Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10

One Of the matters of practical importance
which has engaged the attention Of Mr.. wans-
maker since he has been at the head Of the
Post Office Department is that of adding 10 the
efficiency Of the postal system by the use of
pneumatic tubes in the transmission Of mail
matter to different points in large cities He
favors, as has been stated in The STAR. the use
of this system Of rapid transmission between
tho different executive departments and
the Capitol in this city. As the use Of pneu-
matte tubes is not general in this country or in
Europe he has made an effort to collect data
which would throw light upon the problem, 90
that he would be enabled to present to Con-
gress feasible plan. At his request Mr..
Jerome Carly. who has given considerable A.
upon his observation Of the pneumatic
dispatch tube system in operation
in Europe. In this report, which
has just been laid before the
Postmaster General, Mr.. Carly gives at some
length an account of The several systems now
in operation in London. Paris and Vienna He
states at the outset that while these systems are
worthy of study and observation that the svs-
tenn which is worthy OF. the most attention by
the authorities in the United States in order 70
keep pace with the modern progress in the me-
chanical arts is that now known as
'Concisely speaking" the report adds.
''there is no electro-pneumatie system in oper-
alton in Europe, but sufficient strides have
been made by demonstration TO prove that this
system is not only feasible and practicable, but
more economical aud more efhcient than any
OF the systems now in Use in Europe"
In London, the report states the system Of
transmitting small rolls Of paper through tubes
of few inches diameter by pneumatic pros-
sure is used in connection with the telegrathic
department of the British post Office. In Lon
don most of the lines connect the central Office
with district Offices for the purpose of collect
ing and distributing kilograms. Iron tubes
were used on some Of the earlier lines, but now
the tubes are always made of lead with SOL
dered joints and are inclosed in outer pipes u
iron for the sake Of protection.
The bore, which is smooth and uniform, is
normally two and quarter inches, though in q
few cases il is as much three inches and in
some only one and half inches. In most cases
a single tube serves both 10 send and 20 receive,
but when the traffic is heavy pair of tubes are
used, one to send by pressure and the other to
receive by vacuum. The pumps, which supply
the pressure and vacuum TO two mains, are sit
uated in the central Office. On some lines there
are intermediate stations, and the sections are
then worked by block system like that in uss
on railways
THE CIRCUIT srsTEn
The report states that the system extensively
used in Paris and other continental cities il the
circuit system, in which stations are grouped
on circular or looped lines, around which
carriers travel in one direction only. In Paris
large areas Of the city have been covered by
pneumatic circuits made by the iron pipes,
around which omnibus trains of carriers are
sent at intervals Of fifteen minutes
The trains consist of several carriers linked to
one another and to a leading piston. The
trains are stopped at the successive stations 10
take up and deposit dispatches. The Paris
system, the report adds, which took root
in 1856 and has been more extensively
developed than elsewhere, differs greatly
in mechanical details from the En-
glish system. An arrangement like the
one in Paris has been followed in Vienna and
Berlin. In New York the English system ID
adopted, but with brass instead Of lead tubes,
and on q very limited scale The number OF
dispatches of all kinds transmitted by the tubes
in Paris is about 800 per day. The meantime
which elapses from the handing In Of messAgs
to its delivery n for omnibus trains from forty
10 forty-ive minutes.
PARIs VIENNA AND LONDON.
The whole Of the pneumatic trsnmissioa
works established in Paris ND 70 the middle Of
the past year, the report states, including be-
sides the stations opened for services, the basis
for new lines and the means Of producing
power Tor working part Of those line: have
CURED TO complete the entire scheme.
In Paris and Vienna the trains col
lect and distribute the messages % they
so their round, while in London the messages
are collected at one point and after~ard sent
10 their various destinations The latter
method, the report sdds, entails . great waste
Of power One advantage Of the system u
shown by the rule in force in Vienna, where
there Is no restriction - 10 the number Of
words In one Telegram.
Reports viii also be made 10 The Postsnas>se
General on the system In use In Berlin and
other citiosL