New-York tribune., 1879-03-28
CAUTION ON THE ELEVATED ROADS.

A ClANGE OI CAI(o Al ALL CNOcS1NOo'
ACTION or THE DIRECTORS OF THE NEw-YoRK
ELEVATED ROAD-sBPARATE TRAINS TO BIZ Run
on ALL THE BRANCH TRACKS.
The Board of Directors of the New-York Elevated
Railroad Company held special meeting yester-
dav and after discussing the recent accident at the
Forty-secondst. switch on the East Side Road, re-
solved upon plan which they think will insure
the safety of the travelling public. 1t is proposed
TO erect transfer stations at the functions of the
branches so that continuous trains shall be run on
the main line only.
The following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted
Whereas The system of running through trains over
main and branch lines necessarily involves cfoss4he
trucks at junction points ana
Whereas. No known system OF switches ana signals AZ
mud mon such signals being observed understood aud
obeyed by employees, ana 49,, -, ,o,,,. 40 to., % oos
sengers should be paramount to all other
Pesoleed That from this date through trains shall be
run only upon main line, and all branches shall De
operated independently - 49,. ..o,
Resolved That the officers OF the company are hereDy
diTeCted to carry this order into immediate effect
Resolred That the purchasing committee, with the
rrcted TO provde as soon as possible Junction points
suitable and cOnveniences for the transfer OF
nassenpers between Dain line and Junction ua1ns ara
That until such arrangements for transfer made the
operation OF such branches shall be suspended.
| BY this plan passengers taking the City Hall
|
those going to the Grand Central Depot branch will
| change again at forty-Seconu-St' Inc nc" oruel
| goes into effect to-day.
The president of the road Cyrus w. Field, stated
last evening that he had called the special meeting
70 consider this question of separate branch trains
and was glad the board had taken such prompt and
unanimous action He had contended from the first
| that elevated roads were the safest in the world,
| and that no danger could attend them except at
| switches The most careful switch-tender III the
world would sometimes forget himself for an in
| slant and that was Just the time an accident
| would occur An order had been given that after
last night and until further orders all trains on the
Grand Central and City Hall branches should be dis
! continued. These trains will not be put on again
until transfer stations at FortysecOndst and Chat
ham-sousrc are built which will be as soon as pos
sible. Mr.. Field thought this determination neces-
! sarv as trains will be run from South Ferry III "A
| day or two at one minute intervals, and then the
danger at the cross tracks would be very great as
| the trains at Chatham square WouId hoI De more
than a half-mnute apart. The more RAPID olspatch
of trains he said would not only insure against ILL
convenience to the public at the transfer stations,
but would give sufficient accommodations. Ihe
platforms at the transfer stations will be constructed
SO that passengers for up-trans VIII cross on an
elevated bridge and thus be III no danger from the
| down-trains. He did not consider 1t advisable to
| run these branch trains any longer as continuous
trains, and take any risks Tor an accident lhlOugn
! the NEGLECT of any one man. Public opinion had
developed very rapidly IN favor OF the elevated
railroads and one accident resulting in loss of life
would entail great pecuniaTy loss on the company,
| as well as the loss OF confidence.
In relation to the right of the MetrOpOlit an Com
| papv 10 the use of Chatham-s., in which case It's
| trains must cross the New-York Company's track,
| Mr. Field said that the laws in force III England
should be in force here, ana that the tracks should
| not cross on the level but either above or below.
| r. L. Kicker the general manager OF the New
| York Road. resigned on tuesday before the accl'
| dent. hit this action was made known yesterday
! lie will accept the position OF president of new
| railroad to be built between BAY Ridge and COncy
| Island Ii was resolved by the directors yesterday
NOT TO appoint his successor at present the duies
| of general manager will be performed by General
| Superintendent Stewart and Vice-Ppsldent Gull
| tor