New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-15
THE ELEVATED ROAD ACCIDENT,
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE STATE RAILROAD COM
MISSION.

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE STATE RAILROAD COM
MISSION.
william z. Rogers, Isaac V. Baker and Michael
Richard Of the State Railroad Commission, met in TIE
Chamber Of Commerce yesterday and received an ap
pllcstion for permission to water the stock Of The
houston West Street and Pavona Ferry sur.
face Railroad Company, and for the Brooklyl
And Jamaica Railroad Company 70 change It's
motive power from horse TO electricity. But
he most important duty Of the Commissioners va
receiving testimony fixing the blame for the accident
on the Thrd-ave. elevated railroad on January ii
vhen as the result Of collision an engine fell int
u. street at Onehundred and sixteenth st. Mr. Roger
vas the chairman.
The first business attended to was receiving th'
enplant of Henry d. smith. Of this city. who said
that the New-York. Buffalo and West Shore Railroad
Company had violated an agreement with him relativ
N the freight charges on hhytwo tons OF granite anc
that the Delaware and Ulster Railroad Company wa
guilty of the same offence. According 10 Mr. smith, m
was charged 40 cents hundredwecht BY the West
Shore and ga cents by the Delaware and USER
road instead Of IL cents, as was agreed upon. H. T.
Kinney counsel for the railroads, said that the reason
the high rate was charged was that Mr. smith had
neglected 10 release the company from responsibility
and consequently the charges were made on the
granite as Grstclass freight.
samuel b. Clark. the representative OF INC
Houston and West Streets and Pavonia Ferry Railroad
issue Of $500 900 worth of stock to be used ia
buy the Chambers-st. surface road, which Is now
being operated By the former road. Mr. Rogers
thought that the stock Of the Chambers'st road was
much Inflated and that BY approving the issue OF
new stock to buy up the other jock he would prac'
ueay be approving the watering o. stock
Mr. Clark did not believe in TINS 0pinion ann
Mnted rather strongly that the case was one which
hardly came within the jurisdiction Of the ComhlrNo"
Mr. ROGERS rellled rather sharply. T. the elect tat
it wes one Of the duties Of the Commissioners TO pre-
vent the Wholesale imitation Of Stocks Mt. cara
then submitted papers bearing on tie case ana inc
Commission viii give It's final decision on appIcaloh
Edward :. Church. representing the brooNIsh an"
Jamaic, Railroad Company ashcd permission for the
company TO change it, motive power ioni "O'9V' ~
electricity, the plan being 20 have overhead "I'c' on
poles John O'DonnelI. p:Operty-owner OF Jamaica
objected TO the proposed change and asked Tor uHe Ia
the property owners OF Jamaica ana Inc Jdn'dcA l"'
pfOvement Company to hlc protests against ,'e 10"
scheme. Another hearing in tho case was SGT INV" o
two weeks from to-day.
The afternoon session was devoted 10 'aHihs "Su
mcny fixing the bame for the collision on tn Ihu ave
elevated railroad which threw engine to tic street.
Among those who testified were CoOicl hai" s'"V'''
manager Robert Black roadmaster sylvester T. ' ~.
t'ain dispatcher Joseph sweeney, engineer al" ~
1eit La Crosse, fireman Of engine NO. To- anu O'''i1
E. Deutch Of ENGINE No 49, which fell into the etfeeI
Noonel nam sGDMlt'eu uFd""o' -, ,oi4
ue accident and of Tie three Traces "'!u w
We story over again Of tie disaster. 49, -
A. DeUn.s, the brakeman VINO opcned TIC So"
watch caused the accident. was called 10 inc
chair aud testified that he had found the SWITCH u'
ocsed and set the danger signal ana tIldt ~ Wv
.ay what he thought right under lns 81. Lem
stances as tlIero was no regular sWltc!ihan ~
. Joseph sweeney, the engineer OF clShc ~. q
s ad that he the danger signal whei o,D t@ ~
NJ yards away lie then rGiAlhS at u .e me-
scout nfteen miles an hour ana at once hpP'r'e n
sstliakes and reversed the engine, bat 700 i"'0 "
".i collision .,od
., Me- Rogers chairman Of tic Commission asI w.
.oOltl Hahn who lie thought was 10 DiaIG ~ e.
iIoent ! TANK that Dennis was undohDs'It'' yea.
saahe for Tie accident said Colonel HAUL .f..
~, s ms business 10 turn the switch there "ci' '"
"fs paid 10 do this" -, Mo-,
NJ Rogers then ad Ourncd the meeting nhlil ' .n
tase ''' "'0" " W.