TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



71 



Now, let me tell you what a comparatively insignificant republic can 

 and does do in the way of postal facilities. Inside its own domains it 

 carries letters up to one half pound, and delivers them at the house to 

 which they are addressed for one cent, provided that house be within 

 63- miles of the nearest postoffice; beyond that distance, for two cents; 

 and miles are long in the Swiss Alps, that region of lofty peaks and 

 snowfields. 



But little Switzerland does more than this. Parcels up to 11 pounds 

 weight are received in its postoffices and carried to any address indi- 



cated inside Swiss territory at rates as follows: 



Up to 1. lib... ___ 3 cents. 



Over 1.1 lb. and up to 5.5 lbs Scents. 



Over 5.5. lbs. and up to 11 lbs 8 cents. 



On larger parcels, up to 44 pounds, the rates from postoffice to post- 

 office are: 



11 lbs. to 22 lbs. 14 cents. 



22 lbs. to 33 lbs 20 cents. 



33 lbs. to 44 lbs 30 cents. 



And for 3 cents additional these packages are delivered at the domicile. 



On September 1, 1900, Switzerland, Austro-Hungary and Germany 

 extended their interstate parcels post to packages up to 110 pounds 

 in weight, at rates composed of the combined rates of both countries. 



What is done in Great Britain you can read fully in this month's 

 " Cosmopolitan Magazine." What not to do you can also find there. 

 When their parcels post was instituted, 55 per cent of the receipts was 

 conceded to railway companies for the mere carriage. So mistaken was 

 this bargain, which ends in 1904, that the postoffice department has 

 returned in part to mail-coaches (horse or motor), and by these vehicles 

 11,500,000 parcels are annually rescued from the rapacity of the rail- 

 ways. 



Just one word as to Germany. The German farmer can send 110 

 pounds of produce post haste to any part of Germany or Austria for 60 

 cents. For 3 cents, or less, additional, the postoffice will collect its value 

 and forward the cash to the sender of the goods. 



Now let me tell you in addition what rates other countries pay. The 

 German pays 83 cents for an 11-pound package to Aden. The Mexican 

 pays 90 cents, and the American pays $4. To Argentina, in South 

 America, the German pays 73 cents, the Mexican 58 cents, and the 

 American $4.50. To Bosnia, in Central Europe, the German pays 13 

 cents, the Mexican 30 cents, and the American $4. To the Transvaal, 

 which you have heard of in South Africa.it costs the German $1.90, the 

 Mexican 28 cents, and the American $4.25. To Venezuela, the German 

 pays $1.72, I believe it is, the Mexican 63 cents, and the American $5. 



