The New York herald., 1879-03-28
NO MORE BRANCH TRAINS.
The Lesson Taught by the Recent Smash
Up on the Third Avenue "L."
ADOPTION OF THE HERALD'S SUGGESTION
Presidents Garrison and Field on the Switch
and Signal System.


unanimous expression of public opinion was amply
effective was shown yesterday by tho action of the
company's Board of Directors. The narrow
cape from an awful calamity Tuesday
emphasized in way that no words could have
done the warnings repeatedly given by the HERALD
Of the danger of the crossings. and the suggestion
repeatedly made in the columns of the HERALD
unanimously adopted by the directors Their de-
termination was embodied in the following resou-
tions, which. will be seen. drawn exactly in
accordance with the plan the HERALD has advocated
The resolutions read
whercas, The system Of running through trains
main and branch lines necessarily nvoycs crossing tracks
switches and Signals a. crossings can perfect So
curity which must depend upon such signals being OBJ
the consideration of absolute saety passengers should
That from this date through trains sSsii be ran
only upon the main line and all branches shall be operated
That tho officers Of the hereby
Resolved That the Parelaseg Committee With tho Chief
Engnser and cHTsa.nE u ngnser as directed to provide
and convenicnccs for the transfer of passengers
ets for transfer made the operation of such branches
shall be suspended
SAYS
Mr. Cyrus w. Field said last evening that the pas
sage of these resolutions had taken load on his
mind. He had been so anxious about the danger of
crossings that he had worked himself into nervous
condition that in the highest degree uncomfort
abe He had talked to the other directors about the
matter again and again. but they had disagreed with
him, and had attributed his anxiety to nervousness
'Now, have larger interest in this undertaking
than anybody else,' continued Mr.. Field ''larger
in fact than any human being ought to have in any
one thing but, of course, am only director.
and my opinions do not rule the others. repre-
seuted to them repeatedly that it impossible to
run as many trains running over crossings
without danger. told them that there would GER
tainly be accident some day. and then (mark the
injustice of it would be the who would get all
the blame from the public. am at the head OF the
road and everybody would say, oh, Mr.. Field did it,
1t Mr.. Fields fault When, all the time,
trying to do all could to prevent it. Why might
be liable to Indictment by the Grand Jury"
''what do you think of the interlocking switch and
signal system which the Metropolitan company claim
is q means of obtaining perfect safety?'
There is safety in it" said Mr.. Field emphat-
cally. whenever trains to each others
track the level there is danger of collision.
Why only month ago you will find by referring
to file of the HERALD that the Pennsyl-
vsnia Central Railroad. where they have
this very system complete aud perfect
than any anywhere else in the world. loco
motive cut right through the middle of train of
Central is nearly perfect anything can be. Al
the officers OF the road, from Mr. Scott down. are
practical engineers There is absolutely such
thing perfect safety where trains cross the
same level.
'.Is there not near London place where something
like thousand trains day crossing and recross-
ing?' asked the reporter.
mo. there is place in England where the trains
os the aner Of q shst e thesa lar
tons something of the kind had not been adopted
should have got out OF the company. l could not
ASSURANCE DouBLY SURE.
'But IT,, urged the reporter, in order to draw ont
still stronger confirmation Of the HERALD theory
"if by tho interlocking system danger signal is
displayed IT the same time the switch is thrown open
does not that assure safetyY'
''Why. there q danger signal displayed ut the
time OF the collision on Tuesday said Mr.. Field
and it was because the engineer did not attend to it
.There was danger signal displayedY' repeated
the reporter. with moro surprise than politeness
'Ccrtainly there We have full report of the
matter at the oice. said Mr.. Field: "No system OF
signals insure safety where the track is made
that the trains come collision"
A DIFFERENT OPINION.
Mr.. Garrison. the President OF the Metropolitan
"L' road. when he was asked again about the switch
and signal system in his road said that it was
absolutely safe. 1T Is arranged" he explained
'.that the opening OF switch displays danger sig
nal. aud s utterly impossible for any collision
happen unless not ono. but two engineers fail in
their duty ut And this failure must be not ac-
Then there would be hesitation felt on tho
part Of the Metropolitan Company to trains over
. trnck used Jointly by both companies. If the
trains crossed one anothers tracks at paccsy'
asked the reporter.
None at oil, with the use of tho system we now
have on our road. said Mr.. Garrison.
THE JOINT TRACK.
will the track be used Jointly in any plsce2' was
'sThat is . matter for adjustment" said Mr. Garri-
mo doubt some arrangement will he made be-
tween the companies There must bo base Of
operations for both, bat whatthe arrangement will
bc cannot toll yet"
"what stands in tho way of their giving up the
to the Chatham street branchY''
"wel they were willing to give up the Pearl street
section entirely. but on conditions which We were
unable to I'LL"
"What conditionsY'
why. they wanted moro for II than we could give"
How much did they wantY'
"It is impossible to tell you. It varied from day
to day."
bone of contention between the two compsnies?"
mo. no.. said Mr.. Garrison. hastily; there s no
bone OF contention. There will be an amicablc
"But II neither party gives up its right to the Pearl
street section thorc bo running OF trains for
both companies without crossingsY' persisted tho
'Prcciscly so. and that is what suppose the other
Of the workings OF our road can doubt for moment
that IL would be made absolutely safe"
"rhen IL tho othcr road had had your system of
switches and signals, began the reporter, thc acc
dent at Forty-sccond street on Tuesday last'-
could ncvor have happened" said Mr.. Garrison,
but" said tho reporter. whirc II is true that the
Pearl street route assigned frat 10 the Metro
politnn Company, and while s truo that according
TO the arrangements Of the Rapid Transit Commis.
sioners. tho route belongs 10th conpanics is II
not also truo that tho structure now standing bc-
longs to the Now York Company Mr.. Field said |
yesterday that you had not paid dollar toward tho
cost Of 1t"
'That Is because they will not tell us how much
IL u.s." said Mr.. Garrison promptly. I,cfcrrinc 70
his lettor book he continued. ION january L. 1870
sent note tn Mr.. Bishop, OF tho New York Com.
rany asking for an accounting but they have never
sent it,"
Mr. FIELD oBsMrA
Mr.. Field was asked aftcrward about the question |
OF tho Joint use OF the Pearl street section and de-
clarcd positively that no wholly and unquali-
hodly opposed to 1t. "If our company would not |
continue to run trains OF their own over |
crossings made necessary by tho opera |
ton OF our branch roads," no said, 'it |
isn't likely that will consent ~ cross |
tho tracks Of another company or have thoin cross
ours. The other company" he continued .'havo to
run TO the eastward Of up town and why they
not keep to the eastward down town. We would bo |
rlsctlY willinn 10 take ralatc ferrica