The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-11
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
Meeting OF New York Society Of Practical
Eng.nccr.--HGw to Avoid Disaster.

Meeting OF New York Society OF Practical
Eng.nccr.--HGw to Avoid Disaster.
The ordinary monthly meeting OF this society was
held last ught IN the rooms OF the Geographical
and Statistical society, Cooper Union Buildings.
The char Wa t4ken by the President, James A.
whitney The aecoad part OF paper on hallway
DIsasters-TAur Causes and Means of Prevention
was 0y Ir. Williams. In referring to the best
description OF railroad the paper stated that
it had been found by experience that the
best description OF railroad, both for safety
and economy, was properly constructed
compound rail--yIz., the rail- known as the
Trail-the reason Of which that the top or head
being OF steel and the nut and lange OF iron, 1t
next 10 an impossDiity that fracture should occur
In both metals precisely at the same point. AS to
safety blaRes, ar WIinams liked the I.ongbridge
brake, which viii stop train going nj the rate OF
thirty miles an hour III sixteen or eighteen seconds
and the lngliss Walker patent, by winch the mo-
mentum OF Train Is applied by means of rack
acting 10 turn a plnion TO The shaft of which Is
attached the chain which operates the brakes.
Both these devices lessened the liability accidents
as roads are now operated. AS to safety wheels
and axles there was considerable LIABILITY 10 acct
dent by the breaking up OF wheels wucn running at
a high rate or speed. The apathy of railroad compa
MES was the great cause that prevented the adop-
ton OF efficient inventions, one oil which was the
compromising OF wheels and axles of iron and steel,
and another lii encasing the whole or certain p0r-
tions ol Tue aNie-Where fracture gsnsaip .sNes
pace-in an outer enclosing cylinder, winch
amounted practically to continuous bearing. inns
last device originated with MI Williams.
Accidents Ut draw -brdges could be prevented by
signalling. great m2uy railway accidents were
attributable to the want OF properly constructed
cars and to entire disregard or safey IN their
equipment. lie suggested that tue cars could be
made INDIA rubber gutta percna IN some Of their
various forms Of manufacture, or, what would be
better still, straw paper Tie also Recommended IN
this connection the use OF tde "Miiier plaffOrm,v.
and instanced the recent accident at Mount Hope
on the erie road illustration. There the Train was
made up or nine cars, eight OF which had Miers
platform and the nlnlh mad not. IL was U TINS ex-
ceptionai car that tue accident was attributed.
Tie paper then referred nc length to telegraph
ing ana recommended more perfect arrangements.
The chief recommendation FOR preventing accidents
tnat Mr.. Williams submitted was mode OF stopping
the train by its own momentum without injury
either to cars passengers, and he supposed that
the space OF the action OF resistance was SO multi
piled that II would amount IN the aggregate to nfty
feet more, WATCH could be done safely by having
the buffers at each end OF the car ACT through a
space OF even four or more ieet. At
high rate or speed the momentum OF the
train could be checked not even to frac.
turc the iastenlngs about the car. THIS coulu be-
done by the cars carrying long pneumatic, hydraulic
or other buffers. Mr.. Williams explained with con.
siderable ninuteness the detail by which this could
be accomplished. tie had designed aud proposed q
practical plan by which the momentum which Is
now expended IN crushing the cars ana dragging
neutra2eu ana substituted for the crushing process
when was not only dangerous but expensive. The
drawings were then explained aud the use OF safety
brakes on third rails, ald the paper concluded bv
urging the economy OF prcventlyes to accidents
belng adopted by railroad companies. A short dis.
custom followed after which the Chairman esclared
the meeting adjourned