Marion progress., 1949-12-15
New Rates Set Out
By Post Office

Its going to be slightly mores ex
pensive this year for the citizens
to express their Christmas senti-
2ments. - -,.-,.-- =
+ Postmaster John Finley explain
ed today that new postal regula-
tions say you can't say ''Merry
Christina" through the mail under
anything smaller than a two-cent
stamp.
In brief, the postal people have
lowered the boom on the odd 1 Il
cent sentiment. 1t takes a two
cent stamp for unsealed envelop-
es.
That also goes for the off-size
postcards.
The only kind of card you can
send through the mail under one
cent stamp is the regulation size
like those sold at the post offices.
| And if you want to send your
greetings in those itty-bitty un-
sealed envelopes, it'll cost you
three cents postage.
Specifically that's what it takes
for an envelope less than four
inches long and three inches wide.
Not that the post office folks
don't like small fry as such.
It's simply thats the tiny envel-
ope won't pass through the sand
ard stamping machines.
They have to be stamped by
hand
AS for Christmas parcels,
don't try to send your friends any
tasty little dish that's liable to
spoil before the postman can de-
liver it.
The post office won't accept it
for mailing, anyway, Postmaster
Finley says:
If your gift is perishable but
won't spoil before it reaches it's
destination it must be endorsed by
postmasters, or postal employees
with the word "Perishable" right
over the name of the person to
whom it is addressed.
If you forgot Aunt Sally on
Christmas Eve, you can, of course,
rush her gift off by air mail.
But don't try to send her an ice
box or something that way.
The postmaster reminds us that
air-mail packages sent fourth-class
cannot be any bigger than 100
inches long and wide combined.
And, if they're first class Or
fourth-class mail, they can't weigh
more than 70 pounds.
AS for what else you can mark
on your packages besides your
friends name and address and
your own address, you may write ::
"Please do not open until Christ
mas"
You can send simple greetings
inside packages going third or
fourth-class mail (parcel post,
that is).
You can slip in card saying
"Merry Christmas" Happy New
Year." or with Best Wishes" for
instance.
You can also write an inscrip-
ton in a book going by third or
fourth1class mail-"Merry Christ
mas, 1949," "To Mary from John, y
or something in that order.
| But if you slip in even very
short letter or personal message in
your parcel, be prepared to pay
the same postage you'd pay if the
parcel were one big letter.
That perfect gift that you fin
ally found after tramping miles
through dozens of stores may never
reach your friend, if you just SLAP
the wrapping around it, or use
weak cord and flimsy paper that
won't stand the gaff of the Christ
mas rush.
/ If you want to seal them, be sure
|yOu put tne printed pdicel Poo
sticker reading:
"Contents: Merchandise - Pos
master: This parcel may be opened
for postal inspection, if necessary
; On the outside wrapping with you1
name and address. Without tht
printed sticker, the package mus
IL. 1oft ,ncoo1o6
. To save time in the usual Christ
mas rush at the post office, bu!
your stamps far in advance.
Besides air mail there are tn,
special delivery and special hand
ling to get your gifts delivered i,