Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-27
Locations Considered.

The revenue obtained at these stations
would at first glance indicate the desira-
bility of their being connected with tho
general post office by pneumatic tube SER
vice. But when We analyze the situation
we find that Station C is practically To-
Gated on the general post office district;
that Station c is not a delivery station and
that Station B is a considerable distance
from the general post office, and should
only be reached incidentally. and is not OF
sufficient importance to Justify an independ-
ent line from the general post office.
The connection of the general post office
with the railway depots has also been con-
sidered, but We must recognize the fact
that there is to be a great change within
a short time, the present depots of the
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio roads
being soon to be discontinued and replaced
by union depot in entirely new loca-
ton. This feature of pneumatic tube SER
vice must therefore be relegated to the fu-
ture for arrangement. 1t seems to your
committee that 1t will be of great Importance
in the near future for the several depart
ments of the executive branch of the gov
eminent to be connected by pneumatic tube
mail service, but 1t would be Improbable
at this time for this committee to offer
any comprehensive plan, I'm view of the fact
that the new law limits the expenditure
for pneumatic tube mail service I'm the city
of Washington to about 10000 per annum
Ihls amount, at maximum rate Of Sl7 600
per mile, would only permit OF the con-
and half miles OF tube service
Remembering that the $1,000 limit was
imposed in cities where three miles or more
OF tube service were to be operated, II is
safe to assume that the rate of operation
In city where less than three miles is TO
be constructed would exceed the ST. 900 per
mile; but in Washington this question might
be modified by the apparent feasibility of
constructing some of the pneumatic tube
lines within government reservation, thus
reducing materially the cost OF construction
and therefore the annual cost OF operation.
The Capitol Building.
Assuming that your committee at the
present time can only plan the allotment OF
about one and one-half miles of this serv-
ice, we believe that the most important in
stallation would be between the Washing
ton general post office and the Capitol
building. The distance is roughly esti-
mated as one and one-third miles, and as
sumes the building of the line from the
general post Office through 11th street to
the mall, and through that reservation to
the Botanical Gardens to LIST street; thence
to the north driveway of the Capitol
grounds and along that driveway to a duct
constructed some time since for the en-
trance of a proposed pneumatic tube con-
Meeting the Capitol and the government
printing office. This duct is said to be
eighteen inches by twenty-four inches. ana
extends from the Capitol building to the
junction of North Capitol and b streets
We were informed by the architect of tho
Capitol building that there would be no
physical difficulty in the way of running ths
pneumatic tubes through this duct or Of
reaching easily any portion of the Capitol.
1t is our opinion that a separate pneumatic
tube station should be provided on both tho
Senate and House sides of the Capitol
If ii should prove than an extension of
the tube service beyond the Capitol could
be included in the limit of expense imposed
by the new law, it would seem desirable to
effect junction with postal station b. The
local Investigations made by our commit
tee convinces us that a tube service be-
tween the Capitol and the government
printing office would be very great con-
venience. But perhaps il would be more
appropriate for such a connection TO be
considered in relation to a general plan for
come citing the several departments of the
national government at Washington. AS
pointed out. any such general plan
would necessltate an expense beyond what
is now permitted by law. and would require
special legislation to authorize IT.
We therefore recommend that an adver-
tsement be issued at once for the term Of
three years. and in accordance with the
terms of the law, for duplicate lines of
tubes not less than eight inches in diameter
for the city of Washington. as follows:
list. From the general post Office via the
Senate post Office to the House OF Represen-
tatives post office.
ID From the general post Office via the
Senate post Office to the House of Repre-
sentatives' post office and to station B. 4th
and East Capitol streets.
1t is hereby recommended that the Post
master General be requested to take steps
to secure during the present session OF
Congress the necessary legislation to per-
init of the laying of these tubes in the Dis
trict. and also for enteri1g the Capitol as
above proposed. Perhaps there would be
no objection to securing this in the form
of an anne ndment to the general deficiency
bill, which II is understood, will be pre-
scented to the committee on appropriation
in the House of Representatives during the
present month.