Bold plans to bind the world by steam mail
A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam presents a comprehensive look at proposed steam routes that could connect Great Britain with the Eastern and Western worlds, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. The book outlines how regular, speedy mail service might be built, at what cost, and under government direction.
This edition frames a practical, route‑by‑route argument. It discusses using the Isthmus of Central America and lines across the Pacific to reach places like Canton and New South Wales, and it weighs the trade‑offs between central points, speed, and expense. The author combines engineering, geography, and policy to argue for a transformative postal network.
- How different hub locations (such as Owhyhee or Christmas Island) affect distance, time, and cost
- Estimated power and size of steamers, and how they could improve mail regularity
- The role of government in directing a global mail system and its strategic value
- Projected benefits for commerce, colonies, and imperial communications
Ideal for readers curious about early steam navigation, imperial mail systems, and historical logistics planning. It offers a clear snapshot of how 19th‑century planners imagined reshaping global communications.