New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-18
NE1V.yORK MERCHANTS PROTEST.
THEY WANT THE PNEUMATIC TUBE MAIL
SERVICE RETAINED.

SERVICE RETAINED.
Washington Ian. II (speciaD.--The Merchants
Association OF New-York has protested against the
action OF the House Committee on Postofnces ana
Postroads in striking out Of the Postofiice Appro-
priation bill the item providing for the conthu-
ance OF the tubular system in New-fork ana Fhlia-
dephia 1t has not only protested against TINS
but against the action Of the committee IN practl-
caly denying to other cities the beneht which mas
been found to accrue from this Improvement IN the
postoffce service Its representative here is Will
lam r. Corwine who said this evening
special meeting Of the Committee Of The House
Of Representatives on Posoices ahd u IL x
se5bteet The necessary signatures for this special
OF this committee in striking out ms item IS a
very serious blow to the extension oil tne
demonstrated by the use of the tubular system IN
NewYork and Philadelphia especihaiy srv seems enrs
should be made TO cut down the time OF the man
s9rfs a TSen the mail reaches large
local delivery should not be reiegated PACK 10 r me
/. the case as It stands now. although, OF course,
In some instances the troey-cars are USED 10 qUlok-
en- the distribution Of mails in large centres The
t tToiey yr S'e or any other method Of trans
pora0n within d,bs the tb b nt H Of THIS im
provcment, shown by the testimony OF tnoSe
indUstries the small amount of money necessary
Tor its maintenance and extension is not allowed
IN the regular Postofice bill The Postoff1ce Depart
ment should only adopt every method that IS
practfcaI but should extend that method as rapidly
as POSSIBLE wherever the demands Of postoffces re-
uuire speedy delivery. -,
The point was made in Congress that so far the
pneumatic tube service is operated at loss. rms
is denied by the friends Of the tube service, put
whether this be not. 1t seems absurd that
method that will add TO the qu!ckness OF the maj
delivery and increase the service should be cut on
Nsw-York earns about s. 900 net through the OPP
erations of it's postoffce This amount goes to the
PostofIice Department and not 70 the city. The
slow delivery OF the mails consequent on the lack
of ABILITIES for h ndlirg them and on irSuhcient
numb OF mon TO del yer them, cuts down the earn
ing movers Of the pOstOftces in large cities forcing
people oftentimes to use the messenger the tele-
pranh ard the telephone. where, II the conditions
we're as they ought 10 be. the mails would be rapid
enough for all practical purposes. II sometimes
takes as long for a letter to from the lower part
OF New-York City to the upper part, or from New
York 10 Brooklyn, II does for letter 70 travel
70 New-York from Philadelphia. The condition
is practically the in all large trade centres
where the facilities not equal TO the demands
Of commerce. The result Of this Is that business
is hampered. Frequent and rapid delivery Of mails
from country districts and large centres allows
orders to be filled more promptly and more sneedy.
4 postoffice like that of NewYork Is nothing more
or less than large clearing house. and the cham
nels OF that clearing house should be opened as
~ nogsble