New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-26
THE TUNNEL ACCIDENT.
OPINION OF THE RAILROAD COMMIS-
SIONERS.
NOT FAVORABLE TO LIGHTING THE PLACE BY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR vENTI'
LATIoS-TEMpoRARY REMEDIES
RECOMMENDED.

KECOMMENDEDs
Albany, March c5-The state Railroad Commission
has completed its investigation In the matter OF inc
Fourthave. tunnel accident, and to-day made puOhc
a long opinion and the results Of its findings After
reviewing the circumstances OF the accident the
Board is Of opinion that lighting the tunnel
by electricity would tend TO make signal lights less
visible. As regards the ventilation OF the tuhne'
the Board thinks a plan both feasible and desiraDio
is to close entirely the openings between the centre
and side tunnels and construct yentatng towers at
certain points from the side tunnels in such manner
as to produce strong draft through the side tunnels
Kidding them Of smoke and steam. Inc Board Is
still carefully considering the subject and Is III con-
sultatiOn with the railroad authorities and others as
TO the most practicable method OF solving the dim
cultes.
In the meantime however, the Board deems that
certain measures should be adopted, and that i'm
medately, TO prevent the possibility OF recurrence
Of such an accident and recommends that every means
be adopted by the railroad companies using te tuhhei
to improve the audible signal at the nome slghais'
insure its sounding under all circumstances il
train passes such homo signal while set at danger,
and approves OF the companies again adopting tho
torpedo addition thereto; that additional measures
be adopted for constant inspection Of the lights and
wires moving the signals, and that an electric deVcc
be adopted to show to the operator in the caom
tn, position of the signals that no engineer or hreah
be permitted by the railroad companies TO run a
locomotive through the tunnel until such engineer and
fireman shall have certificate Of perfect eyesight
and perception Of color that train be permitted to
pass through the tunnel at greater speed than
fifteen miles hour, the rate TO be reduced under
unfavonblc conditions rate slow enough to insure
the engineer and fireman seeing the signals, until i'm
proved methods shall have been adopted which shall
demonstrate to the satisfaction OF the Board that such
a reduction In speed is longer necessary and that
the railroad companies investigate and consider the
best methods to be adopted to venate the tunnel and
report to the board their conclusions with view OF
recommending legislation necessary to carry the same
into effect.
Subsequent to the accident the Board made
personal examination OF the tunnel. After passing
through the centre and side tunnels upon locomotive
and carefully watching the conditions there, the Board
is satisfied that the present system Of signals is insult
fcient 10 secure safety. The Coroner's jury recon-
mcnded that uniform rate Of speed be adopted through
the tunnels on consultation with the railroad officials
the Board Is Of the opinion that this would be impract
cable and that uniform rate cannot be maintained.
!; is proper however that the maximum rate should
not be exceeded The Coroner's jury also recon-
mendcd that there should be two operators in the cabins
where signals are set. The Board Is Of the opinion
that two men likely to create confusion than
one careful man with an interocied electrical system
in operation.
In conclusion the Board finds that Lewis Fowler.
engineer and Charles A. Wellington. fireman. were
directly rc>pons passing distant
and home signals while set at danger from their failure
them in consequence Of fog, steam ana smoke
and that the New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company is directly responsible for the death
Of the victims Of the accident in far as such death
rbuted 10 by the burning Of the cars because
OF the failure Of the company conform TO the law
quirng its to be heated By means other than Dy
stove or furnace.