New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-13
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS IL THE TUNNEL.
OBJECTIONS TO THEN or THE PART OF

TO THLM ON RAM
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
sir: Tie ,sfe opcritinc of the Fourth Avcnne l''h
mel in this city is subject OF interest to 80 many
people that | venture ~ question the WISDOM % INV
ord nance passed yesterday by the Aldermen Of No"
York requiring the tunnel in question h be H9hteu DS
electricity. This l. a case Of panic l'EIsiNi'''
special legislation and special municipal rceuialo"'
have repeatedly been enacted in the excitement ui,
followed railroad accidents: but such legislation anu
regulations have rarely failed 10 infct injury "e'o
benefit intended.
The Fourth Avenue Tunnel is the principal artery
Of surface railroad travel il this city. II is necessary
that the trains required for carrying the passengers
should he run without interruption. and question III
which We are all interested is How can punctualiiy
and safety be combined? The railroad company
lave in of the best block systems, which, now
ever. is susceptible Of improvement. and some hId
Of visible signals are necessary and essential pan
cf the block system. The railroad company Is in
clned 10 depend on ordinary Fights. and expect that
they can be seen best the dark tunnel The Board
Of Aldermen have evidently taken issue with the
railroad company. and have decided that the tram
can be safely operated ia a tunnel lighted by
electricity. As il appears that the tunnel must
be lighted To comply with the ordinance passed. II
bcho0ves the public 10 learn what the probable effect
of the change will be. II the Aldermen could pass
and enforce an ordinance compelling the tunnel to
be kept clear Of fog the lighting by electricity mGIt
smoke or other vision -Obscurng vapoT is present in
a tunnel, any garing light is decided Of
danger for il prevents the si-nll from being
seen. while falling t. MAX, tho train in front
visible. If the New York Aldermen had employ cd
expert railroad signals investigate the elect
Of electric light In tunnels during fog, they would cc'
tainly have received information that would have pre-
vented them from occurring the Fourth Avenue Tunnel
to be lighted by electricity.
\ good object lesson of the effect of electric lighting
of tunnels can he found IN Chicago. The North Chi
street EailW aX Company USES tunnel under the
Chicago River for it, track. and this il lighted by
electricity. have been railroad locomotive engineer
a cOn-dc able part OF my '. and io me 1t H- become
like second nature to watch for signals ana - nOo
things that influence the >acty of train operating.
lived several year, IN Chicago, and rode daily on the
North Side street When tie electric II GIFTED tun-
be int oduccd 10 advantage IN surface railroad tunnels
but experience In fOgS convinced that the danger
would be- Increased bv such change. I'm fgi the
are II yt Is al absorbent Of vision. The ligi et can
be seen Gt considerable distance bat nothing ciee
beyond II can be seen. aud objects beneath II nro
tunnel spoken Of on Il ~ day the gripman llas I"
exert the greatest canton In approaching ngn I"
sec that is stopped In front Until he J. unde
the Cht. nothing lu front can b. seen.
the effects present IN the Chicago tunnel are nov
likely 10 be absent in our Fourth .ivcnur Tunnel.
The glare u the electric irt will put ordinary signals
out Of sight when the tunnel f. free rom 'mntr'
steam and fog the of the signals VIII be visible,
but AZ other times the engineers viii have Ia lc1
their way FROM Hight to light the dancer Of accidents
Will De increased and the movement of trains VIII be
eXanimated ANGUS SlNtLNlf,
Secretary American Railway Master Mechanics
Association.
York March 4 f-gI.