New-York tribune., 1879-04-07
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
INSPECTING ELEVATED RAILWAYS.

INSPECTING ELEVATED RAILWAYS.
TIE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TXAMINING CROSS
INGs AND swIICHrs on THE FLEVAIED ROADS.
The Assembly Committee on Railroads met at the
Metropolitan Hotel Saturday TO examine further
into the bill which forbids any elevated railroad TO
cross the tracks of any other elevated road, and
giving perm ssion to lay third rails wherever the
width Of the streets will permit The bill is advo-
Gated by the New-York and is opposed by the Me-
tropolitan Elevated Railroad Companies. On
Saturday Cyrus W. Field urged the committee
to hear what counsel had TO say on the meas
ure at once. promising to devote all the
time necessary until Monday at midnight, thus
avoiding another visit TO Albany. General ). ).
McCook, junior counsel for the Metropolitan Com
pany objected on account of the absence OF Judge
Porter Mr. Field then suggested that the commit
tee hear the attorneys on Tuesday, and report the
bill TO the House on the following day. W. y. Hal
scv. chairman of the committee. decided to hear
the legal arguments on Tuesday next, at p IN.
The committee then accepted an invitation to
make a trip over both lines Of elevated road and
inspect the inter lock system Of switching and the
pr posed point, Of crossing The companies fur
nishcd n train which was comfortably filled.
Among those who took part in the excursion were
w 4. Ilalsev, chairman, and j. w. Peck, W. w.
Braman, 4. V. McKecl. u. 7. Mcqueen. Jacob See
bacher, c. f. Andrews, James j.. Butler OF me
committee; President Garrison, Nlce-IrcSldeat De
Navarro, Chief-Engiuccr Baird, and Drect9ls
G.. J. Forrest General Horace Porter, Su,
perIntendcnt Van BrOckln, Df Gilbert and
!. J. McCook, of the Metropolitan Road, ana
Cyrus ". Field. President; y. Guford. Vice
President; R. Stewart, General Superintendent
Walter Katie, Chief Engineer; I. /. Onderdonk,
Superintendent; David Dudley Field, Attorney
J. Candcr and !. ". Hall. Directors of the New
York Elevated Road. The intcrlock system OF
switching at lliU-tmrd-st. ana SIXth-&Ee. was
closely inspected. Superintendent Van BrochHh
explained It's operation and he stated 10 the com
mittce that while fourteen levers were IN use at the
Fifty-thrd-st tower, only ten would be used at the
proposed Cbatham-SGuare crossing. IL was claimed
that with a careful and experienced man III inc
tower an accident was almost an Impossi bllty.
At tho Chath1m-squaTe and Chambers-St. cross
ings the committee made mlnUte examinations,
and the generally EXPRESSED oOnlon was that II
crossings were permitted by the Legislature, pro
vision would be inserted IN the bill competing al
trains 70 stop az every crossing. Some OF the COM
mitUcc expressed themselves opposed TO any cross
ING OF trains at all I'm the air advocating change
Of the Metropolitan route rs 10 permit its tracks
10 run beneath the Ncw-NOTk Road at the highest
points on the latter road. The metropolitan man
ayers urged their right 10 cross the Ncw-l ork
tracks. General Potter said that after making con-
ccSsiOnS 10 permit the Ncw-Nork 10 en-
ter the Mctropoiitan's route the former
wanted 10 deprive them OF thSlr
charter route. lie also stated that repeated de-
mands had been made for settlement OF accounts
for the Pcarl-st and City Hall branch, but without
Director Forrest said that 1000 men were now at
work ON the metropolitan East side Ioute, ana thhi
large quantities that the company was compelled 70
rent land To hold II. Twenty cars were also being
constructed at the Pullman Palace Car works, he
said. winch would be fully rs handsome and con-
Veutut as those now in use on SIXth-ave.
4 banquet given by Cyrus W. Field at the Down
town Merchants Club House, and a ride to liar
len, concluded the committees labors on Saturday.
WASHINGTON NATHAN'S ASSAlLANT.
Officers of the Essex Market Police Court were
searching on FRIDAY evening and on Saturday for
Mrs Barrett alias Birdie Bell the woman who
wounded Washington Nathan at the Coleman
House on Thursday last, after having registered
herself as Miss INLAND of Philadelphia war
rant for her arrest charge OF fclonous assault
with intent TO kill" had been issued by Justice
Murray, who visited the wounded man at his resi-
dence in IIftb-ave. 1t was known that Mrs Barrett
had gone from the Coleman House after the shoot
ing 10 her residence IN West Thirty fOurth-st. and
ththcr the officers first went in search of her They
were admitted 10 the house, and looked through 1T
without finding Mrs Barrett. The other inmates
of the house sald that Mrs. Barrett had lett the city,
and then gave the officers note which stated that
inquiries for her 10 be made at the Office OF her
counsel, John ID. Townsend, Mr.. Townsend SAID
attcrwaTd that ne had visited Mrs. Barrett on Fri
day morning. Sic had gone away, but she would
return as soon as she could arrange her bail 1t IS
expected that Mrs. Barrett Will return to the city
to-day. She Is described as a tall and slender
blonde Of twenty-five, with d scar Oh one cheek.
Washington Nathan still secludcs himself from all
visitors except personal friends HIS physician, DR..
Polk, has gwen his opinion that the wound made
by MIS- BIrictts pistol Is not dangerous.