The evening world., 1891-03-06
THE STATE BOARDS INQUIRY.
Evidence Taken at the Railroad
Commissioners Hearing.

Evidence Taken at the Railroad
Commissioners Hearing.
The State Board OF Railroad Commissioners
reopened ito investigation into the late acci-
dent In the Fourth Avenue Tunnel, at the
Chamber Of Commerce this forenoon.
Commissioners Wm. G. Rogers, Isaac V.
Baker, jr.. and Michael Rickard were present.
President Rogers preiaced the opening Of
the hearing with the remark that It might ap.
pear to be a repetition Of the very thoroush
Investigation by the Coroner's Jury, but the
chief duty OF the Commissioners was to coll
witnesses to be examined on certain questions
that had been left In clouded state at pre-
vious investigation.
Louis l. Fowler, engineer OF the New Haven
train, was nrst called, and In substance re-
peated his testimony before the Coroner's jury.
Fireman Charles A. Wellington, Fowlet's
assistant, also repeated his evidence at the in
quest.
General Manager Piatt, OF the Grand Central
Depot Association, was requested to make IN
general way any suggestions he might care 10
offer.
He thought 1t might be an Improvement II
the tunnel were to be made an absolute block
and trains allowed to 60 through at high rate
Of speed. That is, he would do away with oil
sectional blocks and make continuous block
the entire length Of tho tunnel
In answer to q question he said:
81 think 1t would DO . capital thing and q
great help n the tunnel could be ventilated,
and the Company was considering various
appliances looking to the greater safety OF
trains running through the tunnel"
Asked why It wouldn't be possible to have
signals located between tracks In each tunnel,
supt. Plat replied that tue distance was 90
small between tracks that there would not be
room TO locate them.
Operator William McManus, at the Seventy
second street station In the tunnel, after tell
ing what his duties were. was asked BY Presi-
dent Rogers:
"Can you see the home or the distance
signals from your cabin at Seventy-second
street ?"
"No, sir, -" replied McManus.
" How IL It indicated to you that the fignals
are Just az they should be for safety and %
you want them7"
~ ind out BY the workings of my lever, u
McManus answered.
Regarding the acknowledgment made by
Nc Mauus before the Coroner's Jury that he
utilized pencil to assist him In ascertainina
whether or not the unlocking system was IL
working order, Manager Platt spoke mp and
said tnat the use of pencil was known to ano
understood by the offcials, and that 10 was mo-
an act done solely on the responsibility OF The
| operator. It was perfectly safe method o.
| testiny the blocking system.
Manager Platt said further In reference u
to the Coroner's jury's recommendations TO
ventilation In the tunnel;
| nAll the additional ventilation we can get II
the side tunnels would he extremely bench
cial, although there would be din1culties be
cause Of the various grades.
General Manager Tutne, OF the New Havel
road, was questioned by President Rogers
wellington, 4 fireman IN your roads EN-
ploy, testified he had never been examined 70
color blindness. Have you any rule for sue
examination 2"
"Ithink there Is Q general rule that all me
entering the service Of the Company must o
examined for color blindness. l cannot sa
how II was prior to ten months ago, when m
connection with the road began"
Counsellor TAFT, attorney for the road. vol
unteered the statement that State regulatio
compelled engineers TO be examined for colo
| blindness, but that It did not specifically pre-
vide for such examination BY nremen.
After some discussion Of the merits OF tn
signal system the Commissioners adjourned
subject to the call OF President Rogers.