Evening star., 1923-11-12
CHRISTMAS MAIL
RULINGS ISSUED
Post Office Department Pre-.
pares Suggestions to FaciIi-
y tate Heavy Business.

Suggestions for preparation and
mailing of Christmas parcels have
been made by John H. Bartlett, first
assistant postmaster general. and will
be posted in post office lobbies
throughout the country
"The post offices will make every
effort to handle the Christmas mails
without congestion and delay, but,
owing to the enormous volume, this
can be done only with the co-opera-
tion of the public" declared Mr.. Bart
lett.
! compliance with the following sug-
gestions VIII greatly aid the post Of
flee and insure the prompt handling
of your mail"
The suggestions follow:
Wrapping and packing-An par
cells must be securely wrapped or
packed, in order to reach their des-
tination in good condition.
Special packing-Umbrellas canes,
golf sticks should be reinforced their
full length by strong strips of wood
tightly wrapped and tied
Hats: Pack in strong corrugated
or fiber boxes.
Shoes; Pack in strong boxes, pref
erably corrugated cardboard.
cut hoWerS: Place in strong suit
| able boxes of wood. tin or heavy
| corrugated cardboard. Wrap with
tissue to retain moisture.
Candies: 1nclose in strong outside
| boxes or containers.
Drawings, paintings, unmounted
maps. etc: Pack or wrap in strong
| material to avoid damage. When not
fiat. roll around a wooden core and
then wrap and tie carefully or place
| in strong pasteboard tube.
! Sharp-pointed OF sharp-edged in
strumentS or tools must have points
and edges fully guarded to prevent
age to other mail
! Fragile Articles.
! Articles easily broken or crushed
must be Grated or securely wrapped.
Use liberal quantities Of excelsior or
, like material
Glassware, fragile toys, crockery
must be packed so as to prevent the
escape of particles or pieces if broken
in transit.
Cigars: Ordinary boxes Of cigars
wrapped in paper only will not be
accepted Pack in a manner to pre-
vent damage by shock or jar. Wrap
in corrugated pasteboard or similar
material
All articles easily broken or dam
aged must be plainly marked fragile"
Perishable matter-ArticleS likely
to spoil within the time reasonably
required for transportation and de-
livery will not be accepted for mail
ing. Wrap or pack carefully. ac
cording to contents, and plainly mark
all such parcels "perishable." Use
special delivery stamps to expedite
delivery.
Addresses Addresses should be
complete. with house number and
name of street, post office box or
rural route number, and typed or
plainly written in ink. A return card
should be placed in the upper left
hand corner of every piece of mail. If
a tag is used, the address and return
card should also be written on the
wrapper for use if tag is lost. and a
copy of the address should be in
closed inside the parcel.
Postage - Postage must be fully
prepaid on all mail. Aftix the re-
quired amount of postage in the up
per right-hand corner.
Limit of weight and size-No parcel
may be more than eighty-four inches
| in length and girth combined. For
delivery locally and in the first. sec
ond and third zones, seventy pounds
| is the maximum weight; in all other
zones, fifty pounds.
Where to mail parcels-Uninsured
parcels, four ounces or less in weight,
may be mailed in street letter or
package boxes, at all classified sta
tions and branches. and at such num-
bered stations as are designated to
receive parcels. Parcels weighing
over four ounceS cannot be mailed in
street boxes, but must be taken to the
main post office or classified station or
branch. Parcels containing meat,
food products. cut flowers or other
perishable matter should be mailed
only at the main post office or one of
the large classified stations.
When to mail Christmas parcels
Christmas gifts addressed to points
within one days travel should be
mailed not later than December 81;
within two days travel. not later
than December IS; within three days
travel, not later than December 16;
for more distant points, not later
than December II. Parcels for local
delivery should be mailed not later
than December %.
Parcels may be indorsed please
Do Not Open Until Christmas"
Christmas stamps and stickerS-
Christmas stamps or stickers of any
character must not be placed on the
address side of mail matter. Posters
or stickers resembling postage
stamps are not permissible on mail
matter. In using Christmas stickers
they should be so placed as not to
Matter not mailable at parcel post
rates-Written matter in the nature of
personal correspondence cannot be in
closed in parcels.
Miscellaneous printed matter weighA
ing not more than four pounds can!
not be mailed as parcel post. Such
matter weighing over four pounds
may be mailed as parcel post.
Communications attached to par
addressed to correspond with the ad-
dress on the parcel and fully prepaid
at the first-c1ass rate, may be tied or
otherwise securely attached to the
outside of the parcel in such manner
as to prevent separation therefrom
and not obscure the address on the
parcel.
Special delivery service-Special de-
livery service is obtained by affixing
10-cent special-delivery stamp or 10
addition to the regular postage. When
ordinary stamps are used, the words
Special Delivery" must be written or
printed directly below, but not on the
and not for safety. Valuable mail
should be registered or insured.
Insure or register valuable mail-All
valuable domestic parcel post mail
should be insured.
Fees: Value not exceeding IS, 8
cents; not exceeding, s25, 5 cents not
exceeding $50, 10 cents; not exceeding
500. 25 cents.
Coin. currency, jewelry and articles
of similar value should be sent as
sealed first-class registered mail.
Collect on delivery service-Parcel
post matter may be sent C. o. d. from
one money order post office to another.
Fees Tin addition to regular postage)
Value not exceeding $50, 10 cents; not
exceeding 500, 25 cents, to be pre-
paid with stamps affixed. The c. o. d.
fee also covers insurance against loss
or damage up to $50. for a fee of 10
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