Steam Post

Since the Empires of Salamandran and Daleth got united, the supply of information and administration were essential for the ruling powers to last. The United Empires set up a system for public post, both pigeon post and a network of messengers. Of course, more private mail was also possible with the pigeons and the messengers. Really private or secret messages were to be sent with trusted messengers, or well-trained pigeons. Pigeons did not function well in times of war. The hunger made the people shoot any overflying bird, and eat it. Thus, the strategic information could not be sent by pigeon mail: the enemy could get hold of the information if the bird was caught, and worse, the message would never arrive. The system of messengers, heralds and postmen worked well. It was possible to sent more than just a small note. The coming of Steam Post truly did change the way the messages were send; but this system only works on short distances (in the city).

In the cities Nieuw-Gamoor and Ildritz, a new way of information transport has been built in the late 1830's. The system works with narrow tubes, in which "copper pigeons" travel with high speed, powered by air pressure towards a vacuum. The air pressure and the vacuum are controlled by steam engines. The prototype of the steam post was built in the buildings of the Imperial Palace in Ildritz. Soon, the system expanded into the city administration buildings.

In the city of Nieuw-Gamoor, the system was used throughout the city. On many street corners a steam post office for the public was opened, in the form of a small booth. One can sent a copper pigeon at any time, but receiving pigeons has faced some difficulties. Usually, the sender has to make a note to inform the redirect office when to deliver a pigeon to a public post booth. Pigeons can be picked up in the redirect offices of Nieuw-Gamoor too.

This public system is very popular. It has been copied in Ildritz, but the public system is not integrated in the imperial administration system. There are try-outs with tubes reaching as far as Lazulameir and Haimothli. Private steam post is also available, to send internal messages or secret messages to a selected group of users.

The technics of the steam post system

The steampost is based on a group of users connected to a network of tubes. Each user has access to a tube, in which "copper pigeons" can be entered. A wheel is turned to work up the air pressure. This is done by a steam engine, that rotates a fan that transports the air from the outer end of the line to the starting point. When the pressure is high enough, a handle is switched to release the pigeon. If the pressure is too high, the pigeon will fly out at the other end, hurting people. A high-pressure control is attached to the latest design, so no more accidents will happen.

The copper pigeon will go to the vacuum side of the tube. This is the receiver tube of the private contact (one-to-one-mail) or the nearest district redirect office (DRO). In the redirect office, the copper pigeon is send forward to either the receiver (if the receiver has a connection in the same district) or to another DRO. When the copper pigeon arrives, a bell rings, so it can be opened or forwarded immediately. The workers in the DRO must see where the pigeon has to go to, otherwise it is returned to sender.

The tubes are rather narrow in relation to the width of the copper pigeons. The pigeons have the form of a bullet, but somewhat more rounded at the top. The design has the purpose to guide the pigeon smooth and quick through the tubes.

The tubes themselves are made of copper (on the outside) and waxed leather (on the inside). When the tube has a hole, the effects of the air pressure and the vacuum are cancelled and the pigeon will be stuck in the tube. This defect can be detected by checking the air pressure dials on the end of the tubes. Because of this, repairmen have to have easy access to the tubes.

The costs of steam post are rather high. The users of the network have to pay an annual bill, plus a fee for each sent pigeon. Some private users have to buy their own steam equipment as well.