The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-09
PNEUMATIC TUBES
For tho Transmission Of Mails
Proving a Success.
THE ST. LOUIS PROPOSITION.
Tho Plan Explalncd...No Funds Avail.
ublo For tho Establishment of tho
Scrvico...Tho Post omcc Depart.
mcut Encouraging tho Bills Before
Congress.
snelal pLroteh to he Ia,ellla.netr.

H
WASHINGTON, D. G., May s.-The nd.
vances made In ST. Louis towards
pneumatic transmission OF mails lend
officials Of the post.olllco department to
hope for more speedy results in Phila.
delphia, where propositions for the
FREQ transmission OF mails in tubes have
been made; in Chicago, where this
method OF transportation would be Of
such great value, especially at Worlds
Fair time, and most Of all, in the met
ropolis, and in other largo population
ccnters, as provided in the CONNER
cial Advertiser BILL" socalled--a meas /.
use before tho postollice committee, by
which New York and Brooklyn, and all
cities Of 10000 or more, in fact, would
be supplied with the tubular post rs
soon as Congress voted the appropria-
ton.
The St. Louis proposition Is for the
establishment OF branch station ut
the Cupplos building, so.caled, and has
been pending in the postolIice depart
ment for several months. This building
Is near the Union depot and in the CEN
tire OF ono OIL. tho most important bust.
ness parts OF the city. The plan is
strongly urged by Major Harlow, who
estimates that within short time after
its establishment the new station will
collect one.ciShth OF the entire revenue
OF tho St. Louis Office. The Cupplcs
building Is situated near the mouth OF
tho tunnel through which trains cross
ing the great bridge at St. Louis enter
that city, and the association Of whole
salc grocers, the Simmons Hardware
Company and other business concerns
within and in the vicinity OF tho build
ing in question, have trade aggregat-
ing over forty millions year. The in
tending lessor OF the station agrees to
furnish, ms part OF the equipment Of
the station, a double pneumatic tube
service conAection direct to the st.
Louis postoiice.
Tho situation OF tho proposed station
and OF tho Office are peculiarly well
adapted for this experimental introduce
ton OF the pneumatic tube service.
Ono front OF the postoffico is located on
the street under which the tunnel
passes, while the proposed station Is
located in direct line and just beyond
the mouth OF tho tunnel, where it
emerges from under tho street TO enter
the union depo. short distance away.
The fact that a subway is thus provided
for tho pneumatic service without tho
trouble and delay incident to opening
the street enables the proposed lessor
of tho station 10 furnish this service in
connection with the station practically
without any expense to himself and
without any to the government. The
proprietors OF the Bridge and Tunnel
company agree to permit the lessons OF
the building to use the tunnel for the
purpose Of placing the pneumatic tubes.
A double service oil four-inch tubes is
contemplated. This will not only give
the government the benefit OF practi-
cal test OF the service, but it will be OF
great value to other localities desiring
it as nffordinS an illustration OF the
success OF the system, if it proves to ne
all that its friends claim for it.
AS already limited, plans have been
outlined for somewhat extensive use
OF this service in New York, Phladci.
phia, Chicago and elsewhere, but its
introduction has been made wholly
dep ndent Except possibly in Phila.
delphia,) upon IN adequate appropria-
ton. No funds are available under
existing appropriations for the estab-
lishment OF this service. The depart.
ment, as repeatedly shown In the post,
master generals annual recommends.
tions, is warmly IN favor OF the tubular
post and has given the bills introduced
in the senate and house Its heartiest
approval. The experiment Mt st. Louis,
il successful, vii! prove most potent
factor IN advancing the interests Of this
service elsewhere, and it is hoped by
the postmaste. genera! that it will dem
onstrate to the fullest degree its time
and labor saving qualities Tho condi-
tons existing at St. Louis permit the
establishment without special uppro-
priation, which has always been the in
superable obstacle to tho establishment
OF this service; and though the condi-
tons apparently existing everywhere
else, namely, lack OF tho right physical
conditions. or OF sufficient private enter.
prise, have thus far been serious enough
TO prevent any progress, still it is easy
10 BIO seen that the success OF the st.
Louis experiment might help along tho
bill for the introduction ,of the system
in New York, and at other places where
definite appropriation by Congress is
Onpnsrorv for thn rurpnca