The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-11-23
TO PATRONS OF
The POST OFFICE:
Useful Information Pertaining
to Parcel Post and Other Mat
ters; Parcels Should Be Prop
erly Packed and Addressed.

cIIy dCkcA NfAu houl SooSA'
The volume of parcel post has reache
sucn point that th- post office de
partment has found it necessary to b,
more strict about accepting parcel
that are not properly prepared for mail
ing.
Some patrons severely criticise the
receiving clerk for asking the sender
"What is in this package?" This ques
ton not asked to be inquisitiye. The
department demands that they learn
the exact contents of every package.
The reason for ms is:
First-That the package may be
stamped ii perishable, fragile, etc All
such packages are protected from heat
and other elements which might injure
their cont nts, the sacks they are seat
ent in being labeled fragile to protect
them from hard knocks, etc.
Second That they may judge if the
pack age is properly packed. For i'll
stance, hat cannot be accepted for in
surance if the box is not enclosed by a
wooden frame. An umbrella must have
wooden strip protecting its entire
length. All glass and chinaware must
be securely packed in wood.
Tn .rd-To protect the sender from
making unpermissable enclosures. Many
nersons putting a letter in package of
merchandise 1ail to tell the receiving
cierk, consequently when the package
II opened by an Inspector at the Office
Of .eiivery and the letter is found the
sddressee is forced to pay letter post
age on the entire weight, which fire.
Quentiy amounts to tn ee or four dol
Aer>. Either TINS OF have the matter re-
Rorted to the oeE artment and run the
chance Of beng fined $l00. If the party
saaihng the package would only mention
this TO the receiving clerk, all this trou
Bile and expense would be avoided.
We quote IRON the Official Postal
Gu d
"When inquiry is made of senders as
to The articis contained in parcels pre-
sented for insurance or collection-on
delivery they should be asked to de-
acrlbe in detail the packing thereof, and
any parcel which is not packed in ac-
eordance with the p. L. & r. or in
structIons emanating from the depart
slent, or which is not sufficiently pre-
pared to withstand reasonable handling
N transit, m st be efuSed.
81 is not sufficient merely to inquire
wheth parcel contains fragile or
nerishable matter. to accept the state
1aent of the sender that it contains
merchandise, not to accept general
statements that the package is proper
Or secure. Postal employees must ascer-
tain in each instance what articles the
parcel contains and have the packing
DIES crioed in detail. Postal employees
will be held personally responsible TO,
damage resulting from their failure tc
observe the foregoing instructions.
Parcels will not be accepted fol-
mailing unless they bear the name anc
address of the sender preceded by tbs
word From
Parcels must be mailed at a pos
etfice or branch. Cannot be mailet
on train.
A great m ny parcels from mai orde
houses in the east are sent to Denve
~ xpfess and fast freight and male,
from there to Idaho Springs. The post
age on these parcels ia rated from Den
yer and not from the eastern points
The postage 20 return these package
Ia lew York, for instance. would be
great deal more than the pos age wa
from Denver.
In order to give each parcel prope
attention postal employees must know
the character of its contents. 1t woul
aot do to put hardware, fruits, dishes
eggs, glass and dress goods all in tn
same sack, a. the hardware might brea
the glass, the fruit ruin the cloth.
When you have a parcel to mail pac
1t in a strong box or wrap it in heav
paper and tie it securely with heav
twin. A dress it plainly with ink, an
De sure and write your own name an
sddress in the upper left hand corner
When you present it for mailing tell tn
postal empioye exactly what it contains
don't Just say merchandise. Their
y list as long as your arm of article