Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-01-18
POSTAL SERVICE
GROWS RAPIDLY
Uncle Sans Business Has
Shown Great Increase in
Recent Years.
NEW METHODS ARE REQUIRED
More General Use Of Vehicles, Espe-
eiaIIy 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. 1t
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 $50 additional cities, and the free
delivery territory Of other cities has
been so greatly extended that the ad-
ditional number of patrons served by
Uncle Sam is conservatively estimated
ut 100000.
- In. 1912, for instance. four pounds
was the limit of weight for a 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
In outlying sections and In some cities
need for vehicles had arisen In this
service.
Parcel Post Changes Conditions.
The parcel post. which was estab-
lished in 1913. has brought about q
different condition. The average
weight Of parcels now exceeds one
pound eleven ounces, and the number
of parcels carried in the mails annu-
ally has increased more than fourfold
since 1912. 1t Is said that approx
mately one-third Of these are received
| for delivery at city carrier post offices
and 1t has been necessary to provide
facilities at every Office for delivering
parcels too large and bulky to be car
ried by q man on foot.
In other words, during the past foul
years or 80 the post Office department
has had to deal with period Of transi
ton In the employment Of vehicles al
post Offices. Therefore, while con
stantly endeavoring to standardize the
equipments in use and to 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 it seems wisest Il
officials of the department to be guild
ed In the administration Of vehicle
service by the practical conditions IL
each city. HOrse-drawn vehicles ar
preferred where the volume Of mai
for delivery Is small and a greater ex
pense cannot be justified, or In section
of large cities where traffic Is congest
ed and frequent stops are necessary
The use of automobiles Is preferre'
in all other instances. and with tn
growth of the service they are rapid
superseding the horse-drawn type o
equipment.
| Automobiles are secured In variou
WAYS, Allowances are made to posi-
masters for the compensation Of cal
riers who furnish motor trucks In cor
nection with their work and for hirin
machines from local garages. Con
bined contracts have been made fO
the performance Of automobiles q
screen-wagon service and collection
and-delivery service. In a number {
cities aforementioned machine
have been used to supersede rente
and leased equipment for carrying Ii
mail.