New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

on Il rural route cnanating from the office Of mail
ing. is cents and when addressed to the first
and second zones eight cents while on parcel con-
tanning books it is thirty-two cents. The parcel post
rates aduacd by pounds and zones; while the
for third-cass mail is for each and
fraction thereof regardless Of distance. II the proposed
parcel post applied to the latter. there would
be some instances in which the rate would be higher
than at present. These necessary TO the proper
equalization Of rates the basis Of cost the present
thir1-cas rate for distant shipments does not the
of the service, and nearby shipments taxed TO
pay the cost of transportation and handling Of the
distant shipments.
am glad to say, however, that, although any action
toward consolidating the third and fourth classes OF mail
will be taken gradually, the first change went into effect
i'm March toward classifying books 20 preferential rates
but IT must be remembered that i'm admitting third
class mail matter parcel post the present Ghrdcassl
rates will be retained parcels weighing eight
or less In other words, the present thirdcass rates
will apply indefinitely all thrlclass matter weigh
ing half a pound or less but matter weighing more
than eight ounces and except for first and second
zones. where the limit is twenty pounds-lcss than
eleven pounds The effect Of this partial and tentative
change Of classification will be carefully observed, and
additional changes made only as II appears clear that
they will promote the service 10 the public
That the parcel post met long-ict need l. evident,
because it serves and will American ingenuity, and
e.
surpassed expectations after months OF actual opera
tons rs a result II determined to give 10 the pco-
pie the benefit of this earning power IN the form OF re-
duccd rates The successful operation also held
To- Justify an increase in the weight limit, and last
August the rates for the first and second zones were
reduced and the weight limit increased to twenty
pounds. II was thought proper that this reduction
bc applied on the first and second zones because thirty
per cent OF the entire number Of shipments was adj
dressed to these zones. and by aiorlng relief on this
business the public would secure the benefits on APP
proxmatclv onc-thirl their shipments with an imme
mediate substantial increase in the volume Of business.
THREE HUNDRED MILLION parcels were han
died from the Inauguration OF the service ON Janu-
arv l. until July l. 1913 and it is estimated that the
total until January |, 1911, reached G0D,OOOOO0 The
postmaster at Emmons. West Virginia, reported the
smallest amount Of business in any month, One parcel
i'm March, The Dayton Ohio. postolticc reported
total of 10000 packages December -, or al the rate
of seven a minute for twentyour hours exclusive Of
2OOOO0 outgoing and 10000 incoming pieces Of mail Of
first second and third classes.
Chicago Of course. handles the greatest number OF
parcel post packages, because it is the hub Of the mail
order business one firm alone sent N,2OOOO0 packages
during the year Is high one-day record was io,lN6
O,r al this rate, l2,377,2NS packages during year e."