New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10
SHOOTING MESsAGES AROUr rOWN
THE WESTERN UNIONS PNEUMATIC TUBEs-A COM
PLICATED system.

THE WESTERN UNIONS PNEUMATIC TUBEs-A COM
PLICATED system.
The system of dispatching messages 10 COM
pa atvey long distances through pneumatic tubes has
been operated by Western linton Telegraph Company
for about four months aud IT, perfect success Is assured
II Is intended make this system the centre Of an nri-
cate pneumatic railway which shall connect every
Western Union Office I'm the city SPECIFICATIONS have al
ready been made to complete this ingenious purpose,
which will be carried through with all convenient speed
The general scheme OF transmitting messages through
tube by Of air pressure Is not new and has been
for years successfully practiscd between the Dcy-st
office OF the company and the newspaper Offices But
the particular methods embraced In thls new sys-
ten have many original features.
trench from foar feet beneath the surface OF
the street connects tho Western Union oce at Broad
way aud Dey-s with their uptown Office at Filh-aye
and Twenty st. This site was formerly occupied by
the old trownstono mansion long known ~ the Peck
ham homestead. It bought by the company utllo
over two wars ago ANA s intended for distribution
office for "A large territory above FOurteenth-st Work
began upon the trench which runs through bI0Wlwg
about eighteen months ago. uurhS tne ", so t
graph employees. The trench contains Sly luoes four
about az Inches i'm diameter Tho brass tubes are de
signed for the pneumatic service lWD run WIthnut III
The Dey-st building TO the basement OF the Twenty
thirdst Office The other two are used Tor conveying
messages to intermediate Offices Iho IRON lupes Alo
filled with telegraph wires already laid nut hot CON
nccIed to he used In eases OF eNtrmuhary business
leather boI cyn,irical In shape, which ITS the tube
easily, capped at each Joint WITH anges tat nnSo ~
air tight In the baseiDent OF eacu uu."'Ts ' 80
four engines OF 25O- horse power eaou IIese eghI
engines work the tubes. in each building belhg con
nccted each tube. When the OOh OF mcSsd5os -
slipped into the tube, one engne eAhts tb ina he
pipe before IL and the other pumps ar INTO Tue
hind H. and the box whiZzes through A inc rale vi
n minute. About fifty separate messages hto sot VA
every box though It will hod 100 Ine ,uoe - t ~,
secons of twenty feet aud elOngaOns ana cOnlrhcIOns
OF the metal by changes OF temperature arc ~ N
provided for In places tue clOeheSs Oh tio VOW
l.
inwence esnecalIy necessary small Joint Is Inserted
at points which Will admit Of an expansion III eve
feet Ct pipe of two inches some ti NM, ~ Scame 40
hot that they could not be handled lnis @ an incS
the greatest expansion yet observed when WAS d" HUI
and three quarters In tho 500 feet OF tuDlhR 80.
The tubes II worked to their greatest capacity oa'
transmit ten boxes thousand messlte,, uon ~ 80
Packages may be sent rs well az paper % rsc,
thing else that can be got into the poA. ,, ,or N
stations but n messages are designed Ior My saols
that are connected with the other wo , ~ ~ ts re
az tho dispatching office informs the Operator W tuo TO
celyng Office by electric bell Inc IeoSis,.s oiS 90
swings the section OF the tube ABOVE hil 70 quo h
thus breaking the connection. lie replaces u WIN .
glass face to stop the suction. ana wire scI1o "
the box at ts end His station Is conneS'e ~ J Se
tube that up out OF the street. anu " sno
has completed these changes the box Is DeluIe uu
he reOpeus the tubc. This system OF reVGslnn SUBJ
that catch the boxes mp Just at tne rs"' s'" "
somethTng new IN mechanical achievement 81, 49,.
Lr-iI~t collars nrotect the points where the sections
OF the tubing join AT distances oil about 4VO leo.
hole is sunk into the trench and workmeD n ~, ine
Injuries TO the pine which impair its operation may 20
placed By passing box through connected Win rope
a. each end In connecting the terminal station WHICH
eost soethIng more than 100000 7B4OO rect OF tup
ing ia used The cost OF the engines pumps auu co
pessOrs ia about much more me pressure " alI "a
tbe tank thirty pounds 10 tue squire lhc
and the pereeon OF tue machinery mas been SHOWN ~
an experlment which proves the exhaust TO he tweny-
eight and one hAf inches, aasst An actual vacuum