THE LATEST YANKEE NOTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5031, 9 May 1877, Page 3

THE LATEST YANKEE NOTION.

What is it ? It is nothing more or less thau the construction of a pneumatic tube across the American continent. The proposition is thus put before the public by a correspondent of the Philadelphia Item :—" What would yon think of a continuous pueumatic tube for mail matter of all kinds, for 3000 miles over the hills and far away ? Engineers say it is entirely practicable. Following the course of the overland railway, the air tight tubes would meet in the vast mountain ranges it traverses abundant water-powers at convenient relays for compressing and exhausting air. Coal, iron, stone and lime abound, to make cast-iron tubing and machinery of other kinds, saving great cost of construction. The Governments of America and of Europe would aid in such a work. All European correspondence of commercial import with Australia and all Asiatic ports would be sent by the American transcontinental pneumatic express. Engineers differ as to the time of such transmission. Were it not for the necessity of relays to provide refreshment of condensed air and for corresponding exhaustion, to create a partial vacuum at the far end, the transit would rival electric speed. But, all delays considered, twenty-four hours seem to be thought ample. The importance of such a bond of union to the United States cannot be over-estimated. Its consequence is material in a military as well as in a political and commercial sense. Its international advantages would be very great, and our country would derive the greatest benefit. If correspondence would pass this way, so would trade and commercial payment. The coin now doing duty among the Christian nations and the people of Asia and Oceania would suffice for treble service. No port on the Atlantic seaboard would derive greater comparative benefits than Baltimore. The increase of trade is evidently bound to crowd all Atlantic ports that prepare for it. Those best provided will gain the most. Baltimore has surely eyes to see and wits to observe. It cannot be dormant and make no effort when such a rich prize invites its acceptance.' The editor of the Item is favorably impressed with the project, and says:—'Our correspondent is right in asserting that the construction of a pneumatic tube that would transmit mail matter over a distance of 3000 miles is practicable. The only question is one of cost. That would be enormous, not because of the length of the tube and its calibre, but because of the innumerable stations with engines and pneumatic m-ichinery that would be required to compress and exhaust the air at intervals over so long a distance. Without doubting the probability of the scheme, the project resolves itself into one of profit and loss. Would it pay ? We are inclined to think it would.'"