Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-05
THE TUNNEL INQUEST.

| Cnauncey M. Depev on the Stand
The Witness Unable to Give Any
Theory ofthe observation-disclosures Open
the TunnelifPermIssio Were Given
by the Legislature.
New YORK, March 4.-Coroner Levy and
his jury, who are inquiring into the cir
| cumstances attending the recent tunnel
| disaster at Eighty-fourth street, continued
| the inquest this afternoon. Chauncey M.
Depew, president of the New York Central
railroad, was examined He said the road,
until it reached the junction at the river,
was under the jurisdiction of the New
York Central road. The depot master had
his own subordinates. The several other
roads pay their proportion for the ex-
penses. The New York and Harlem River
railroad owns the tunnel and the New
York Central and the other roads in the
system of the New York Central lease the
tracks. AS matter of fact, the New
York and Harlem had been merged into
the New York Central Mr.. Platt is in
charge of the local management of the
Grand Central system. Mr.. Depew testi-
fed that he had given the management
considerable thought. Ever since 1871
the question had been constantly up as
to whether the system could be improved
upon. There was no question of expense.
Every suggestion, electrical or mechan-
ical, had been considered, the question of
lighting the tunnel had been considered.
The testimony went to prove, however,
that the signal lights could best be seen in
the dark. Practical engineers had
testified that lighting the tunnel
by electricity would be confusing.
The atmospheric condition of the tun-
mel was bad for the lights. 1t would be
best to have the tunnel open but this
property owners objected to. Wit
ness was against tunnels, but this tunnel
was necessary. It had been built by the
best engineers of the day. 1t was true
that the grand jury in 1882 had made some
suggestions about the tunnel, but witness
as president of the road was not at liberty
to follow out the suggestions of grand ju-
ries unless he was absolved from RESPONSE
bility. Testifying as to the heating of
cars, Mr.. Depew said that there had been
a universal demand for the abolition of the
car stove. But while there had been no
accident from steam heating of the cars
there was always the possibility of one.
On recent trip in his own car the steam
escaped and Mr.. Depew had to jump out.
Soft coal was used by the company, but
lu6y Wclc lldNluR udlo COdl CuSlllS Uul1J
as an experiment.
It was ten years since there had been an
accident in the tunnel. There was no such
record on any similar system in the world.
Mr.. Depew said that if the New York Cen
trail was obliged to land its passengers at
Mott Haven, the result would be that
about 80 per cent of their business would
go to other roads. Such state of things
would also result in bankrupting the an
nexed district, the residents of which use
the trains from the Grand Central depot
to large extent during the Communication
hours. In the opinion of the witness there
was nothing at present known which
would improve the system. He did not
believe the cable system could be success
fully operated in the tunnel. No matter
what system prevailed it was always
the case that human judgment had
to be relied upon. 1t was discre-
tionary with the engineer how fast
he should run his train in the tunnel. On
foggy days he was instructed to feel his
way If he did not there was only one
thing to do, and that was to discharge him
80 that he could not repeat the offence.
Mr., Depew said he had no theory of the
accident. If they could obtain permission
to open the tunnel by an act of the legisla-
ture the system would be improved and
there would be less danger.
Henry Walter Webb, third vice presi
dent of the New York Central railroad
company, testified that he had nothing to
add to what Mr. Depew said. The latter
had covered the ground very fully.
Anton Hermanson, o signal repairer, tes
titled that the day previous to the &C
cident all of the signals in the tunnel were
in perfect condition. On the morning of
the accident two hours after the accident
occurred witness found all the signals
were in order. Some of the wreckage
broke the wire of the distance signal at
Seventy sixth street. The hearing will be
continued at 9 n,clncl tn-nnrrnyy