New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-04
1IcgT ON THE TUNNEL DISASTER.

T. is announced in behalf of the New ! DIRK
and New Haven Railroad Company that expert
wonts are now in progress which are expected
70 result in the use lof steam instead OF stoves
to heat its cars hereafter. Not only the general
nnbl;c but also the stockholders of the road, we
tb;rl, are 70 be congratulated upon THIS pros
meet. The company, from motives "hich nave
been commonly Interpreted IN one wa! 'ho"Sh
va,iouslv described. has dsregaidcd law anu
opinion by retaining the apparatus "hlch mas
haon rosponsiblc for long series oil horrors ana
which has been repaced without serious dllli-
cultv on other lines. The public patience has
hoon severely tried by this contulnacy, ana
especially, perhaps, by the SpeclouS ar2'henS
offered i'm excuse. We do not know that the
comnany has ever officially abandoned the plea
lang since proved ridiculous, that a bulsted
steam pipe in Il car would inevitably scad inc
passengers TO death. That pietence never Hiuc
mich impression on the popular nina ana altef
the conclusive test applied by authority III Mas
sacbusctts year ago it ceased to have any iorcc
whatever except as al irritant
The company has therefore been universally
condemned. but unfortunately it has not suffered
in anv way. having most convenient mo-
has aroused feeling dangerous to trlIe with.
No doubt can remain, after the testimony Oh
the witness Sweeney yesterday that one OF the
company's stoves produced the fatal cohiiagfa-
tion in the tunnel. This man was III one OF the
wrecked cars lie saw the live Goals scattered
over the floor. and at his own feet lie saw the
flames bepin their work. and he had just time
onoucb 10 save himself without doing anything
for others lie thinks that oil from broken
lamps NAV have made the fire swifter ana not
for but he has 10 doubt whatsoever that inc
stove was the main agent Of destruction.
There is gratifying evidence that the officers
of the law intend to fix the responsibility Tor
This catastrophe and exact righteous penalty
from the guilty. whoever they may be. The
Coroner's inoucst is proceeding in thorough
and jealous manner, the Distnct-AttorhcE
office is watching the developments closely ana
the Grand Jury has been charged to cols'der
the case 1t will be strange indeed II the pl'tiile
is not eventually put where it belongs WIN
reference 10 the collision which gave the deadly
car-stove its opportunity the testimony Is sunni
what conflicting but the fact has been eS'ao-
lished that this disaster Is not the Only recent
proof of the fallibility OF the block system is
onnlieJ in the tunnels. Ii is in evidence that
the signals do not always work as they should
and that they are not always seen Whch III
perfect order. 1t must not, to be sure pc lot
gotten that system under which an enormous
traffic had been controlled under very diilicuit
conditions without loss OF life for long periou
prior to the recent disaster ought not 10 be con-
demned as if it were a criminaiy defective
sys,em which had given no proofs OF u'ilItN'
The main thing is by light and ventilation to
make the signals perfectly efficient and trust
worthy.