Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-27
OTTAWA IS AGAIN
ASKED TO Do A BIT:
AID MAIL THIS TIME
POSTAL DEPARTMENT SENDS
OUT URGENT APPEAL TO SEND
XMAS GIFTS TO sAMMvs At
EARLIEST DATE POSSIBLE.


called upon to handle two Christmas
mails this season, one for the Ameri-
can soldiers in France and the usual
holiday rush, which will be augment
cd by letters and parcels for the Sc
lected men in the various canton.
ments and training camps in the Unit
ed States. The pOstofiice depart.
ment and the railroads are cooper
ating in plans for the prompt han.
ding of the enormous increase which
Is expected
Soldiers Under Arms.
There are in the neighborhood of
10000 American soldiers under
arms at present somewhere in
France and In environments and
training camps OF the United States
A special mail is planned for the sol.
diers in France, letters and packages
mailed not later than Nov. Is being
scheduled TO leave on a mail boat
from an American port which will
permit delivery of Christmas mes
sages and gifts to soldiers and sail.
0rs not later than Christmas morn.
Ing. The department is desirious that
gifts and letters from the soldiers in
hn ~,
the American fleet shall be deposited
In the local Offices about Nov. 10, the
final limit being Nov Is. Letters and
packages mailed after Nov. Is can.
not possibly be delivered until long
after the holiday season. department
Omcials announce A limit OF seven
pounds is fixed for parcel post pack.
ages for France.
Christmas Mail Heavy.
The postofiice department is eM
pecting the heaviest local mail for
the holiday season which 1t has been
called upon to handle, because of the
many selected men in the canton,
ments and training camps. For this
reason 1t is asked that weeks lee
way be allowed for the transmission
OF Christmas gifts and letters over
the time which is usually required.
Beginning Dec. one.cent rev.
enue stamp will be required for each
rs cents paid on parcel post pack
ages. Special stamps will be sold for
this purpose and the ordinary post
age will not be permitted.
( The new war time postage rates or
first class mail will become effective
Friday. Nov. 2. when three cents will
be required to send an ordinary let
ter out Of the city. The three cent
postage will be required on all let.
tiers which fail to reach their des.
tination before the night OF Nov. /.
Each railroad is to do everything
possible to promote early shipments
OF Christmas packages, whether by
mail or express, according to reso-
luton adopted by the car service com.
mittees.
There Is at the present time a
shortage OF baggage car equipment
that affects the handling of mails"
said P. ]. Schardt, government SUI.
perintendent Of railway mail ser.
vice. land this shortage will be felt
keenly with the approach of the holi.
day period. when the flow of mail
increases far above normal"
Ottawa viii Help.
Local railroad officials follow out
the suggestion that shipping be done
early
IF possible will send their parcels
early better results will be obtained
by both railroads and shippers said
a local railway official.
Rules Of Shipment.
The following rules will govern in
the shipment Of all such matter:
/. II Christmas presents are sent
by parcel post they must conform to
the postal regulations. except that
all packages must be inclosed in wood.
en- boxes and conform to the specif
cations below.
2. All boxes shipped by express
should be limited to twenty pounds
In weight, measure not more than
two cubic feet in volume be of wood,
be well strapped, and should be hing.
ed or screw top to facilitate opening
and inspecting. No pershable food
products, other than those inclosed in
cans or glass jars, should be packed
In any such shipments.
3. Mails and express matter should
be addressed as now prescribed by
postal regulations, and both classes
OF shipments should be marked
"Chrlstmas box" and should be sent
care Of the commanding general, port
Of embarkation, Hoboken, N. j., pier
/.
ii All Packages Examined.
4. The commanding general will
cause every MARCEL whether n mail oy