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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1912)
te 11 H 1 ) mm MTFs RATES "osTflGE H IJiISnw IlllllaiU R POSMSTEM government Goes Intb Business of Transmitting Merchandise , Through the Mails. klEW LAW FULLY EXPLAINED pountry Divided Into Zones and Unlto for Purpose of Fixing Charges 1 for Carriage' No Package Weigh ling Mors Than Eleven Pounds Is j Mailable Anything Properly Wrap ped Which Will Not Injure Other ) Mall May Do Sent I By EDWARD D. CLARK. I With tho coming of tho Now Year ho Utiitod Statoo govoramont -will cn ,er into a now field of enterprise ho transmittal of merchandise by ivh'nt 1b known aa tho parcel post, for years thoro has boen a demaud tor Buch a ByBtom of Inexpensive j-ansmlttal of packages. Tho camps f favor and disfavor of tho parcel fOht ochomo liavo boen about equally llvldod. Finally nt tho last session, if congress a bill wnB passed which ivlll put tho plan into operation, but inly it must be said In llttlo mora Limn an oxpprlracntal way. It Is tho Intention of Undo Sam to novo rather Blowly in the parcel post natter. Ho wantn to find how popu ar it will bo, how much It will cost :ho govoramont, and whether thoro Ib :o bo a profit or loss nt tho end of ach year. If it is found that tho plan is successful from tho point of rlow of tho people, which mcauB tho . overamont also, tho parcol post will o extonded until finally it reaches ho proportions which Ha proponents lay thoy boliovo it Ib destinod to any umo. rua no oyniem uxpiainea. . It is no exaggeration to say thnH Zone System Explained thousands upon thousands of inquir es havo boon made of tho poBtmastor roncrnl as to Just whnt the parcel post will moan to tho people. It was Jio law of congroBB establishing tho lystom which made provision for a division of tho country Into zonos , md into 85,000 units which aro to bo i mod as oontors In describing the clr- ties which mark the boundaries of 1 Iho conoo. Thoro has boon no clear 'Understanding, apparently, or this tono system, but really It Is a very ilnsplo mattor. Tho accompanying map shows tho wuntry dlvldod into zones from tho inlt In which Washington is sit lated, as tho conter. Accompanying 3xo map is a table showing tho rato . t poatago per pound for parcels from Washington to places within all the cones. Each unit contains an area thirty tnllOB square. (Now each unit is a lontor from which the zonoB aro Jrawn and so ovory unit in tho coun ty no matter whoro it is situated will feavo 'zones' Trawn from It Just oxactly Vs Washington lias them drawn from It For instance, take Keokuk, la., which Is in a unit in tho fifth zone. Prom that will bo drawn circles ex tctly bb thoy are drawn from Wash ngton and thoy will bo numbered from ECeokuk bb number ono, Just as they sro - numbered from Washington as lumber ono. Of course, however, Eono Six will havo u different gco rrephlcal position aa related to Keo mk than it has as related to Wash ington, but as tho radius of tho circles Irawn from Keokuk Is tho name length as tho radhiB of tho circles Irawn from Washington, Kcokuk'B Eone Six will bo just as far from its tenter as Washington's Zone Six is. How Rates Aro Fixed. It can bo soon from this readily saough that tho poBtal rates from Washington to its particular zone will be tho samo as tho postal rates from Keokuk to its particular zones. Each intt bolng about thirty mlloB square will of courso contnin in most cases n lumber of poatofllces, but each ofuco In tbo tamo unit Is considered as be ing tho centor of tho circles from Parcels weighing four ounces or less are mailable at the rate of one cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce, regardless of distance. Parcels weighing more than four ounces are mailable at the pound rate, as shown by the following table, and when mailed at this rate any fraction of a pound is considered a full pound. 1st zone 2d 3d , 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Wt. Local Zone zone zone zone zone zone zone zone Lbs. rate. rate. rate. rate, rate rate rate rate rate 1-.-$0.05 $0.05 $0.06 $0.07 $0.08 $0.09 $0.10 $0.11 $0.12 2... .06 .08 .10 .12 .14 .16 .19 .21 .24 3... .07 .11 .14 .17 .20 .23 .28 .31 .36 4 .08 .14 .18 .22 .26 .30 .37 .41 .48 5... .09 .17 .22 .27 .32 .37 .46 .51 .60 6... .10 .20 .26 .32 .38 .44 .55 .61 .72 7... .11 .23 .30 .37 .44 .51 .64 .71 .84 8... .12 .26 .34 .42 .50 .58 .73 .81 .96 9... .13 .29 .38 .47 .56 .65 .82 .91 1.08 10... .14 .32 .42 .52 .62 .72 .91 1.01 1.20 11 .15 .35 .46 .57 .68 .79 1.00 1.11 1.32 For a full explanation of Zone see the Parcel Post Guide. which the zones are drawn. Tho rates of postage nro flxod from tho unit in which tho sending postofllco Is situated, but tho prlco to every place in any zone is JuBt the samo. To il lustrate, it will cost oxactly tho same nmount to send a parcel from Wash ington to Erie, Pa., that it costs to send it to Atlanta, Ga., bocauBo Erlo and Atlanta with refcrenco to Wash ington nro situated In tho fourth zona. Tho rates therefore are fixed from tho unit in which tho postofflco Ib located, but thoy aro tho same from that offico to any point In nny ono zone, it will bo seen by reference to tho tablo of rates of poatago that it will cost moro per pound to send a pack ago a long dlstanco than It does to send It n short dlBtnnco. Tho rato in creases for a package weighing ono pound nt tho rato of ono cent for each zone No packago weighing moro than 11 pounds can bo sent un der tho now parcel poBt law. It Should, bq snjd right h,ero tjjat on tbjj long hauls tho parcel post may" not oo aoio to competo with tho express . 1- i 4 ., 4 , I : , OTanle8. bu that on shorter hauls it can so competo. It was tho ex pressed deBiro of tho legislators and of the postofllco officials that tho par cel post syBtem should bo mndo of particular uso to persons having farm and factory products to transmit to customers. It is probnblo that pro ducers must study tho rates of post age and tho conventonco of trans mittal and com para them with tho cost and convonionco undor present methods beforo individually a man can dotcrmino whether ho is to profit or not by the cbango. Then thoro is an other thing to bo considered and which only enn bo known definitely when fuller regulations havo boon made to specify exactly what kind of things can bo sont by parcel post. It can be said In n genornl way that any thing can bo sent which Ib properly wrapped and which will not lnjuro other mall mattor with which It may como in contact. Copy Foreign Countries. It Ib probnblo thnt tho govoramont will adopt n means of transportation for certain kinds of Its merchandtso much llko those which havo been adopted in parcol post countries abroad. What tho English call ham pors, basket-like arrangements, prob ably will bo ndoptod, and as thoso can be kept separate from the ordinary moll mattor It Ib believed that tho regulations as finally ndoptod will al low tho Bending of eggs, butter, dross, ed poultry, live poultry, honey, frnlt, nnd other products of tho country. The 11-pound limit for a Blnglo pack age may work at first against any vory oxtendod use of the parcol post for some of tho articles which havo boon named. Of courso, noro weight can bo sent if It Is sent In different parcolB, but tho cost In thnt caBO would be heavier becauso tho In crease par pound on a Blnglo packago Is not great up to 11 pounds, and probably It would IncrenHo at no great er rate If tho govoramont wero to raise tho limit of weight which la now fixed, To mnko It simpler, It will cost moro to send two packages of 11 pounds than It would to send ono packago of 23 pounds it tho govern ment eventually should allow a heavi the rates of postage in the First er single packago to bo carried and should charge in proportion just what it does now for ono packago of 11 pounds weight. Every postmaster in tho United StatcB will havo a parcel post map like tho ono which is here reproduced oxcept that tho zono lines will bo Bhown with tho unit of his postofflco ns a conter. All that a postmaster will havo to do when a parcel Is pre sented for transportation is to find out in -what zono tho destination of tho package lies. His table will Bbow him Instantly tho rato per pound from tho unit in which his postofflco lies to tho .zono of tbo package's destina tions,, tho prlco as has been explnined beforo, to every postofflce in nny ono zono bolng tho same. Tho parcel post will tako nothing but fourth-claBS mat tor. Printed matter Ib still In tho third-class designation. Thereforo books cannot bo sont by the parcel post system. This tho postofflco au thorities seom to think is in a -way unjus njid may work a hardship. It may bo tiiat fn Iho future the law will bo changed so ns to include nil print ed matter. It seems to bo certain that an attompt will bo mado to bring about this chango na speedily as pos sible. Must Bear Stamp. Postmaster General Hitchcock hnB ordered that postmasters bo advised that parcel post packages cannot bo accepted for mailing unless they bear a distinctive parcol post stamp and havo attached to thorn the return card of tho sender. A series of distinctive stamps Is now in course of prepara tion for this class of mall as required by tbo law creating tho parcol post system. Consignments of thoso stamps will be roady for shipment to all poatofllces In amplo time for tho establishment of the now system on New Year's day. Tho postofflco department has given instruction to every postmaster in tho country to enlighten his patrons ns much as possible on tho general sub ject of tho parcel post and especially on tho uso of tho special Btnmps apd tbo necessary attachment of the re turn card. Tho law requires thnt all fourth-class matter mailed ncr Jan uary 1, 1913, without parcel post stamps attached Bhall bo treated as "Hold for postngo" mattor. Parcel post packages will bo mailable only at poBtofllcea, branch postoffices, let tered and local named stntlono, nnd such numbered stations as may bo designated by the postmasters. It has been announced by Postmas ter General Hitchcock that nearly 70, 000 scales will bo required for ubo in tho parcel post system which Ib to go into effect Jnnuary 1st. Ho haB ac cordingly authorized tho issuance of l.Ma fn that nnmhflr. Turn hunrirpfl u.uo u. ....... ............. . .. .. . of tho lurgeBt poatofllooB nnd tholr branches will bo supplied with auto matic Bprlnglcss scales. The next class of offices, numbering about 10, 000, will bo given high grade beam Bcalo, whllo the four class offices, numbering about C5.000, will bo fur nished with tbo host spring balances obtainable, each having n capacity for twenty pounds. These scales will bo used by postmostors to dctermlno tho amount of postage required on parcol post packages, Tho fact that many of tbo postoffices of tho country are f now furnished with scales of a limited capacity makes it ncce&sary for tho postmaster general to mako this very large purchaso of scales capftblo of taking caro of tho parcel post busi ness. It is understood that this wlU bo tbo largest single order ever placed for Bcales. Rate on SecdB Not Affected. It should bo Bald that tho act of congress which puts a parcel post plan into operation docs not in any way effect tbo postage rato on seeds, cut tings, bulbs, roots, scions and plants as fixed by section 4S2 of tho postal laws and regulations. Tho classification of articles mail able as well as tho weight limit, the rates of postage, zono or zones and other conditions of mnllablllty undor tho act of congress, if tho postmaster general Bhall find on experlenco "that they or any of them are Buch as to prevent tho shipment of articles de sirable, or shall permanently render tho cost of tho service greater than the receipts of the revenue thererrom, he is hereby authorized, subject to the consent of tho interstate commerce commission after investigation, to re form from tlmo to timo such classifi cation, weight limit, rates, zone or zones or conditions, in order to pro moto tho service to tho public or to insuro the receipt of revenuo from such service adequate to pay tho cost thereof." Through many years different mem bers of tho house and senate havo been Interested in promoting parcel post legislation. Among tho men most nctlve In securing tho legislation which soon Ib to go into effect as law aro Senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon, Representatives Dnvld J. Lewis of Maryland and William Sul zer of New York, who has Just been elected governor of that state. To ascertain conditions surrounding tho establishment of the parcel post system in places differing widely in szo, climate and Industries, Postmas ter General Hitchcock recently sum moned to Washington, to confer with tho special parcol post commlttco, tho postmasters of flvo typical offices. They are William H. Davis, Pittsburg, Pa.; Daniel T. Gerow, Jacksonville, Fla.; M. H. Joster, Wilmington, Del.; B. M. C. Qulmby, Suffolk. Va., nnd Henry N. Bradley, Charlestown, W. Va. Confer With Postmasters. Tho postmasters of tho flvo largest offices In the country have already appeared beforo tho committee, bo Pittsburg was represented as bolng a large first class offlco, though smaller than any of tho greater "flvo, and aB being tho centor of a tremendous man ufacturing area. Tho postmaster of Pittsburg reported that the board of trade of that city has a special parcel post committee, working toward bringing tbo consumer and producer nearer to each other by the new sys tem. Ho also said that many of tho merchants aro planning to havo their city deliveries made by parcel post. Wilmington, Del., represented a largo farming and manufacturing dis trict, with its mall connections close with Philadelphia, ono of tho largest offices. Jacksonville la tho largest of fice in Florida, and the outlet for all tho mail of tho state. It is peculiar in having a special increase of force in winter, tho tourist season, and tho postmaster said that it was expected that travelers would uso the parcel post extensively in sending homo flvo and ten-pound packages of fruit. Suffolk, Va., and Chnrlcstown, W. Va., are both vory small second class offices, ono In tho tido-water district, with large truck interests; tho other far inland in an orchard country, with diversified farm products. The post masters of both offices reported great interest in tho parcel post, and said that they had continual inquiries re garding its scope. From those postmasters tho com mlttoe was ablo to glean a great amount of valuable Information, . WUIV;U( iwuqu lu umv huiou iiuui mo rccent hearings in Maryland, put it which, ndded to that gained from tho In a position to plan tho details of tho Borvlco to tho greatest advantage of tho producing farmer. Give Him Time. "You're a protty old man to bo beg gin'," said tho lady to tho man at tho back door. "Yes, ma'am," replied tho man with his hat In his hand. "Havo you boon begging all -your HfoT" "Not ylt, ma'am." US I Postmaster General Issues Reg ulations Governing System. WHAT MAY BE SENT BY MAIL Gives American People Opportunity to Send Farm and Factory Products by Mall From and to Any Point In United States. Postmaster General Hitchcock boo Just approved tho regulations which cover in detail tho nrtlclcs which may or may not bo sont by parcel post Thcso regulations aro now being turned off at tho government printing office on a "rush order" and they will bo distributed as rapidly as possible. Tho rules as to what can bo sent and what cannot bo sent and tho in structions for tho preparation of mull ablo articles with other "ofllclal ad vlco" aro given horo as they have Just been prepared by the postofllco de partment in Washington. Tho minimum rate will be five cents for tho first pound and three cents for each additional pound to any point not exceeding fifty miles from tho offlco" of mailing; the locnl rate, which is five cents for tbo first pound nnd ono cent for additional pound, applies to all parcels tho delivery of which does not involve their transportation on rail way lines. Tho rates incrcaso for each successive one of the eight zonos, tho maximum rate being twelvo cents a pound, which will carry a parcel across tho continent or to any of our possessions. Parcels will bo limited to eleven poundB in -weight and six feet in length and girth combined. Mailable Perishable Articles. Butter, lard and perlshablo articles such as fish, fresh meats, dressed fowls, vegetables, fruits, berries and articles of a similar nature that decay quickly, when bo packed or wrapped as to prevent damago to other mall mattor, will be accepted for local de livery either at the office of mailing or on nny rural route starting therefrom. When inclosed in an inner cover and a Btrong outer cover of wood, met al, heavy corrugated pasteboard or other suitable material and wrapped so that nothing can escapo from tho package, they will bo ac cepted for mailing to any offices with in tho first zono or within a radius of B0 miles. Butter, lard, or any greasy or oily substance Intended for deliv ery at offices beyond tho first zono must be suitably packed. Vegetables and fruit that do not decay quickly will bo accepted for mailing to any zono if packed so as to prevent dam age to other mall matter. Eggs will be accepted for local delivery when se curely packed In a basket or other container. Eggs will be accepted for mailing regardless of distance when each egg Ib wrapped separately and packed in a container. Thoro Ib no restriction on salted, dried, smoked or cured meats and other meat products, but fresh meat in any form will bo transported only within tho first zono. Parcels containing perishable arti cles must bo marked "PERISHABLE," nnd articles likely to Bpoll within tho time reasonably required for trans portation and delivery will not be ac cepted for mailing. Manufactured Articles. Manufacturers or dealers Intending to transmit articles in considerable quantities aro asked to submit to tho postmaster for approval a specimen parcol showing tho manner of pack ing. When sharp pointed instruments aro offered for mailing, tho points must bo capped or encased. Blades must be bound bo that they will romaln at tached to each other or within their handles or sockets. In'- Powders, poppor, Bnuff, or other similar powders not explosive, or any similar pulverized dry Bubstanco, not poisonous, may bo sent when inclosed in cases mado of metal, wood or other material to render Impossible tho es capo of any of the, contents. Flour of all kinds must bo put up in such manner as to prevent the package breaking or tho flour being scattered in tho mails. Queen Bees and Nursery Stock. Queen bees, live isects, and dried reptiles may bo mailed In accordanco with tho regulations that now apply to other classes of mall. Seeds of fruit, nursery stock, and all other plant products for preparation may bo mailed under the samo con ditions. Confectionery and Soap. Candles, confectionery, yeast cakes. soap in hard cakes, etc., muBt be in closed in boxes and so wrapped as to prevent injury to other mall mat ter. ' Sealed original packages of 'propri etary articles, such as Boaps, tobacco, pills, tablets, etc, put up In fixed quantities by tho manufacturer, and not la themselves unmallable, will bo accepted for mailing when properly wrapped. Millinery. Fragile articles, Buch as millinery, toys, musical instruments, etc, and ar ticles consisting wholly or in part of glass, or contained in glass, must bo Becurely packed and tho parcel stamp ed or labeled "FRAGILE." Unmallable Matter. The following matter Is declared un mallablo by law: Matter manifestly obsccno, lewd, or laSCivlOUS: articles lntnnrlnrl for nro. venting conception; articles intended 0 OS for indecont or immprnl purposes; aH matter otherwiso mailable by law, th outsldo cover or wrapper of which bears and delineation or languago of a libelous, scurrilous, defamatory, or threatening character. All such mat ter, when deposited in a post offlco or found in tho malls, shall bo withdrawn and Bent to tho divisions of doad let torB. Intoxicants, Poisons and Inflammabla Materials. Spirituous, vinous, malted, ferment ed, or other intoxicating liquors of nny' kind; poisons of overy kind, and arti cles and compositions containing poi son, ponsonous animals, insects nnd reptiles; explosives of every kind; In flnmmablo materials (which aro held to include matches, kcroseno oil, gaso line, naphtha, benzine, turpontlno, de natured alcohol, etc.), infernal ma chines, and mechanical, chemical or other dovlccs or compositions which may ignite of explode; disease germs or scabs, and other natural or artifi cial articles, compositions or mate rials of whatover kind which may kill, or In any wise lnjuro another or damago tho mall or other property. Pistols, Anlmalo and Birds. Pistols or'revolvors, whether in de tached parts or otherwise; llvo or dead (and not Bluffed) animals, birds, or poultry, except as elsewhere pro vided; raw hides or pelts, guano, or any nrtlclo having a bad odor will not be admitted to the mails. Treatment of Undellverable Parcels. Perishable matter will bo delivered as promptly as possible, but If bucIi matter can not bo delivered and be comes offensive and injurious to health, postmasters may destroy It, or the injurious or offen3ivo portion? thereof. Undellverablo perishable matter which in Its nature does not become offenBivo or injurious to health may bo delivered by postmasters to the proper local municipal authority to bo -distributed to hospitals, asylums or other charitable or reformatory insti tutions. If there Ib no such municipal authority, the matter may bo deliver ed to any charitable institution or or ganization making application there for. If no application is made, the mattor will bo destroyed at the ex piration of two woeks. Parcels Improperly Packed. Postmasters will refuse to receive for mailing parcels not properly in dorsed or packed for safe shipment. When parcels on which the postage is wholly unpaid or insufficiently pre paid is deposited for local delivery and the sender Is unknown, notice of detention need not be sent but such matter will be delivered and tho defi cient postage .collected from tho ad dressee by the carrier. If tho ad dressee refuses to pay the postage tho matter will bo sent to tho Di vision of Dead Letters. Insurance on Parcels. A mailable parcel on which the postage Is fully prepaid may be in sured against loss in an nmount equiv alent to Ub actual value, but not to exceed $50, on payment of a fee of ten cents in parcel post stamps, sucb stamps to be affixed. When a parcel is insured, tho sen der will bo given a receipt Bhowlnfl tho office and date of mailing and number of the parcel. When a return receipt is desired by tho sender of an insured parcol the postmaster at tho mailing offlco will note tho request on tho margin of tho insurance tag, and the postmastoi at tho office of address will obtain from tho addressee a receipt and mall It to tho sender. Tho liability for Indemnity Bhall cease when delivery has been effect ed. Forwarding of Parcels. Parcels may be romalled or for warded on the payment of additional postage at the rato which would ba chargeable if they were originally mailed at the forwarding office, in which caso tho necessary stampB will be affixed by tho forwarding postmas ter. Payment must be made every tlmo the parcel Is forwarded. Preparation for Mailing. Parcels must bo prepared for mail ing In Buch manner that the contents can bo easily examined. A parcel will not be accepted for mailing unless it bears the name and address of the sender preceded by the word "From," In addition to tho name and addroBS of tho sender, which is required, it will be permissible to write or print on the covering of a parcel, or on a tag or label attached to it, tho occu pation of the sender, and to indicate in a smnll space by meuns of marks, letters, numbers, names or other brief description, tho character of tho pan eel, but amplo space must be left on tho nddresB side for the full address in legible characters and for the ne cessary postage stamps. Inscriptions such as "Merry Christmas," "Please do not open until Christmas," "Happy New Year," "With best wishes," and tho like, may bo placed on tho cover lng of tho parcel in such manner an not to Interfere with tho address. Distinctive Stamps. The law requires that the postage on nil matter must be prepaid by distinctive parcel post stamps affixed. Postmasters cannot receive for mail ing parcels that do not bear such stamps. Parcol post stamps are not valid for the payment of postage on mattor of tho first, second, and third classes, and when used for thnt purposo, tho matter to which they are afllxed shall be treated as "Held for postage." Maps and Guides. Parcel post maps, with accompany ing guides, aro to be sold to the put lie at their cost, 75 cents, through tho chief clerk of tho post office depart ment. In ordering maps care should bo taken to specify tho post office from which the postage rates are to bo determined. I rffc. fi fi -, i r - v i t. - WW.
