The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-12-20
POSTAL SERVICE
GROWS RAPIDLY
Uncle Sans Business Has
Shown Great Increase in
Recent Years.
new METHODS ARE REQUIRED
More General Use Of Vehicles, Espe-
eially Automobiles, Made Neees
sary by the Parcel


Almost everyone realizes that the
mail service of the country increases
rapidly, but few perhaps really real
lie the full extent Of this growth. IL
is stated by officials Of the post office
department that during the past four
years free delivery Of mail by letter
carriers has been established In more
than 30 additional cities. and the free
delivery territory OF other cities has
been SO greatly extended that the nd
ditional number Of patrons served by
Uncle Sam is cOnseryatlvely estimated
at 5.OOO.OOO
In 1912, for instance. four pounds
was the limit Of weight for single
piece Of mail OF any class. and postage
rates discouraged the mailing Of par
GELS. The average weight Of parcels
at that time was less than six ounces.
Nearly all mail In cities was delivered
by letter carriers on foot. who also
made collections from letter boxes.
Vehicles were used on delivery routes
10 outlying sections and In some cities
need for vehicles had arisen In this
service.
Parcel Post Chances Conditions.
The parcel post. which was estab-
lished In 1913, has brought about II
different condition. The average
weight OF parcels now exceeds one
pound eleven ounces, and the number
of parcels carried In the mails unnu-
ally has increased more than fourfold
since 1912 II Is said that approx
mntely one-third of these are received
for delivery at city carrier post offices,
and II has been necessary 10 provide
facilities at every office for delivering
parcels too large and bulky to be car
ried by man on foot.
In other words. during the past four
years or so the post office department
has had to deal with II period Of transit
ton In the employment Of vehicles at
post offices. Therefore, while CON
stantly endeavoring to standardize the
equipments In use and tn perfect the
procedure followed In securing them.
the department has instituted compari-
sons between the several kinds of
equipment and the several methods Of
rental and purchase.
Autos supersede Other Vehicles.
For the present 1t seems wisest to
officials Of the department to be guild
ed In the administration OF vehicle
service by the practical conditions In
each city. Il0rsedrawn vehicles are
preferred where the volume Of mail
for delivery Is small and greater ex-
pense cannot be justified. or In sections
of large cities where traffic IL longest
ed and frequent stops are necessary.
The use of automobiles II preferred
In all other instances, and with the
growth of the service they are rapidly
superseding the horse-drawn type Of
equipment.
Automobiles are secured In various
ways. Allowances are made to post
masters for the compensation Of car
riers who furnish motor trucks In con
nection with their work and for hiring
machines from local garages. Com
bined contracts have been made for
the performance OF automobiles Of
screen-wagOn service and collection
and-delivery service. In a number OF
cities gOvernment-Owned machines
have been used tc supersede rented
and leased equipment for carrying the
mail.