New-York tribune., 1891-03-07
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION STARTED.
THE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION EXAMINES
WITNESSES ABOUT THE TUNNEL

THE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION EXAMINES
WITNESSES ABOUT THE TUNNEL
The State Railroad Commissioners, william r.
Rogers chairman; Isaac V. Baker, IT, ana nichaei
Richard began yesterday an lnvcs'isauoh III tno
Chamber OF Commerce of the accident IN the tunnel
Frank Looms, counsel for the New-lorK central ana
Henry W. Taft. counsel for the w-iork, New'haven
and Hartford Railroad, were on manu- e"'n " ""'o"
the interests Of his company
chairman Rogers said that in view OF the complete
manner in which the causes leading 10 the accldehs
we're gone over by the Coroner's jury, the board "
Commissioners did not think IL worth whie 10 30 oVos
,he ground again but II would, he sad, commune ~
investigations looking toward suggestion vi Soms
practicable method Of adopting measures 10 preVehs
a recurrence of accidents OF that hnd IN tne ia'uo
and understand he added, that the railroad COM
NAMES are doing the same thing" Lucils lutue
General manager of the New-Yorb, New-Haven ana
Hartford Railroad, said that he would be appy 10 Iur
ni,h the Commissioners with rooms at the "rahd oen
ira, station for holding any further investigations thss
they might deem necessary.
FOWLER the engineer, was the first witness eS'
o,ined and his testimony substantially that whca
he gave before the Coroner jury anu " ~ ~
already published.
Charles A. Wellington the fireman, said that ne had
never seen any book of rules as to the method OF oN
atlng the signals and so on, but learheu "h' 'He'
meant from the different engineers.
C.. II. Platt, superintendent OF inc "iahu N'"'U'
Station, was asked by the chairman IL IL were uuo
that good deal of thought had been gwen ps nv
company to devislng Its methou VI ssn"'' "'N ~ ~
that such was the case.
And it has failed" suggested the Chairman
"The accident has occurred" said Mr. Platt.
aWhat would be the practical objection continued
the chairman TO precludIng one train entering ua.
tunneI in the same direction until another tgalh hao
gone out,'
Well, was the reply, I" 1t would be linposs'oic
handle the traffic are now obliged 10 hahdie Il
that were the rule and the rate OF speed thous"
the tunnel. Of course if tho whole length OF ,ne
tunnel were only one block 1t would be periecuy
safe To 90 at the rate Of thirty miles an hOur.
Suppose you adopted lower rate OF speed uhas
the present circumstances"
Il suppose it would be better 10 make 'o"ei
rate OF speed but the time given on the catus Is as
which can be made under favorable conditions lhs
speed varies according to the condition of the tunnel
"Have you any suggestions TO oner as 10 any Hu'
provements that might be made!'
"we are now considering several plans out may
say OF course that the ventilation of the tunnel wouid
be a great help if that could be accomplished. iha
suggestions which we have received so lar are very
much inferior to our present plan OF operations"
william McManus. the operator and switchIhah d.
the cabin in the tunnel at Seventy tysecond-St' said
in regard TO III, adysability Of having some person
working with him. that he had been three yeaIs az
lbs present post, and had never found any dimcuiy
Charles 4. Scott electrician TO the Union switch
and signal Company, asked II IL would not 20
practicable to have some method by whleh tls pos.
lion of the signals would be indicated 10 the OPERATOR
and I'm reply said We have what We call slgna
repeater, to indicate signal where IL Is outside o
the view OF the operator ,-,.,
Lucius Tutte, general manager Of the ew-forl
and New Haven road. was questioned regarding ua
ness after which the chairman announced the adjourn
melt Of the investigation