Evening journal., 1916-06-21
Need NOT discard
RURAL MAIL BOXES
But Postoffice Department
Plans Uniformity in
Style
BETTER SHIPPING
DEVICE PLANNED

Announcement by the postofiice de-
partment that two sizes Of mail boxes
for use on rural and star routes have
been designed by the department and
will be ready to be furnished to pa
irons after July I. next, has caused
Misunderstanding in the minds Of
some Of the rural patrons Of the Will
mington office, it being their impress
sion that they will have to pu chase
the new type. Explanation in the mat
ter is given in the daily bulletin OF
the postOtfice department received by
Postmaster English in this city
several days ago. The one of the new
type Of mail boxes Is for letters and
ordinary mail, while the larger box
is 10 be used for all classes OF mail
including parcel post
The bulletin is explicit IN stating
that patrons may use either size box,
and will not he required 10 discard
boxes in use July ! while they re-
main serviceable, but an boxes erect
ed after that date must be Of of the
new design. a hst Of manufacturers
Of the approved boxes. with the prices
will be printed i'm the official postal
guide and daily bulletin, and AM
nounced later.
The larger OF the boxes Is especially
adapted for parcel post packages. and
will not only help TO greatly improve
the parcel post service between the
city resident and the farmer. but on
thu other hand. will be OF assistance
to the rural carrier in the delivery
Of this kind of mail AT the present
time. with the one type of mail box
a parcel post package is frequently
TOO large to be placed in the box. II
the box is within hailing distance from
the residence. the farmer or some
member of the family may come Ia
the box and receive the parcel If not
the carrier places slip OF paper in
the mail box stating that he has a
parcel and that he will deliver it on
his trip the following day All this
causes considerable delay in the de
livery Of the parcel
The postofiice department has alsC
approved a new invention. which
postoffice authorities say. may revolu
tionize the parcel post service. al
least as far as shipments from farm
to table" are concerned. Il is like
wise expected 20 have its influence
in eliminating the middleman
The invention. to which the com
mittee on experiment. research anC
design. OF the postodice department
has given it's formal approval, is ;
container by which country produc
Of all kinds can he Skinned any dis
tance without danger Of breaking o
spelling. The container is made OF tn
same fiber as that used in the con
struction Of railroad car wheels. /
is a cylindrical box. with a peculia
inner arrangement of fiber partitions
I'm which eggs can be placed and th'
package thrown around as Ordinarl
baggage without danger OF breaking
The containers are not TO be sOlC
but leased by fourth assistant post
masters. whose nducemont will b,
the additional cancellation OF package
stamps through the increased use o
the parcel post. and a commission ol
the boxes. A half dozen Of these ca
wheel fiber boxes can be placed in
specially made bag which can be han
died as ordinary parcel post matter
There is a return tag on the contain
er. and stamps already affixed by tn
sender insures its return.
Substantial increases in the numbe
OF parcels handled at the local ofiic
since the FIRST Of the year are show
I'm comparison with the same month
and period last year.