Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1913-07-31
PARCEL POST CHANGES SOON

parcel post have been announced b
! Postmaster General Burleson. Tn
I changes, which are to become effectiv
on August Is, include an increase fron
I IL pounds to 20 pounds in the max
mum weight of parcels; material re
duction in the postage rates in tn
first and second zones, and the aban
donment of the parcel map as mean
of computing rates, and the substitu
tion for it of a rate chart individual
lied to every post Office in the Unitet
States. The plans contemplate tn,
purchase of large pumberof automo
biles to be used exclusively for the de
livery of parcel post matter.
. While for the present the maximum
weight limit of 20 pounds and the re
duction in rates will apply only to the
! first and second zones, from any giver
post office-a distance of about 15(
. miles-the changes directed today con
stitute the first long step toward 6
universal extension of the system anG
} a general reduction in the rates Of
postage on parcel matter.
All the Small Packages
} 1T is my expectation and belief,
SdlQ OolmdStCl NCuOl dl DullC
that eventually-and it may be fif
teen or twenty years-the postal serv'
ice will handle practically all of the
small package transportation business
in the United States. The maximum
weight limit, extended now from IL to
20 pounds, expect to see increased
to 100 pounds, and experience may
demonstrate the practicability of hand
ling the parcel business at even lower
rates than we now propose.
I'm the making of extensions and
reductions of rates, it is necessary for
us to proceed with caution, SO as to
afford ample opportunity to prepare
for the increased business. For that
reason we have made the changes pro-
posed apply only to the first and Sec
ond zones. l appreciate fully the SEN
timent for an increase in the. weight
limit and a reduction in rates to all
lines, but it is necessary for us, in
sense, to feel our way"
| Mr. Burleson announced the changes
as follows:
1.-The first zone shall include the ter
ritory within the local delivery of any
Office and the first zone rate of post
age will apply to all parcel post mail
deposited at any Office for local de-
livery by city carrier or on rural
routes emanating from that pOstOf-
fee.
Second Zone
"The second zone shall include the
remainder of what is now the first
zone, and shall include all the units
of area located in whole or in part
within a radius of approximately $50
miles from any given postoffice.
THE rate of postage oOno parcels
weighing in excess OOf four ounces in
the proposed first zone will be re-
duced from five cents for the first
pound and one cent for each addition
al pound or fraction thereof, to five
cents for the first pound and one cent
for each additional two pounds OF
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
fraction thereof, to five cents for the
first pound and one cent for each
additional pound or fraction thereof.
1.-The maximum weight of parcelpost
packages will be increased from elev-
en- pounds to twenty pounds, the in
crease of weight to apply only to the
first and second zones. No change
has been made in the size or form of
the packages"
General Benefits
Statistics collected by the depart
ment show that quite One-third of the
total number of parcels mailed are
handled within the proposed first and
second zones, and the postmaster gen.
eral believes the increase in the
weight limit and the reduction of the
rates of postage in the first and Sec
ond zones, as proposed, will benefit
greatly more than one-third of the
public; and that the producer, the con-
sumer and the local merchant will
profit materially by the changes. He
points out, too, that the farmers who
were led to anticipate much benefit |
from the parcel post service, will be
afforded a cheap means of transport
ing their products directly to the con-
sumer, and that the local merchant
whose trade does not justify the en-
ployment of extensive delivery service
also will be benefited, as the system
will put him in close touch with his
customers.
At the outset it was estimated that
800 100000 parcels would be handled
during the first year of the operation
Of the parcel post system, but it now
appears from the statistics that, infu-
enced by the changes proposed today,
the service will be so popularized that
the number of parcels. carried during
the ensuing twelve months will be
more than double the first estimate.
Rate Sheet Plan
The rate sheet, which is to be used
rs substitute for the parcel post map
will be prepared as soon as practicable
and attached to the parcel post guide.
The rate chart, to be made for each
separate post Office, will be worked out
from the focal point of the unit in
which the post Office is located. The
of the plan, it is thought
will make easily determinable the rate
Of postage from that unit to any other
)n any mailable parcel and will greatly
eo o;1i+o4o fbo hopd1iuC nf Tarcol p0ct |