New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-09
TUBES ON THE BRIDGE.
POSTMASTER SULLIVAN TALKS ABOUT
PNEUMATIC MAIL SERVICE.
THE COMPANY prApy TO BEGIN OPERATIONS AS
SOON AS ARRANGEMENTS ARE COMPLETED
FROM PosToFrIcE TO PosToFFIcE
IN 100 sEcoNDs-PossIBLE Ex-


TENSIONS OF TIE SYSTEM
Postmaster Andrew T. Sullivan. at his home NO
81 Vernon-ave., last evening tod tribune -
porter something about the new system OF p"e"
matte tubes which probably will be used IN tne
near future to transmit hrst-class mall matter oe
tween the Brooklyn and New-York City postofrces.
The plan has been outlined In inc Iriou"e "e
tofore. 1t is an important one, and may !" "s
execution mark a great advance In the ua"s"S-
sion Of mail matter between the large cities OF 'he
United States Moreover. II the proposed postal
line across the Brooklyn Bri1ge shouid prove o"
cessful 1t is altogether probable that important
extensions OF the system in Brooklyn. New-iorK
and Jersey City may take place. In ADDITION sue
cess In transmitting mail matter may result III '"e
operation Of pneumatic systems between He"-io'"
and Brooklyn and stations within either CITY, 'o'
the transmission of all sorts OF small parces'
Naturally this would be OF great Importance IN
parcels delivery, and o. special benefit to large
drvgoods firms While East River bridges ana
ferries between the two cities are talked OF; While
public opinion in NewYork and Brooklyn Is calling
loudly for better means Of transportation thah
now obtain the transmission OF a vast amount OF
mail matter and greater amount o. business
parcels is no small thing
Mr. Sullivan hopes that the projected system OF
rapid transmission Will prove TO be successful IL 1t
be tried, and there seems TO be no reason why
some great and gratifying progress In this line may
not take place in the few years. II the Brook
lyn- New-York experiment proves thoroughly salts
factory.
This particular scheme has not been definitely and
officially settled. far Postmaster Sullivan
knows. and pending a decision by the Postmaster
General and his assistant. Mr.. Nelson. nothing can
be said to be decided absolutely The matter has
been before the postal authorities in Washington
for final action since the Commissioners APP
pointed to examine proposed apparatus reported, in
the last week of February. The Commissioners
Postmaster Sullivan Postmaster Dayton. OF New
York City; Postmaster Carr OF Philadelphia. and
about five other men-visited Burlington. ~ j..
where they inspected a sample plant, and also con-
sidered details in Brooklyn. New-York City and
Philadelphia. At Burlington the Commissioners
saw about half mile of tubing In operation, which
seemed to work successfully. Several companies
have plans for the rapid transit of mails and small
parcels one of the plants being electric one. II
IL possible that il extensive contracts were made
there would be consolidation OF these companies.
The Burlington plant echeme IL Is said. is backed
by a wealthy man of that town who has plant for
the manufacture OF piping. and 1t is this pneumatic
scheme which will probably be used on the Brook
lyn Bridge.
RIGHT OF WAY SECURED.
Mr. Sullivan said yesterday that the right OF way
has already been secured across the Brooklyn
Bridge. Conferences were he'd with the Bridge
trustees and the subject OF using the Bridge Tor
the pneumatic tubes submitted for examination
to c. c. Martin. the Chief Engineer. who, with his
assistants. gave It thorough consideration. Mr.
Martin reported against the proposition to carry
thirty tubes across the Bridge Tubes OF
this size would make it possible 10 send heavy
matter shooting The Engineer. however.
said that eght-inch tubes might be carried across
the structure, and tubes of this size VIII PROB
ably be laid Mr.. Martin said that the laying OF
thirty-six-inch tubes might make necessary cut
ting through the arches 1t Is proposed TO lay
the tubes by the side OF the tracks where they
would be out of the way and In safe place
Provision for the construction and expansion OF
| the Bridge In cold and warm weather will have
| TO be made and that is a problem for the tube
! company to consider. There would be two tubes.
one for carrying matter to Brooklyn and the other
| for transmission in the opposite direction. Then
Is Il planned carry the tubes from the terminals
direct to postofices underground. 1t is understood
| that the contracting company would prefer to do
this. that their pipes would be safe from moesta-
| ton. For instance, in Brooklyn the pipes would
| be carried perhaps below the surface OF Washing
ton-st.. directly the postotce where there would
| be engines TO furnish the pneumiuc power
II is likely that the complete details Of he pro-
pnersc system VIII be msae ngss sso1s
first be made public In Washington by The onica.s
considering the pan there In The absence OF az
ing talk freely about the scheme nor TO indicate
| the substance and recommendations or the reports
| made by the Commissioners.
| THE COMPANY READY TO BEGIN WORK.
When asked TO say whether or no, he thought
| the pneumatic system would BE- in operation
within the next ten days or weeks. he admitted
| that he thought work would progress extremely
| fast II the plant were completed within month
| or so. The company is ready to go 10 work soon
the contract is awarded to it, AS to the rumor
that n large pneumatic system Will be begun a;
| once between the Pennsylva MIA Railroad Station in
Jersey City. the Grand Central Station. in New
| York City. and the New-York and Brooklyn post
| offices Mr. Sullivan did not want to say anything
in the light of dispatches from Washington 10 thai
effect. When pressed for an answer. however. he
and simply theory upon which The operation OF Of
experimental and test upon which great e 1ts
master Dayton is heartily Interested in the posi-
| bites Of the pneumatic plan. and when the Com
himself pleasantly suggested that a line between the
Grand Central Station and the New-York Poso!fice
| might be good thing.
| LARGE TUBES NEEDED.
| The eight-nch tube the Bridge" said Mr.
Sullivan. could be used for the transmission Of
| only frst-class matter. We couldn't send heavy
| mail matter through 1t. Second and third class
| matter would have to go in the old way What
we really want is tube that will carry mail bag
across the river as quickly possible. The dis
lance from postofice postoffce is about one and
elk -tenths miles. thorty six Inch tube or per-
haps thirty even a twenty -four-l inch tube would
take the pouches 1t is calculated that the time II
| would take to carry package from the Brooklyn
| 10 the New-York Postofhce through the tube would
| be 100 seconds. about minute and three-quarters
| That would be an enormous increase of speed. and
| great benefit to the public. No. can't give you
onnand the amount Of flrst-cass mall matter that
goes now between the two postof1ices ! expect the
TUBES would be kept hot The chances are that there
would be dispatches at least every ten minutes or
the transmission might even be continuous know
OF notnInC Ike the proposed plant In real
| IN this city heard reports some time ago that
se MAJ. and packages were being transmitted in the
| elec
| In Europe. ell by the pneuma tic tube nv
1t was said to be strange that The nostal autbori
| ues IN me United States had not taken II IN I
| procured information on this subject and found
| s,.a' OILY small tubes are operated abroad say
| ohe ana one-haf or three inch tubes and they arc
os USE only for carrying sma. kilograms rolled up
anu anu. not 10 carry any bulk Of CONSEQUENCE 10 I
| vah say now expensive the proposed nl,n, vorId
| .che.. me government won't have TO worry about
1es. The company would take the risk TIE