New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
TO USE BLOCK SIGNALS.
THE NEw-YORK CENTRAL STIRRED 10
ACTION.
OFFICERS OF THE ROAD SAY THAT THERE WILL
Benz MORE DELAYS IN ADOPTING THE,
NoSr .ppPoyED DEVICES.


BE NO MORE DELAYS IN ADOPTING THE,
MOST APPROVED DEVICES.
Chauncey NJ Depew, president Of the New-forR
Central and Hudson River Railroad, deciihed W
have anything to say for publication yesterday
about the shocking collision near Hastings. All
callers who wished TO know anything about tho
accident were referred to Third Vice-PIesldens
Webb and General Superintendent voorhees,.
For several hours yesterday afternoon Messrs.
Vanderbilt, Depew, Webb, Voorhees, and seversi
other officers Of the road were closeted together
in Mf. Depew's office Aftcrward 1t was stated
that the frightful wreck bad been the sole eoplo
of discussion at the conference.
The officers Of the New-York Central ana
Hudson River Railroad deplorc the sad accidens
that took place on Christmas Eve as much az
anybody else," said Mr. Webb to reporter OF
The Tribune yesterday. at has always been the
intention of the company to do everything In its
mower to protect the lives of the patrons OF tho
read, and for long time we have been consider
ing the advisabiity of putting in more ex-
tensve system of signals than we now have
system of block signals is what we nave long
desired 10 have added to our SYSTEM and we were
only delaying the matter in order 10 learn "nicn
was the most perfect system. There Is no sSsem
in operation in the United States, and mighe
say in the world, that is perfect Dut IL Is QUE
intention TO have the best block signals that can
be secured put in all along the line without any
unnecessary delay
Superintendent VOORHEES, has examined all tho
block signal systems that have been invented,
with a view Of suggesting the adoption Oh one
of them for the New-York Central lines, ana ne
says that the Sykes block system has been put In
at different points along the road. and has given
great satisfaction.
"We have section of the Sykes system almost
completed running far as Yonkers, SAID the
general superintendent "and either this system
or more improved one will be put in as soon
as possible all along the route. That the Hudson
River road has not stopped at any expense to IN
sure the safety of its passengers is evident ZOE
above Yonkers as far as Oscawana, work on the
Sykes system has already begun The foundations
are already in place, and everything necessary VIII
be put in operation as soon as possible FROM
Oscawana to the PeelSskill bridge we have
put in different SYSTEM and it has been IN opera
ton for some time. 1t does not work as salts
factorily as we would wish, nor does any block
system / know of operate perfectly enough TO
satisfy me, but If any new and valuable improve
ments are found this company will not delay IN
securing them. AS soon as possible the block
system will be put in as far as Buffalo, and the
because we wished TO know which was the most
perfect system. With that end in view, we put
in section Of pneumatic signals from Mott Haven
to Woodlawn. The system had been recommended
to US by the officers of the Pennsylvania road, who
had found it to work well. The Central Railroad
of New-Jersey also has the pneumatic at Conn
munipaw, which, have learned, gives satisfaction.
and il this system be put to q good use at any
points along our lines we certainly will put 1t I'M
ut will cost between 100000 and $500, 200
to put in complete systems all the way to Buffalo,
but the company will not hesitate to expend that
amount and more too to prevent accidents IN the
future Expense will not be considered by the
road. What we want TO do and intend to do Is
| TO bring the system of signalling and switching
to a point where accidents will be almost inn
possible. 1t is never safe to leave the lives OF
passengers in the hands of one man. The block
| system requires the concurrent negligence of two
operators in order to bring about an accident and
| when the systems we intend to put in are COM
pleted the chances of wrecks will be reduced TO
| a minimum"