Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1912 — Parcels Post Law To Go Into Effect January 1. [ARTICLE]

Parcels Post Law To Go Into Effect January 1.

Postmaster Murray has received a blank which contains the following information regarding the parcels post law which goes into effect on January 1, 1913. In part it contains:

"That hereafter fourth-class mail matter shall embrace all other matter, including farm and factory products, not now embraced by law in either the first, second or third class not exceeding eleven pounds in weight, nor greater in size than seventy-two inches, in length and girth combined, nor in form or kind likely to injure the persom of any postal employe or damage the mail equipment.or other mail matter and not of a character perishable within the period reasonably required for transportation and delivery.” For the purpose of carrying this law into effect the United States is divided into zones with different rates of postage applicable to each zone, as to distance. The local rate (applicable to parcels intended for delivery at office or on rural mail route starting therefrom) including rural routes runs from 5c for one pound to 15c for eleven pounds, while a distance of fifty miles runs from 5c for one pound to 35c for eleven pounds; within 150 mile'llmit, 6c for one pound and 46c for eleven pounds; within 300 mile limit, 7c to 57c; 600 miles, 8c to 68c; 1,000 miles, 9c to 79c; 1,400 miles, 10c to $1.00; 1,800 miles 11c to $1.11; all over 1,800 miles, 12c to $1.32.

It will be observed that the rates of postage are largely reduced and that the limit of weight is increased from four to eleven pounds. Parcels will be delivered at all free-deliv-ery offices and to patrons on all rural ard star routes; they may be registered and may be accorded the special delivery service on payment of the usual fees, and they may be insured against loss in an amount equivalent to their actual value, but not to exceed >25, upon paiyment of a fee of five cents. Distinctive stamps must be used on all parcels, but they may be mailed in quantities of not less than 2,000 identical pieces without stamps affixed, the postage being paid In money.