The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1919-11-01
BETTER EXPRESS SERVICE.

Agent E. S. Travis, in charge Of
the city express office, to prepare
for the new express packing re
quirements, which 60 into effect
on December 10. He has been ad-
vising express shippers to study
the new rules, which have been ap-
proved by the United States Rail
read Administration 50 that they
may be able to adjust their pack
ing methods to the forthcoming
new standards.
Under the new regulations,
which are embodied in what is
known technically as Supplement
No. 5 to Express Classification No.
26, all shipments sent by express
weighing over 25 pounds, must be
packed in wooden containers, or
cartons of fibre-board, cupboard,
or corrugated strawboard material
of specified test strengths. F" This
means, according to Agent E. S.
Travis, that after December 10th,
packages over the 25-pound limit
will not be accepted for forward
ing by the American Railway Ex-
press Company, handling the ex-
press business of the entire colln-
try as agent of the Railroad Ad-
ministration, if only paper wrap
ped. Nor will the ordinary paper
boxes, wrapped or unwrapped, be
accepted as suitable protection for
these heavier shipments. The reg
ulations, however, do not affect
shipments under 25 pounds.
Regular shippers, Agent E. S.
Travis stated today, will not be
mystified by the new regulations,
as they follow very closely the
packing requirements long in
vogue in the freight service. The
express regulations, however, al
low little more latitude in the
size Of the carton used. The en-
forcement of the new rules was
postponed until December 10, SO
that shippers would have plenty OF
time to prepare themselves for this
change in express packing stand
ards. r-.5e ,-.,s..-
Agent E. S. Travis expressed the
opinion that these new rules viii
not work any hardships ON ship
pers, but should operate distinctly
in their interest as the rules will
provide additional safeguards for
merchandise in transit. Moreover
they will establish a uniformity of
express packing rules which here
tofore has been lacking. The new
order does not affect the move
ment of food products by express,
which are ordinarily shipped in
crates or barrels.
"We believe" stated Agent E.
S. Travis, in explaining the new
regulations, "that the shipping
public will welcome the new stand
ards when they understand them,
and the reasons for putting them
into effect.
Never before in the history of
the country has the express traffic
reached such proportions as it has
assumed today. AT the same time,
there has been comparatively little
increases in the amount of car
space available for this business.
We have been asked to carry heav-
ier shipments and commodities Of
every conceivable kind.
"Before the war, it was possible
for car messengers to spread their
freight out ON the floors of the
express cars without much conges-
ton. Today we are running dozens
of through cars between the big
cities and everyone of those cars
is packed to capacity. There has
been a similar congestion in the
local runs.
"This has made it necessary for
express shipments to be stacked.
AS result, individual shipments
have had to be strongly enough
packed to be able to stand up for
themselves, and owing to the lack
of uniformity in this regard the
new regulations were formulated
and finally approved by the Rail
road Administration. The stronger
containers required, we believe,