The New York herald., 1879-03-27
DANGEROUS CROSSINGS.
What the II" Road Officers Say
About the Accident.
CHATHAM SQUARE PROBLEM.
Neither Company Finds a Salts
factory Solution Of It.

factory Solution of It.
As the subject Of the proposed crossing Of the 'L
railways at Chatham square and their joint use of
the New Bowery and Pearl street track has acquired
fresh Importance from tho collision of Tuesday last
representative of the HERALD sent yesterday to
the leading managers Of both roads to obtain their
views on the propositions which have already been
made in the HERALD to obviate this difnculty.
President Cyrus w. Field. of the New York IL.
first questioned. Mr.. Field said that the inter-
view with him in yesterdays HERALp entirely
$5Oo,OOo would not be sufficient compensation for
the loss caused by any serious accident the sum
mentioned by him was $5.OOo.OOO
.No travelling Is safe." President Field said.
"where trains one another on the same level
am so convinced of that that believe own
Grains should not each other OF course. that
Is only my own view upon the subject.
have not yet consulted all our directors
and engineers. and I only director
among thirteen. But my idea 10 that we should
only take City Hall passengers up to Chatham
square and there transfer them to through train
the main line. We can have bridge over the
track by which passengers can safely reach the plat
form OF the Chatham square station. Whether this
tors; am in favor of it,"
TWO CROSSINGS TO BE ABOLISHED.
How about the Forty y-second street crossing and
that at Thirty fourth street and Third avenue?"
1--WE have already resolved to change the structure
At these points as to do away with the crossing
altogether. Grand Central passengers will aight at
Forty-second street, little bridge the
track and then at the other side take special train
running back and forth between Third avenue and
The depot AT Thirty fourth street and Third avenue
the same change will be made"
mr. Field, you said yesterday that the Metropoli-
Ian Il" could capture 100000 Brooklynites by going
down Catharine and South streets. If this is such
good route would it not be well for you adopt it
yvery likely shall" Mr.. Field tmpulsively OK
claimed, 'if they DON'T
''And then you would give them the Pearl street
route in exchange to avoid the joint track trouble
presume 2?
..Not bit of it!" Mr. Field declared "why. that's
'But will you not have to give mp half Of 1t, any
way. Mr.. Field Is not half of it theirs p
Mr. Field is rstnrned % They can 90 down. South
street and take away large portion of the ferry
travel for they would pass Wall street. Fulton street.
Peck slip and Catharfne ferry"
''But why could your road not take that router
How could we get our connection at Chatham
BQuare without crossing them? It's impossible.
Mr. Field said in conclusion that he hoped the two
companies would make some amcable and friendly
settlemen and asked the reporter to go down to the
Berous the crossing would be at that point from the
high buildings which would obstruct the views of
DIRECTOR BISHOPS VIEWS.
Director Heber r. Bishop, of the New York ''L. /"
said that he did not think It fair and equitable that
the road should give up its valuable Pearl street
route in consideration Of tho Metropolitan IT. Civ
Ing up its rights in Chatham and Chambers Streets
should not besent away. Let the Metropolitan road
90 down to Caharnc street and thence along either
routes. which would give them large portion Of
pur ferry travel and that is quite sufficient sacri
nee for us to make.
proposed by the HERALD In Its recently published
diagram is not perfectly equitable. would 1t not be
made so by pooling the receipts of both companies
''why should we pool receiptss" Mr.. Bishop re-
piled rather Indignantly. II don't see why we
What objection is there TO it2'
"well. it's mixing up business. Why should we
Of that little bit Of road through Pearl streetf They
should keep east OF us, and take the big ferry
travel from Brooklyn"
.swhy don't your road take It, Mr. Bishopr'
'who ever heard Of man who has his house already
built conforming his plans to those Of his neigh
Dor. who just going to build onef We have built
our road and are running-they're not. They
do anything in the way of change-we can't"
resolution Of the Board Of Directors Of the 18th 81
this month to change the structure Forty-second
street and Third and street and
Upon being asked when the changes would be
complisned he said in two or three months.
After returning from Mr.. Bishop, President Field
met again. on Broadway. and asked when the
present arrangement of Grand Central trains would
be discontinued. Mr.. Field said that probably to.
morrow Thursday Grand Central trains would
be run after twelve O'Clock Chief Engineer Katie.
who was in his company. was asked how soon the
structure Forty-second and Thirty fourth streets
and Third avenue and said that he could not possi
bly, tell. Mr. Field said. 'As quickly IS money can
PnEsrpENr aAnR1soNs VIEWS
President William r. Garrison, OF the Metropoli-
tion. what you think Of this question of the T.
railways crossing each other?" asked.
the satsfaction of both companies as we'll as Of the
public, was the reply. 1.-THE HFRALD has already
suggested plan which would entirely obviste the
crossng-namely. for the New York II to take tho
City Hail branch exclusively and give up the New
Bowcry and Pearl street route while we in return
would give mp our rights through Chatham and
but Mr.. Field says that this division is unfair.
well; II II is wo are open to any other fair and
suppose that in view Of tho fact that President
to his road as to yours the receipts below Chatham
squnre were pooled and equally dividedr
lions Even r. the poonr Of prots wnua occrsc
less prohtably to road than to thcirs we should
probably agree TO II for tho sake OF harmony and
peace and In order that public safety and conven-
3encc the Il roads might be assured. In fart
We willing to mako any fair agreement what
over"
'Mr Field suggests that the Metropolitan Il
should go down Catherine and South streets aud thus
capture the 100000 Brooklynitcs landing at the
ferries"
Mr.. Garrison laughed and replied :-"wcll. II that
r. such an immensely valuable line, and would take
'600.OO0 Brooklynites.' why does not tho New York
IL take them2 We shall most cheerfully Join our
Dors to theirs TO them that route In exchange
Tor the Pearl street line"
1T7
But Mr.. Field aud the other directors appear to
object TO any proposition looking to the abandon
ment of their Pearl street route under any circum
stances whatevcry'
Here President Garrison became very emphstic.
sNow, plcase do not call this their line. That is
mistake which has been very generally made. IL is
not thcir line any more than 10 In ours II belongs
to us jontlyhalf 10 them and half to us-and IL is
entirely erroneous 10 speak Of II ~ their line"
rs not the present arrangement ~ laid out by tho
8apid Transit Commissioners very dangcrousr'
. mot at all" President Garrison replied. with
the appliance OF the improved interocking switch
apparatus and signal system already In use on our
us.xx -.