ciation, would range from $12,879 in Chicago to $15,951 per annum in New York. In these amounts, however, the subcommittee explains that it has not included any annual interest charge on the cost of installation as computed by them, which sum would represent the Government's investment if the purchase were made at that price. If the purchase were made at the higher prices, i. e., at either of the amounts mentioned by the companies, an interest charge of 3 per cent is included, in order that the surplus, which does not represent the actual value of any physical property, should be accounted for in some way in the presentation of the question. 13. RELATIONS WITH MUNICIPALITIES. Circumstances prevented this subject from being exhaustively considered, but there would seem to be no serious obstacle or difficulty to prevent harmonious cooperation between the General Government and the municipalities if the Government sought to operate directly the pneumatic tubes in the cities where they are now operated. 14. TUNNELS AND SUBWAYS. It is possible that in the future construction of passenger subways and tunnels in cities it may be feasible to lay pneumatic tubes more cheaply than heretofore, but the present outlook presents no immediate opportunity of material economy in this direction. CONCLUSIONS. The conclusions reached by the commission are as follows: 1. The pneumatic-tube service is a very important auxiliary for the rapid transportation of first-class mail in the most important cities, and performs a function not at present obtainable by other means. 2. Its constant availability makes it particularly appropriate for special-delivery mail; for all first-class mail of local origin for local delivery; for supplementary closings of first-class mail for dispatch by train; and for advance dispatches of first-class mail from trains for city delivery. 3. When established, it should also be employed, as far as possible and economically, for the transportation of other mail. 4. Registered mail should be sent by tube whenever security and· celerity can be combined in practice. 5. Mechanically, the tube service appears to be still in an experimental condition, although considerable progress has been made toward the development of a fixed standard of machinery. 6. With the above reservation the regularity and efficiency of the tube service is commendable. 7. As the present contracts call for the installation of 641⁄2 miles of tube lines and as only 42 miles are at present in operation, the tube companies should be required to complete their contracts without undue delay, in order that the effect of full and complete systems toward increasing the special-delivery and other first-class mail may be ascertained by the department from actual experience. 8. The present contracts under which the tube companies are performing mail service will not expire until June 30, 1916-almost eight years hence. During that period there should be ample opportunity for the companies to perfect the systems and for the Post Office Department to observe the effect upon the postal service. Further, during that period it is possible that other methods of transportation will be developed or improved so as to change entirely the outlook as it now appears. Five or six years hence, we believe, it will be advisable to renew the consideration of the question of government ownership. 9. In view of the foregoing, we consider it appropriate to advise you that, in our opinion, it is not feasible and desirable at the present time for the Government to purchase, to install, or to operate the pneumatic tubes, and this is our unanimous judgment. PNEUMATIC TUBE COMMISSION: DANIEL A. CAMPBELL, Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. Postmaster, Boston, Mass. Postmaster, St. Louis, Mo. Second Assistant Postmaster-General. V. J. BRADLEY, Superintendent Railway Mail Service. Assistant Superintendent Division of Salaries and Allowances. J. M. MASTEN, Assistant Superintendent Railway Mail Service. REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEE. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, The PNEUMATIC TUBE COMMISSION, Washington, December 8, 1908. Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The subcommittee designated by your commission at the first meeting of September 14, 1908, to investigate and procure all necessary data relating to the pneumatic-tube mail service has completed its labors and submits the following report: INTRODUCTORY. The Postmaster-General's Order No. 1495, of June 19, reads as follows: Ordered, That Daniel A. Campbell, postmaster of Chicago, Ill.; E. C. Mansfield, postmaster of Boston, Mass.; George H. Roberts, postmaster of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Frank Wyman, postmaster of St. Louis, Mo.; Joseph Stewart, Superintendent Division of Railway Adjustments;a V. J. Bradley, Superintendent Railway Mail Service; E. M. Norris, Assistant Superintendent Division of Salaries and Allowances; J. M. Masten, Assistant Superintendent Railway Mail Service; and Alfred Brooks Fry, chief engineer and superintendent of repairs, United States public buildings, New York, N. Y., be, and are hereby, appointed a commission of experts to investigate and advise the Postmaster-General as to the feasibility and désirability of the Government purchasing or installing the equipment for pneumatic-tube service and thereafter operating the same in the cities where such service is now in operation, and also ascertain and report the approximate cost of purchase and likewise of installation and the cost of maintenance and operation, in order that the Postmaster-General may report to Congress not later than January 1, 1909, as provided by the act of Congress approved May 27, 1908; and that the actual and necessary expenses of PostOffice Department and postal officials in connection therewith be paid. The order substantially repeats the provision of law contained in the post-office appropriation bill approved May 27, 1908, reading as follows: And the Postmaster-General is hereby authorized and directed to investigate and report to Congress not later than January first, nineteen hundred and nine, the feasibility and desirability of the Government purchasing or installing the equipment for pneumatic-tube service, and thereafter operating the same in the cities where such service is now in operation, and also ascertain and report the approximate cost of purchase and likewise of installation and the cost of maintenance and operation. The subcommittee found it necessary to devote about two months' time to the work of investigation. This included an actual inspection of the pneumatic-tube system in each of the cities, and discussion with postal officials in each of these cities as to the work performed, and the comparative efficiency of the tube service, and explanation of the statistical reports that were desired. In addition to this, inter 14 "Afterward became Second Assistant Postmaster-General. views were had with contractors to obtain, if possible, estimates regarding the cost of excavation, laying pipes, and of construction work similar to that involved in installing pneumatic tubes. Interviews were also had with the officials of the tube-operating companies under contract with the department and with any others who appeared to be able to give information of value. Conferences were also had, partly by personal interview and partly by correspondence, with municipal authorities in order to secure an expression of opinion as to the relations which would exist between the United States Post-Office Department and the several cities in the possible event of government ownership and operation of the pneumatic-tube systems. A great deal of data pertinent to the subject was thus collected, and all that is believed to be of value for a proper understanding of the case is submitted in this report, either as original documents or in tabulated form to permit of easy reference and comparison. BRIEF HISTORY OF PNEUMATIC-TUBE MAIL SERVICE, 1892-1908. The use of pneumatic tubes in the United States for the general transmission of first-class mail is believed to be unique, and it is therefore interesting, as well as valuable, to trace briefly the development of the system. In foreign countries pneumatic tubes of small diameters (say 2 to 3 inches) had been used for the transmission of telegrams, and in some instances for the transmission of special-delivery letters or cards. In the United States there were also some instances in commercial business of pneumatic tubes of similar dimensions for like purposes and for comparatively short distances. The first installation of a large tube for postal purposes was made in 1893 in Philadelphia, Pa., this being a 6-inch tube, and it is said that the problems connected with its operation were entirely different from those solved in the use of the tubes of smaller diameter. This 6-inch tube was in operation for about four years before the installation of 8-inch tubes was commenced. There has been a constant employment of inventive ingenuity during the past fifteen years to improve the mechanical operation of these larger systems. The chronology of the pneumatictube mail service is briefly given as follows: 1892.-Annual Report of Postmaster-General Wanamaker announces that he was able to secure an item of $10,000 in the last appropriation bill for experiments with pneumatic tubes, and that in response to advertisements eight proposals were submitted, of which, however, only one proved practicable for immediate testing. The Pneumatic Transit Company of New Jersey is already putting down tubes in Philadelphia between the general post-office and the East Chestnut Street Postal Station, to be completed soon after December 1, 1892. He is informed that the company is at an expense of $25,000, and the Post-Office Department can try the system for one year without expense, and may then rent, purchase, or reject it without incurring any liability. 1893.-March 1.-Use of Philadelphia 6-inch tube, as above described, commenced this date for the transmission of mail experimentally. 1894. March 1.-Commencing this date Post-Office Department pays for the use of the Philadelphia tube, the terminus of which has been removed from the East Chestnut Street Station to the Bourse Building. Total distance, 0.55 mile; annual pay $4,000. This was reduced, commencing March 1, 1895, to $3,450 per annum. 1895.-Annual Report of Second Assistant Postmaster-General intimates that arrangements may soon be feasible for an experimental tube or mechanical appliance between the New York general postoffice and the Forty-second Street Depot and between New York and Brooklyn. He remarks that this will be very desirable on account of the heavy tonnage between the points named and the present expense of transporting the mails between these points. 1896.-Appropriation bill for fiscal year ended June 30, 1897, in the allowance for "Mail messenger service," provides that a sum not exceeding $35,000 may be used for the transportation of mails by pneumatic tubes or other similar devices. Report of Second Assistant Postmaster-General states that 24-inch or 36-inch tubes are not practicable on account of construction difficulties and expense, but that a 10-inch tube with 8-inch carriers would relieve the department of 65 to 70 per cent of trips now made by wagons. He remarks that prospects seem favorable for early contracts in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, and that it is possible that a proposition may be received from New York City for pneumatic-tube service over almost the entire island, in which event he would ask that Congress change the amount of money which is now paid for regulation wagon service in New York City to the pneumatic-tube fund, " as the establishment of the tube service would practically do away with wagon service in New York City." He recommends that $50,000 be appropriated to succeed the present appropriation of $35,000. 1897. The appropriation bill for the year ended June 30, 1898, permits of the expenditure of $150,000 (out of mail-messenger fund) for transportation of mail by pneumatic tube or other similar device. In pursuance of this, contracts were made for service in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, and Boston, all contracts contemplating 8-inch tubes, carriers to be 63 by 21 inches, to be dispatched at intervals of six seconds. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General estimates that each carrier will hold about 600 ordinary letters, making a capacity of 360,000 per hour each way. October 15. New York, N. Y.-Tube service began this date, general post-office to Station P, 0.7 mile. December 20. Boston, Mass.-Tube service began this date from general post-office to North Union Station, 0.74 mile. 1898. February 26. New York, N. Y.-Tube service began this date, general post-office to Station P, 0.7 mile. March 10. Philadelphia, Pa.-Contract made this date for renewal of service on 6-inch line, general post-office to Bourse Station, 0.52 mile, at $17,600 per annum. April 7. Philadelphia, Pa.-General post-office to Broad Street Station tube service commenced this date, 0.94 mile, $16,966 per annum. Reading Terminal not yet connected. August 1. Brooklyn, N. Y.-Tube service began this date between New York general post-office and Brooklyn general post-office, 1.65 miles. |