New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03
TO EXTEND THE TUBE SERVICE.
POSTMASTER VAN CoTT WANTS TO DO
AWAY WITH THE MAIL WAGONS AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Postmaster Van Colt will appear before tbs
House Committee on Postal Affairs on March . te
urge an appropriation for extension Of the pneu-
matte tube service to Station C. at Hudson and
Bank SITS. near the North River. Behind this re-
quest Is plan in the mind OF Postmaster Van
Colt TO make a radical change in the method %
handling foreign outgoing mails. At the present
time the foreign mail closes two hours before the
advertised time for the sailing OF the steamers and
the result often Is that Important mail for foreign
points is left behind BY the Introduction Of the
pneumatic tube system between the general Of
flee and the HudsOn-st. branch. Postmaster Van
Colt says. IL will be entirely feasible keep the
mails open until half hour before the time. of
sailing. The plan would be dispatch the mail
through the tubes to Hudson-st and pouch IT there
This would do away with the wagon service at the
general office, and simplify the wagon service at
Hudson-st
II Is said by those who enjoy the confidence OF
Postmaster Van Colt that he Is thoroughly dis
satisfied with the wagon service provided by the
Government for this office. and that he win in
time do without it as far possible The extension
of the tube system to Hudson-st. Is a part OF mis-
general plan to save much time as possible IN
the dispatching of mails. The objection TO the
wagon service is that the horses are slow gated
animals to large extent. and the mails are him
dered on account of their slovness
Postmaster Van Colt said yesterday that ID was
his intention early day to secure the ex-
tension of the tube service up the West Side OF the
city to Eighteth-st.. and finally 10 One-hundred-
and-tWenty-nftn-st- he predicted that with the
more general use of pneumatic tubes the public
would be able to send special delivery letters much
more quickly than the telegraph companies can
handle local dispatches. At the present time sub
stitue postmen handle the special delivery letters
without delay and he believes that with the sys-
tenn thoroughly installed in the city the Govern
ment will soon afterward be carrying n large share
Of the messages which require quick delivery.
j. kajiura, of Toxic. representing the POstoffce
Department of Japan. with the official title OF Eec-
trical Engineer to the Department of Communica-
tion spent two hours the Postof1ce yesterday
making inspection of the pneumatic tube SER
vice II is said that the Japanese Government Is
about to install a pneumatic tube service in the
city OF Toxic, and that Mr.. Kaliura IS here 10 see
how the New-YOrk plant works. He impressed
Postmaster Van Colt a proficient mechanical
engineer. and watched the working of the tube sys-
tenn between New-YOrk and Brooklyn with great
interest. He finally requested that his visiting card
be sent to Brooklyn and back, while he held a
watch 10 time the operation Postmaster Van Colt
compiled with the request. and Mr. katiura APP
peared to be surprised and delighted when the card
came back to him at the expiration OF seven min.
utes. II is said that he will visit Chicago and
Washington in the interest OF his Government.