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Show THE-PARCELS POST SERVICE At last the parcel post! What Europe has enjoyed for years has finally become a reality here. As might be expected, the inauguration in-auguration of the service was characterized by the mailing of various articles of merchandirc either in a spirit of fun or for advertising purposes. For instance, in-stance, the ton or more of bricks which a manufacturer of clay products sent out attracted general gen-eral attention because the comparison com-parison of a letter or postal card with a brick as mail matter appeared ap-peared ridiculous and suggested the difficulties of the clerks and letter carriers struggling with such heavy articles. But as a matter of fact, a year hence the same man, can mail a carload and little attention will result. It is ,the new and unuiual thing that is strange, like the first bicycles that aroused derision and were a frequent mark for stones thrown by the small boy. The service has thus far been satisfactory to the public, and the indications are that the, Dei partment, which was some what unprepared, will be able to expand ex-pand its facilities to keep space with what will bo a steadily growing traffic. The competitive competi-tive tests of articles mailed and expressed from the same place to the same destination were rather in favor of the parcel Dost, which in some cases was a full 24 hours ahead of the express companies. The latter, however, will not go out of business, although they will hive to modify rates on small packages and pay smaller dividends divi-dends on watered stock: but while any innovation js discon-cerned discon-cerned for a : time, toother -people and industry immeditely affected, af-fected, other occupations and forms of- service soon arise to take their place. Some of express ex-press employes may change to postoffice employes, and the companies replaces what packages pack-ages they lose with larger and heavier freight, but there will doubtless be occupationfor both the parcel post and the express companies. H H. Windsor, in the March Popular Mechanics Magazine. |