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100 Years Ago, No Free Broadband Pneumatic Tubes

Posted by kdawson on from the when-brooklyn-was-a-considerable-city dept.

TheSync writes "The Division of Labour blog spotlights a report written 100 years ago by a commission appointed by the Postmaster General, that came to the conclusion: 'That it is not feasible and desirable at the present time for the Government to purchase, to install, or to operate pneumatic tubes.' Here is a scan of the original NYTimes article. If only we had gotten the free government Intertubes in 1908!"

2 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. So... by pitchpipe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ted Stevens was right, just 100 years late!

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    Look where all this talking got us, baby.
  2. The steampunk Intertubes by David+Gerard · · Score: 3, Funny

    Here's a picture by Joi Ito of a mechanical router, on display in a Tokyo museum. The engine of the steampunk Internet. Imagine BBs being pumped through the series of pneumatic tubes. "ROUTER BLOWOUT! SEVEN SYSADMINS SHOT DEAD BY THEIR ANALYTICAL ENGINES!"

    If you're browsing with Chrome, don't forget to click the special page about:internets.

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    http://rocknerd.co.uk