Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-26
THE rUNNE1 ACCIDENT.
The Investigation by tho New York
 Railr0ad Commission COmpleted

THE TUNNEL -ACCIDENT. The Investigation by tho New York Railroad Commission Completed
 Yesterday - Engineer Fowler and
 Fireman Wellington Held Directly
 Responsible The Consolidated
 Road Held Partly ResPonsdble in the Case-Steves vs. Steam Heating.
 The New York state railroad commission has completed it's investigation into the matter of the Fourth avenue tunnel acci- dent and yesterday made public lengthy opinion and the results of its findings. After reviewing the circumstances of the accident the board is opinion that the lighting of the tunnel by electricity would but tend to render signal lights less visi- ble. As regards the ventilation the board thinks plan both feasible and desirable is to entirely close the openings between the center and side tunnels and construct ven tilating towers at certain points from the side tunnels in such manner as to pro- duce strong draught through the side tunnels, ridding them of smoke and steam. The sub loCU IS SuCu du 1lupOItdub 0Au o1A3SuAc OiAS that heavy conclusion is undesirable. The board is carefully considering it and is in consultation with the railroad authorities and others as to the most practicable method of solving the difficulty. The most competent people that can be retain ed are now employed by the railroad com panies in considering what methods can be adopted to Improve ventilation, light, signalling and other means of operating |sthe tunnel.ss- Meantime, however, the board deems that certain measures should be adopted and that immediately to pre- vent the possibility of recurrence of such an accident and recommends that every means be adopted by the improve the audiable signal at the home signals to insure it's sounding under all circumstances if train passes such home signal while set at danger and approves of the company again adopting the torpedo in addition; that additional measures be adopted to constantly inspect the lights and wires, moving the signals to insure their being in proper order and that an electric device be adopted to show to the operator in the cabin the position of the signals; that no engineer or fireman be permitted by the roads to run locomotive through the tunnel un- fs certificate of perfect eyesight and concep- tion of color; that no train be per mitted to pass through the tunnel at greater speed than fifteen miles an hour, the rate to be reduced under unfavorable conditions to rate slow enough to insure the engineer and fireman seeing the sig nals, until improved methods shall have | been adopted which shall demonstrate to | the satisfaction of the board that such 8 | reduction in speed is no longer necessary, and that the railroad companies investi- l gate and consider the best methods to be l adopted to ventilate the tunnel and report | to the board their conclusions with a view of recommending to the legislature legis1a- | tion to carry the same into effect.
 Subsequent to the accident the board made a personal examination of the tun nel. After passing through the center an6 side tunnels upon locomotive and care fully watching the conditions obtaining l there, the board is satisfied that the pres l ent system of signals is insufficient to se cure safety. Indeed, the wonder is that
 no serious accident has happened before It is difficult enough to distinguish distant
 and home signals in the center tunnel
 where there are a number of openings, un der the most favorable conditions of wea ther. In the side tunnels the dangers anG difficulties are increased many times. Ths 1 coroner's jury recommended that a uni form rate of speed should be adopted | through the tunnels. On consultation
 with the railroad officials the board is O.
 opinion that this would be impracticabl, and that uniform rate cannot be main
 tained.
 It is proper, however, that the maxi mum rate should not be exceeded. Tn
 coroner's jury also recommended tha
 there should be two operators in thu cabins where signals are set. The boart
 is of the opinion that two men are nor
 likely to create confusion than one carefu
 man with an interlocked electrical systen
 in operation.
 In conclusion the board finds that Levi
 Fowler, engineer, and Charles A. Yelling
 ton, fireman, were directly responsibl
 for this accident in passing distance an home signals while set danger; and tha
 the New York, New Haven and Hartfor'
 railroad is directly responsible for tn
 death of the victims of the accident in s'
 far as such death was contributed to b,
 the burning of the cars, because of tn
 failure of the said company to conform t.
 the law requiring it's cars to be heated l other than by stove or furnace.
 In North Guflford.
 Mir Amos Fowler of North Gnilford