New-York tribune., 1890-07-16
IN DEFENCE or. STEAM.
4 FAIR TRIAL DEMANDED.
.pprs1nryr ANDREWS PROTESTS AGAINST THE
ORDER TO SHUT OFF STEAM IN
FOUR MAINS.

W r Andrews president Of the NcwYork Steam
cornnanv went before the Health Board Yesterday with
other officers OF the company and with James W.
,,,,,o. sa counsel to protest against the orders TO
sbut of steam from the company's mains at three
- in Uroadway and at one place in Wallst. Mr.
acs said that the company objected to the orders on
+h cropnd that they issued on insufficient ex-
nar+e and hcarsay evidence The company, he said
Nod chartered rights that could not be overlooked
TboSc rights demanded that the company should have
O FAIR trial before beinC condemned. The proposed ac
&C.,, - tIc BOARD was a virtual destruction of prop
ertv which would he unconstitutional.
wr uawcs quoted several statutes to show tnat the
sn,rn company had the right to occupy portions Of
,bc streets, t. lay the mains and to supply steam T."
cuc+on.rs He compared the rights of the company
to those Of the gas companies and said they were
similar 4 copy of the franchise granted by the Board
., Aldermen in 1850 was filed aS evidence. Every
ouir,mcnt of the law had UGcn complied with by the
company the counsel said, including the giving Of a
$4,000 bond 70 protect the city from suits for dam
ages by the steam pipes, the payment to the city OF
Q cents per foot Of mains laid, and the supplying Of
steam TO the CITY Hall and Court House at reasonable
rates, All the pipes had been laid under the dircc-
non Of an inspector Of the Department of Public Works.
whose salary paid by the company.
The company had been obliged 10 lay the steam
mains under the middle of the pavement in Broadway.
Later a double track railroad laid over the mains
and sulWayS laid each side, making repairs 10
tlr steam mains impossible in the daytime. and cN-
trcmcly slow and difficult at night Mr.. llawcS siid
that the company wished time I'm which to pre-
parc for hearing on the orders. The company wished
to make tests in the manhOlc> and in vault> %
verify the recent made by the sanitary inspectors
such tests would be made at different times TO deter
mine If the heat in tlr not due 10 other
causes than the steam mains.
President Andrews said that two years ago, when
complaints OF heat I'm sewer uanholcS were made at
one point III Broadway, examination showed that
the heat was not caused by the company, mains
lie said that the prcSSur" of steam in the company .,
main, va, The same day and night. summer aud
winter, eighty pounds 10 the square inch The COM
pauY had been in business cght years. Nr Andrews
said, and record wnS uuequallef in one respect
Its steam pipes had not killed anyone and had not
injured a single person. People killed or
manned every year nv the sire; cars by gas by
electric wires. but IL ,cw lorl steam Company had
caused injury To any person in eight year.
Tho Company's pipes could not explode, and FOR
one leak from the steam mains there were twenty
from the ga mains in the distance. Til" ar
steam mains visible and harmless. while lca;
from the gas mains was invisible and dangerous 81
lfe The steam company opened t" streets 10 make
repairs only about 900 times in the year Uhil' tho
GaS companies tori up the streets several thousand
times each year II would he absurd - CAL th"
steam mains dangerous % life he said and tho Health
Board could not prove that they were detrimental to
health.
Tho Health Board adjourned the meeting until
next Tuesday when the company Will call number
Of Witnesses 10 support tho general statements made
by Mr. Andrews and Mr.. lIaWcs.