New-York tribune., 1918-06-21
First Section Would Link
Pennsylvania and Grand
Central Stations
Extension to Main
Postomce Next
House Committee Proposes
$4,533,000 Project to
Replace Tubes
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

WASHINGTON, June 20.-A mail
subway between the Pennsylvania and
Grand Central stations, as the first
ink OF chain of mail subways under
.be greater city. is the substitute pro-
the present pneumatic tube system,
which it wishes 10 abandon.
Judge Moon. chairman OF the House
postofficc Committee. day received
letter from Postmaster General
pnrleson, setting forth the plan. rea,-
ing IN part as follows:
aIn response to your telephone in
euiry as to whether the department.
has under consideration any means of
underground transportation for mail
in. New York city, in case the present
nneumatic tube systems are abandoned,
wish to state that it has. The de-
nartment favors this means of trans
nortation if it will transport all the
mail in an expeditions manner and at
reasonable cost, and this statement
has been repeated in my annual re-
ports.
"However, the department is not in
favor of the present pneumatic tube
systems, because they are obsolete,
antiauated, unreliable and inefficient,
ard much more efficient service can
be rendered TO the public by their
abandonment and the substitution of
other means of surface transportation.
"The records of the department
clearly show that through the use of
these tubes millions of letters are de-
layed annually, and that many thou
sands of others are damaged or de-
stroyed. It is unfair and unjust to
- tlo%
such service.
"The department has not been un-
mindful Of the necessity for under
ground transportation for all classes
of mail IN the congested sections of
New York City. and has been carefully
investigating this matter for some
time, and is now in receipt of a re-
port OF all investigation made by COM
petent engineers outlining a plan Of
underground transportation by sub
ways, which is practicable, as the sub
ways can be constructed at a reason
able cost and operated at an estimated
saving Of 100000 annually to the
department.
TT is proposed first to build sub
way between the Grand Central and
Pennsylvania terminal stations in New
York City, between which points the
largest tonnage of mails must be trans
ported and connections between the
North and South are made.
Cost To Be $4,533,0O0
1T is estimated that tunnel con-
Meeting the Grand Central and the
Pennsylvania terminal stations can be
constructed and equipped for S1,4T8,-
900, and the extension to the General
Postoffice in New York City for So
055,180 additional; iFfact, contractors
have stated to the department that
they are willing to undertake the con-
struction of these tunnels at this time
for these amounts, and it is my pur-
pose to recommend to the Congress as
soon as the present system of pneumatic
tube IS abandoned that an appropria-
tion be Immediately made available for
the construction of the first link of
this tunnel, connecting the Grand
Central and the Pennsylvania terminal
stations.
IF the department is permitted to
construct these subways and follow
out the plans it has in mind, it will
give to New York City, the most up
to-date method of transmission of
nails Of any city in the world.
Those advocating the continuance
OF the present pneumatic tubes because
OF the street conditions in the con-
gested districts of New York City
should now advocate their abandon
ment and the construction of these
tunnels, because by the use of these
tunnels the department. will be able
10 take the great majority of its
vehicles off the streets"