.
The number of parcels delivered in
the city during the week ending April
10 aggregated 1897. The local tele-
graph and messenger companies re-
port a decided falling off in their
local messenger service since the es-
Enlistment of the parcel post.
The local postal authorities think
that there is much significance at
tached to the instructions for the
preparation of the foregoing report
Several decided changes and many
minor ones have been recommended
in the parcel post department and
several of these may follow as the
direct result of the reports
1t has been suggested that a big
change in the rates will occur for
small packages sent to the further
zones.
Under the present conditions it
costs almost three times more to
a send parcel over eight ounces and
under one pound to a point in the
eighth zone than it did before the es-
Enlistment of the parcel post sys-
tenn
It is pointed out, however that if
a change in this rate was made then
in order to compensate for the loss in
that quarter a similar raise would
have to be made for local or nearby
zones. This is not desirable, as it
would be satisfying about 10 per cent.
of the people to the disadvantage of
the other 80 per cent, which is about
the ratio of packages sent to the
furthest zones, according to the re-
ports.
Changes that have been suggested
and may resultsfrom the reports filed
are possible abandoRment entirely of
the zone system, changing the form
4 or design of the special parcel post,
by placing large figure denoting it's
value in the centre of the stamp, sim
liar to the postage due stamps;
changing the color of the stamps for
different values to facilitate identif1-
cation of value; making it possible to
use ordinary postage stamps and the
words parcel post"
Postmaster Book called attention to
the wonderful progress which has
been made by the parcel post system
since its establishment.
Here we have installed a prac-
tically new department in the post
office business and yet though it is
only three months old the system
seems to be working with the perfec-
ton of an old-established institution.
'None, or very few of the COM
plants or inconvenience which gen.
orally follow the establishment of a
new departure in any business were
noticed in the parcel post system
From the very first it has given
practically perfect service except for
a few minor complaints. There has
been little or no delay in the deliv
cry of parcels and none as far as
/ know have been lost or damaged.
at has been a wonderful develop
ment of a most useful institution. and
1 hope the people of Newark will APP
preciate it,