Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1913-10-24
INCREASE IN PARCEL POST.
,tEttit flgiistSiEthll{i ihltissii }Ii ;ift ~
lss4ssss aIs'tass-fsratst
Nearly 5000 Packages Delivered from
Brattlebof6 ofcc INF i1S' days -
k..N1.... +, .!,....l an, 81 rst .t.a

tsrNew Rulings. ~, n I..}b'e
Y That the parcel post mail has be-
ScQlne an important factor to be dealt
with at the various postolccs of the
country aud is increasing in number
and bulk is shown by the work in our
local postoilice during the first 8 days
of the present month. Under orders of
the department strict account was
kept of this branch of the service
! from Oct. to Oct. 10. both inclusive.
with the following result, the above
period containing two Sundays, leaving
but 13 working days:
Total number of parcels delivered
2,S4l, divided as folows BY the city
carriers, l,350; by rural carriers 265;
by automobile carrier, ,226. Parcels
received for dispatch 2,6lS, weighing
S,3l4 pounds and 10 ounces, amount of
postage on same $225.S5.
Orders supplementing the general
regulations have recently been issued
by the department to postmasters say
ing that complaints have reached the
department of the frequent breakagc
of or damage to articles sent through
the mails as parcel post, due evidently
to improper packing or wrapping,
therefore ''postmasters must refuse to
receive for mailing parcels not proper
~ indorsed or packed for safe ship
mcnt. - Umbrellas. canes. Golf
sticks, and articles of like character
must not be accepted for mailing nm
less they are strapped securely to
strips of wood of the same length and
are otherwise wrapped and made suf-,
ficiently strong to withstand the i'm
pact from heavier packages coming
against them in the process of handling
in their various stages of transit
The same rule must be strictly en-
forced MS regards all other articles
liable to become injured or to iniure
other articles with which they may
come in contact in the process of
transportation. Pershable articles -
particularly ripe fruits and berries -
also paints, oils and other liquids which,
if broken, would be destructive to the
contents of other parcels, must be de.
MED admission to the mails unless the
regulations as to packing and wrap.
ping are strictly observed.
At the meeting of the Association
of New England Postmasters held in
Boston last Wednesday. among whom
was Postmaster Kittredge Iaskins of
Brattleboro and at which First Assist
ant Postmaster General Roper was
present, the subject of parcel post was
freely discussed that it might be bet
ter understood and uniformity of scr
vice secured throughout New England
as well as the entire country. 1t was
found that many parcels were, damaged
or destroyed in transit and many com
plants of loss had been made, and
the opinion prevailed that in most
cases it was due to improper wrapping
or packing light, thin wrapping paper
being used and the packages tied up
with ordinard Irvine string such as,
in many instances, is used by grocers
in tying up packages for delivery to
their customers at home. Some pack
ages are delivered at the postoffice
tied with ordinary linen thread. Every
package should be wrapped in strong
paper and securely tied with strong
lcoId or heavy Irvine.
/, The matter of hat boxes containing
millinery came under consideration,
and it was advised that such packages
be refused unless the boxes were rein
forced with strong, heavy cardboard
and tied with strong Irvine that they
might resist the effect of heavier ar
ticles with which they were liable to
'ohe III coht"ct' No drtlcle Shoulu ne
received unless it plainly bore the
name and pOstoflice address of the
sender with the word From prefix
ed. This is necessary for Identification
should the parcel lack sufficient
amount of postage which must be pre-
paid, or should the package become
broken or the name of the addressee
become obliteratcd in transit.
Mr.. Roper expressed great confidence
in the parcel post mail service and was
anxious that all, including the farmers
Of the country, should avail them
selves of its privileges, and to that
end the postmasters should inform the
Ihblic as to the rules and regulations
in regard to packing in order to insure
safe transit, etc.