New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-05
COMPETITION WITH THE MAIL AND
TELEGRAPH.

Cannot letters and light parcels be transmitted from
city to city in one third Of the time now required by
railroads We think they can: we are sure of it,
because there are no limits TO the velocity with which
light basket or mail bag OF willow, of any other
suitable material, may be sent through straight and
smooth channel. II may just as well move five hun
dred miles per hour as FIVE; there being more OBJ
ections per Sc to one speed than to the Other The
difficulties tc be overcome are simply mechanical, and
suppose no person dreams that they are nsupera-
bic, or that anything ike q maximum Of practical
velocity in the transmission of either passenger or
mail matter has been attained.
II has been repeatedly proposed to trsr smit the
mail through smooth alright tubes laid under
ground; the bags to be attached to cose-ftting pis
tons and propelled by atmospheric pressure, excited
by sr-pumps-that il, 10 cause little air in New
York to rush in>o tube and drive parcel before it
till both emerge at the Post Office in Washington or
Boston. The plan is philosophical one and would
work satisfactorily for time through short distances
but whether the motive fluid would not be checked,
and its action essentially neutrazed by following
piston through hundred even through fifty miles
of toFuous tubing has TO be determined. Il, doubt
ful if powerful steam-engine in Philadelphia, en-
ployed to force air INFO pipe that ended to New
Haven, could blow out the fame of a candle at The
latter place-suppOsing it were couple Of feet from
the end Of the pine But retArdstion this account
may be, in great measure, removed by arranging at
moderate distances series Of valves to open into the
atmosphere Immediately after the piston passed them.
The great expense Of perfectly bored tubes, crea'ea
or breaks at the joints unequal wear OF the tube in
consequence Of its textures, and the difficulty OF de-
tectipg leaks are also considered objections still,
no scheme is perfect at once, and this one has
beautiful feature in the employment Of az agent for
transmitting motion TO the bag that costs nothing is
every where and always at hand. and unlike solid
uedum, is moi subject to injury nor repairs.
Instead Of costly channel OF metal buried IN the
ground, suppose a common plank trough, or closed
or partially closed gutter, foot or more IN diameter
were extended upon he ground or on poles above H.
for the distance of 100 miles. Suppose letter-boH
fitted to glide steadily through H. the bottom being
furnished with runners OF glass in pace Of wheels or
rollers which at high veloeites would not have time
to turn. runner might be slipped into cavity at
each side Of the box TO slide in corresponding grooves
in the gutter to prevent the box from playing and
rsirg out Of its place. orr might be wholly suspended
BY two two triangular shaped sderznners sndoihe
dispensed with.
That this boz may travel from 200 to 500 miles an
hour, the channel should be straight If il were
crooked the travelling vehicle would ay off, II not
prevented, at every change Of direction, and with
force proporoued to its velocity. 1t is the devatons
from right lines that limit the speed Of cars on rail-
roads Make them straight and we can as easily
reach PHILADELPHIA from New-York in one hour u in
Eve and Washington in two and half as in twelve
vi,hsut the nuisance of dust toe-nstesd Of lettering
in 4, we should pass IL ere Il had time to attack
A, an absolutely straight channel can rarely be q.