The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-12-16

upon tnc piopeI use OI the pdTcei
post at Christmas time and through
out the year. written by Postmaster
Charles w. Fay. and released for
publication through the San Francis
CO Chamber of Commerce, should be
of immense practical value to all
users Of the parcel post. 1t tells in
plain language just what to do and
what not to do.
Cooperation between the public and
the postal service and care in pre-
pairing packages for mailing will save
time in the service, loss t. patrons,
and irritation to both. A word on the
subject therefore. particularly in view
of the near approach of Christmas,
may help the situation.
A parcel may be classed according
to its contents as fragile, II likely to
break, perishable If likely to spoil.
harmful IL likely to damage other mail
or do injury to employees handling
such parcel, or ordinary if the con-
tents be merchandise hardy enough to
withstand of itself the wear and tear
of transportation. 1t Is the duty of
a parcel post clerk to ascertain to
which class a parcel belongs and to
assure himself that it is packed and
marked sc that it will travel safely.
1t is therefore to protect the patron
as we'll as the service that he asks
what a parcel contains, and for the
same reason he is entitled to an
answer.
Fragile articles likely to break or
crush. such as glassware, pictures,
candy. etc., should be packed so as to
protect themselves, and they must be
marked fragile" They must be
packed in tissue paper. excelsior, cot
ton or other soft material, and must
be closed in heavy corrugated board
or a wooden box and securely tied.
Parcels fragile from their shape as
well as their nature, such as umbrel-
las, whips. golf sticks, etc., must be
reinforced by stripe of wood and
bound firmly to them. Hats will be
accepted in %pastboard boxes only
when they are Grated.
P~erishable articles such as berries,
fruits. meat, poultry. etc., must be
packed to preserve them from crush
ing and to prevent damage to other
mail should they break or rot. They
should be packed, in the case of
fruits, meats. poultry, ETC., In strong
wood o corrugated containers that
will retain the contents should they
be crushed or damaged.
There is a limitation on the dis
lance that certain perishable articles
such as meat and poultry may be
carried. which is fixed by the time of
transportation. 1t is well to put a
special delivery stamp upon perish
able articles in order that they may
be delivered Immediately upon ar
rival at their destination. Perishable
articles must be marked "perishable."
Harmful articles such as knives. or
sharp edged or pointed tools or uten-
sils. must be packed so that the points
or edges will not damage other mail
or injure persons handling them.
Their points or edges must be pro-
tected by heavy paper or board.
Harmful articles such as powders
and pulverized dry substances must
be SO wrapped that none of the
contents of the packages will sift
out. Pastes, ~salves. oils. g~reases, ETC..
must be enclosed in water-tight con-
tainers placed in strong boxes and Sc
surely wrapped.
Liquids are subject to several re-
strictions as to quantity, but in gen.
eral the packing requires that they
be enclosed in water-tight containers
and surrounded with sufficient abb
sorbent material to absorb the con-
tents should they be broken.
Eggs come under the three classes
OF fragile, per1shable and harmful
and must be packed in special con-
tainers. Several excellent ones are
on the market.
Ordinary parcels such as clothing
or general merchandise not likely to
be damaged by crushing or breaking
must be packed in strong corrugated
board or wooden boxes, or securely
wrapped in heavy paper. according to
the nature of their contents.
In all cases. packages not enclosed
in wooden or corrugated board
should be wrapped in heavy paper
and securely tieds Do not depend up
On cardboard boxes to protect the con-
tents of any package. for such boxes
rush and break open. If they are
used at all the parcel should still be