The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06
THE CHATHAM SQUIRE CROSSING.
The Assembly Committee on Railroads Inves-
tignting it for Themseivea

The Assembly Committee on Railroads,
having under consideration the bill now pend
ing by the Legislature. which. in the event OF
It's becoming n law. will prevent tho rival ele-
waited railroads in New York from crossing
each others tracks at Chatham square. assem-
bled yesterday morning in the Metropolitan
Hotel, prepared to visit the functions and in
spect the switch systems on the Metropolitan
Elevated Railway and the New York Elevated
Railroad The visit was caused by the inability
OF the Committee to clearly understand the
maps and the testimony given by the civil en-
gineers before the Committee when II sat in
Albany. The Legislators wanted TO see how tho
elevated roads and the contemplated crossings
are. M W a HasSx . 3Sa Csairywsn gyH WS1Rge RranDan
]. W. Peck. ID. T. Mcqueen. A. V. McKeel, Jacob
Seebach,sr. c. T. Andrewss, Secretary. and W. II.
man. and +. Il. Brodhead were absent The
Metropolitan Elevated Railway was represented
John Baird. Directors J. Navarro. @. J. For
rest Gen. Horace Porter Superintendent Van
Brockiin. Attorney A. J. McCook. and Dr. Gill
For the New Yoyyy Elevated Railroad appeared
eral Superintendent Il. Stewart. Chief Engineer
Walter Katie. Superiniendent 7, T. Qnd"rdonk.
DR.. Frear. Directors John II. Hall. }. NJ. Fske.
and BENJAMIN Brewster
Mounting the steps at the Bleecker street sta
ton on the Metropolitan road, a regular train
took the eXcursionisis 10 Fity-third street.
where they alighted and In inspecting
the interlocking switch system at that
third street branch stood ou and walked on the
tracks where trains passed and repassed con-
road. who kept on the lookout lest valuable
lives should be- lost and warned the visitors
when train came In sight. Seven switches
ana as many signals are managed by one man
in a cabin. So placed that he can look up and
down the road and along the branch 70 Ninth
avenue. He has fourteen levers TO manipulate.
The safety Of the system Is such. Manager
Jackson said. that a man can go bllndfolded
into the cabin. pull any lever at random. and yet
he can only place a danger signal where danger
could exist. That Is the same To- say
that the employee in the cabin manipulating
the levers might run away or drop dead, and
yet the trains could not go Amiss. Neither could
miscreant set the switches wrong. or throw
up wrong or leave out right signals. The
levers that ought not to be- moved are locked
automatically. II was pointed out that perfect
safety TO passengers Is not assured by the inter
locking system. because an enRneer may disobey
signal and run into train. The failure OF the
Westinghouse brake, MIR: Jackson said. would
not necessarily cause a disastrous collision, as
many imagine for there are hand-brakes on
each car, brake, brakes on the engine. and IT. the
ali OF these should faii in an emergency is
almost i'm possible.
Then train was taken down to Rector street,
In o, and the train despatcher's office visited.
Thence yalki2g doyn to the r'Sy battery Sii Sta-
road, the visitors took special train for
Chatham square. where the different
methods OF the metropolitan ROAD 8 crossing
the New York road was discussed. Some
OF the Committee were in favor OF depress-
ing the Metropolitan road so that 1t could pass
under the existing road at Chatham square.
Others believed that trains should be stopped At
that point and the passengers transferred. Yet
others believed that all that would be necessary
10 insure reasonable safety ls the simple stop
ping Of each train NJ the crossing 10 see that the
way Is clear. The Third avenue people held to
three safeguards while the Metropolitan folks
thought that the last suggestion solved the
problem especially as the interlocklng
switch system would prevent accidents that
human foresight can take account OF. But Mr..
Katie objected that during the busy hours-at
morning and at night-so many trains would
have 10 be passing up and down the tracks and
across each others tracks. that there would not
be actually time enough for one train 70 cross
the 1926 feet tthe mean width OF the tracks at the
proposed crosshgl before another train ought
10 be standing. il the time table would be OBJ
served, on the spot over which the rival train
was passing. He suggested the plan OF letting
the Metropolitan road have the track, as built,
from Chatham square TO South Ferry. while the
New York road could build Il track continuing
to South Ferry from the City Hall section.
would thus converge at Chatham square. but
would not cross each other. Al Chatham square
they would dtverRe again.
Afterward the company wont 10 hanover
square station and enjoyed II luncheon in the
parlOrs of the Down town ASSOCIATION, where
Cyrus w Field proposed the health Of the Met
rOpoitan Company and the road, and Gen Por-
ter replied by giving the health OF lts rival "A
trip 10 Harlem on a special train finished the
Committees worK. President llalsey took
wrong train, and was carried away, 10 the
amusement OF the Legislators.