Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-09-06
AIR AS MOTIVE POWER.
USE OF THE PNEUMATIC TUBE IN
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
4 Proposition To Introduce q Quicker
Means of Transportation A Serious
Obstacle Is the Great Waste OF Energy
In Transmission.


In Transmission.
A great deal of surmise and comment Is
taking place in engineering circles about
Postmaster Van Colts remark that the
oaly solution of the problem Of the rapid
collection and distribution of mails lies in
the adoption Of the compressed air system.
A correspondent thinks that this system
could also be adopted with advantage for
the transmissiono Of samples, packages, ETC.,
which are frequently subjected to many
delays with the present express facilities
Some officials seem TO regard such articles
- Of little Importance. whereas it Is often
Of great moment to have samples forward
I'd with all possible dispatch.
The possibilities Of compressed air are
= vet not fully realized In this country.
The pneumatic tube system Of communi-
cation Is Of course In use in many Of the
big down town stores, In newspaper Of
aces and TO some extent between Western
Union offices; but there exists great deal
Of Ignorance about the use Of compressed
cir, even among engineering experts. OF
course the principle OF the system is well
understood, but except for mining opera
tons and for sending articles from one
part Of a building to another 1t is not in
general commercial use In the United
States
A leading engineer said TO reporter the
other day: "This compressed air system, OF
which there is so much talk, is financially
well supported, but it's all humbug." This
expresses the opinion OF great many who
are supposed to be thoroughly acquainted
with the most recent developments Of me
chanical science. But as many whose oc-
~ \ -t.,N
Investigation into the feasibility of all the
mechanical eontrivances that come into
public discussion are beginning to think
that the use Of compressed air would solve
many postal difficulties and also mitigate
the smoke nuisance. brief summary Of
the information on the subject is given
here.
THE SYSTEM USED IN PARIS
II is generally believed that the system,
now in actual use in Paris. has solved the
question Of the speedy transmission Of let
tiers and parcels But this system was
first adopted for the purpose of regulating
the clocks of the city on the pneumatic
button principle, to obtain uniformity OF
time all over Paris. A large number OF
capitalists became interested in the scheme,
the company extended its operations and
the principal business Of the company al
present is the supplying Of power to manu-
factories in different parts OF the city.
The power j. transmitted from the works
which are situated just outside the city
limits. in pipes through the city sewers
One advantage Of this system is that Their,
n no escape of steami in the factories wher'
Il Is employed, and il does not vitiate th'
atmosphere in which the workmen spenc
90 much Of their lives. In fact, the escap'
of air into the rooms is beneficial. as Il
helps 10 cool and ventilate them.
On the other hand, the fact that up {,
the present time Il has been found impos
fible to devise any means which would en-
tirely obviate the continual leakage of al
makes the commercial utility of the sys
tenn doubtful Ii has been found that II
transmitting air for mining purposes )
per cent of the power Is lost. OF cours
In transmitting the air to great distance
through the ramifications Of vast cit
the loss of power by expansion is vastl
greater II j. possible that the percentag
of waste allowed By the company in Pari
would frighten American capitalists, an
make the adoption Of the system here con
mercially impracticahle. Indeed the syi
TEN in Paris, although Endorsed by gene
Gus capital. Is still in an experiments
stage.
TRANSMISSION OF LETTERS.
The system has conclusiyely proved this
the scheme is quite practicable PHYSICAL,
although the inevitable waste Of power
Numerically opposed to the generally a
cepted ideas of mechanical economic
Such a service is practicable IL the publ
can afford TO pay for it at such a rate
will insure a revenue sufficient TO cover q
loss Of power. But that loss of pow
makes all the difference between profit an
loss, and II is entirely possible that in Ne
York at least compressed air will never b
come serious rival TO electricity.
The pressure kept up throughout d
system varies from seventy-five to eigh
pounds, sufficient TO tear letters OF pac
ages all to tatters. IL il strange that q
transmission Of letters should not have q
tracted the attention Of the company IL
could be done proftably, rs for this pr
pose about three pounds or four poun
pressure is amply sufficient. And the IA
that they have not made use Of what seer
such an advantageous system is an arg
ment in favor Of the statement that :
service the public demands must be
cheap that this system could not fill the
quirements without a financial loss.
There are, however, other uses to viii
scientific ingenuity is beginning to APT
compressed air. IL Is rumored in Pa
that a company will shortly supply co
pressed air at such low temperature tf
IL will entirely take the place of ice in
tells and households. This is an excel,
idea and opens a new field for sensation
novelists. By merely opening valve
what is apparently an innocent heat
apparatus the villain can freeze his vict
70 death in his own bed chamber. 7
would have added another story to Ed
Allan Poe's tales of mystery were he al
today.
The authorities of the United Sta
navy have also been experimenting W
compressed air for the discharge of he'
artillery, especially in connection with
new dynamite gun.-New York Iribun'
Too Jovial Altogether for England
A jovial gentleman near Sheffield, X