From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 2, 1913:

• “Lawrence showed its appreciation of the parcel post system on the initial day of operation yesterday by sending out 65 packages in the two hours that the post office was open to receive them. Today business in the parcel post department was rushing at the local office and the indications are that Lawrence people will take all the advantage possible of the new system. All day today persons with packages under their arms called at the post office and tried out the new carrier system that Uncle Sam has provided for the citizens of his country. Many of them sought the novelty of sending presents to friends via parcel post, but there were a number of business houses that sent out packages to customers…. The work is new to the post office people and they are taking lessons along with the public in the handling of parcel post business. The charts and rules that have been sent out from Washington have been carefully studied and the local office hopes to have mastered the fine points of the new department in a short time…. The first package to be sent from Lawrence was mailed yesterday morning by Prof. L. N. Flint. It was consigned to a Lawrence party and it cost Mr. Flint five cents. Among the first packages to be received at the Lawrence office was one weighing 10 1/2 pounds. It fell to the lot of Dave Horkmans to make the delivery of this package on his regular morning trip…. It is believed at the local office that the present plan of having the regular carriers make the deliveries of parcels will prove unsatisfactory if the business grows as it is expected to and wagons will have to be used just as express companies do.”
• “Twenty-five dollars fine and the costs of a trial and thirty days in the city jail was the justice meted out this morning in police court following the conviction of a 16 year old boy on a charge of petty larceny. Hobart Moss was the one found guilty and it was charged that he had stolen an overcoat belonging to Herman Engle. The theft took place early in December at the Lawrence High School building. The defendant was arrested yesterday afternoon and at the time of the arrest was wearing the coat…. He at first told the officers that he had bought the coat but later admitted having taken it by mistake. He testified this morning that he knew it was not his coat and also admitted that he had made no effort to locate the owner of it. Judge Benson sought to put an end to petty thievery about the High School building and imposed a heavy fine in the first case that came under his jurisdiction.”
• “Lawrence is not willing to pay fifty cents a thousand for natural gas and further will not do so if there is any way of avoiding it. There will be a fight against the proposed hike to fifty cents when the officials of the local gas company appeal to the city council in the near future asking that such a raise be made…. The use of natural gas in the city schools and in the Douglas county courthouse is to be discontinued. And the use of gas all over the city promises to be greatly reduced during the next month. Preparations, especially on the part of the larger consumers, are being made for the re-installation of the old wood and coal burners.”
• “Lawrence observed a rather quiet New Year’s yesterday. There was little business done although most of the business houses remained open until noon. Although yesterday was the first of the month the bill collectors did not make their appearance. They came forth this morning, however, in goodly number to remind the public of the Christmas season just past.”