Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05
RoHE-posr ron wAsnINaros.
Talk of Pneumatic rnbes for Letters
and small Package..

and small Package..
Postmaster-gene Wanamaker 10 COL
lectine information in regard to the prao.
tioal working of the system Of communi.
cation by underground Pneumatic tubes.
II is believed that such system could
be introduced with advantage in the large
post oftiSea OF the country to connect
them with the sub.stations. 1t could also
be used to connect oil the buildings Of
the executive departments In Washington,
thinks the Star OF that CITY. II is claimed
that suoh system would not only faoili-
tate business, but would effect saving
of money. The volume OF business that
is transacted daily between the different
departments and the capitol is very large.
II oil the public buildings in the city
could be connected with tubeA running
under ground, through which letters
and, perhaps, small packages, could be sent
rapidly, tits believed that valuable add.
tion would be made to the present facili-
ties for carrying or the public business.
Mr.. Wanamaker is gathering facts to
ascertain whether the advantages claimed
for this system really exist and whether
it would be practicable in connection
with the government business. II he Ia
convinced that il would be good thing
he will probable call the attention OF Com
| gress to the subject and ask for an APP
| preparation.
| The nse Of pneumatic tubes for send
ing messages has been quite common in
the leading cities Of Europe for number
of years. This system is also employed
to some extent in this country. The
Western Union Telegraph Company have
their main office, for example, in New
York connected with the branch offices
| by pneumatic tubes. Some of these
tubes are made of brass 81 inches inter
nal diameter and hree-eighths Of IN inch
thick and are laid under the psvements
in the street at depth OF three feet.
Messages are sent from the central
office to the several branch offices by
compressed air and from the branch
Offices to the central Office by atmospheric
| pressure or vacuum. The motive power
il furnished by an engine which operates
the air pumps. This system hes been in
use by the Western Union for the past
four or five years, and President Green,
| IN an annual report to the stockholders,
statsd that the say ng effected the first
year amounted to half tho cost of the
plant. They have the system in opera
tion only in New York City, for the rea-
son that the volume Of business must be
large in order to make it pay.
In London the pneumatic tubes are used
to connect the central Dost-office with the
branch offices. The lenRths OF these tubes
vary from few bundled yards to two
miles, and the time occupied in the actual
travelling through the longest tube is said
to be about six minutes. II has become
o part OF the postal facilities of the
British metropolis as we'll az of other
European cities, ard IL is claimed to be q
practical snd efficient adjunct TO postal
administration.
In the large cities of this country the
mail matter 10 distributed from the CEN
trial point or the railroad stations to the
subssations by wagons. Here ct the
seat OF government the modern facilities
OF communication between the depart
ment buildings, the capitol and the
Waite House are the telegraph aud tele-
phone. There 10 q government telegraph
line mere and in addition the telegraph
companies run spaciGi wires to nearly all
the public buildings.
But neither Of these agencies can be
ussd wnen ii is necessary to send written
communications. To accomplish the
latter mounted messengers are used and
also depsrtm ut wagons. at certain
times each day wagon leaves each OF
tie large department buildings and
make trip to the otGar public build
ings gathering up the mail matter in.
tended for lts special department and
leaving quantity. There isalso corps of
messengers who are sent on spaoial trips
TO carry communications that should be
delivered promptly and safely.
Ihe bulk of Size communication be.
tween tbs departments goes into the
mails, Lire ordinary mail matter, and ID
teksn to the post-1fiiSe and there dis.
tributed. II is thoaght that pneumatic
tube system will relieve the local post.
ohice o. good deal OF work that il now
being done for nothing and also 10 large
extern; take the place of the corps OF mes.
sopgers and wagons, efseting great
saving Of time and money.