THE LATEST YANKEE NOTION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 776, 7 June 1877, Page 2

THE LATEST YANKEE NOTION.

What is it ? It is nothing more or less than 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 you think of a; continuous pneumatic tube for mail matter of all kinds, for 3000 mile 3 over the hills smd far. away? Engineers say it is entirely practicable. Following the course of the overland railway, the air tight tubes would meet in 1 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 m construction. The Governments of America and of Europe would aid m such a work. All European correspondence of commercial import with Australia and all Asiatic ports would be sent by the A.merican ,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 the corresponding exhaustion, to' create a partial vaciuum at the far end, the transit would rival electric speed. But, all delays considered, twenty-four hours seems thojught to be ample. The importance of such a bond of union to the United States cannot be over estimated. Its consequence -is

material m a military as well as m 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 v 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 not effort when suck a rich prize invites its acceptance.' The editor of the 'Item ' is favorably impressed witfi. ! the project, and says : — ' Our correspondent is right m asserting thai 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. This .would be enormous, not because of the length of the tubs and its calibre, but because ot "the innumerable stations with engines and • pneumatic machinery that would be required to compres3 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 anJ los 3. Would it pay ? We are inclined to 'think it would.' (