The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-12
Christmas Packages Must Be
Carefully Tied and Marked.
Postmaster Rigby Gives Point
ers on Parcel Post.
MAY INSURE AGAINST LOSS
Special Delivery Costs Ten
Cents Extra Postage.
Large Parcels Should Be Mailed
at POstOffice.

This is the first of a series of articles
by Postmaster w o. Rigby concerning
Uncle Sans postal service to appear in
The State Journal. Each article deals
with a separate department. The next
will appear in The State Journal De-
cember II.
BY POSTMASTER w. o. RIGBY.
There is probably no single institu-
ton so vitality important to the Amer
lean public and concerning which the
average man and wHman has so little
knowledge as Uncle Sans postal serv-
ice.
To wrap, address and mail a pack
age or a letter appears to be a simple
procedure, but in order to obtain for
it the maximum safety and speed of
delivery certain rules must be fol-
lowed. The department in which the
public is most interested with the
Christmas holidays coming on IS the
parcel post section. To insure the
safety of the package and its prompt
delivery, great care should be taken
to adhere to these rules.
May Insure Parcel.
The parcel must be well wrapped
and tied; the address plainly written
in ink. Please give the street and
number. This is absolutely necessary
because of the number of new en-
pIoyes handling the mails during the
holidays.
For small additional fee you can
insure your parcel against loss or
damage. If lost or damaged the post
office department will pay you 1ndem-
Jlitv. The fee for insuring is as fol-
lows:
8 cents insures up to-. $500
5 cents insures up to-. 25.OO
10 cents insures up to-. 5000
rs cents insureS up to-. 10000
reel for
mailing inform the clerk whether or
not it contains anything breakable,
fragile or of a perishable nature.
A letter or invoice can be attached
to your parcel if the letter has first
class postage attached to it. Your
parcel can be sent by special delivery
if a fee of 10 cents is paid by attach
ing a special delivery stamp or 10
cents additional in stamps with a no
tation Special Delivery" written d.
rectly below the stamps. Parcels can
be sent C. o. D. upon a payment of an
additional fee of 10 cents. Unusual
foreign packages should be brought to
the main office where proper instruc-
tons will be given for mailing.
Message From Hays.
Small packages containing jewelry
or anything of extra value should be
securely sealed and sent by registered
mail
If a parcel or package is delivered
to you and does not belong to you
Immediately return it or notify the
postman and avoid delay to the proper
party.
Monday, December 5. a message
from Postmaster General Will H.
Hays. instructing the boys and girls
of the United States of some of the
essential details in mailing Christ
mas packages was read to the school
children of this city, which included
all the details given in this column IN
last Saturdays issue.
Patrons are requested to avail them
selves of the easy mailing facilities in
the mornings and to avoid the con-
gested period between 4:30 and 500
o'clock at the parcel post window.
Parcel post packages can be sent
in weight up to 20 pounds in the first
three zones, or approximately 800
miles from Topeka and in any zone
up to so pounds. All packages re-
quiring 25 cents or over in ordinary
postage requires the additional pay
.ment of revenue tax and these stamps
can be purchased at the stamp win
dows of the main office or at the sta
lions.
Beware of Theft.
Packages can be mailed in the city
for local delivery at the rate of cents
for the first pound and 1 cent addI-
tiona1 for each additional pounds or
fraction thereof.
The postoffice will be closed to the
public all day December 26 but par
Gel post delivery will be made in all
parts of the city on that day.
Do not place your packages on top
or on the outside of the mail box
they may be stolen. The postoffice
endeavors in every way possible to
safeguard your mail. If the pack
ages are too large to place in mall box
bring 1t to the postoffice and insure its
safety.
Care should be taken in packing
fragile or breakable articles. Articles
of this character not properly packed
will not be accepted for mailing. We
use every precaution to prevent break