New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-28
FAR BEHIND THE TIMES.
THE BROADWAY CABLE ROAD WITH ITS
vEXATlOUS DELAYS. SEEMS ANTIQUATED.

THE ENGINEERS OF TIE ROAD-THEY SAY
THE SYSTEM WAS STARTED BEFORE 1T
WAS READY-THE NEW DEVICES
FOR SPEED AND SAFETY.
The Broadway cable road is not an unqualified
success. That has been shown on various occa-
sions since the road has been in operation. Delays
have been numerous, and two occasions serious
accidents have just been escaped. In the consruc-
ton Of cable roads New-York City has not been
nearly successful many other cities Of the
country Although this city is many years behind
most Of the other cities in the of the cable
system. 1t does not seem to have profted any by
their experience. On the contrary. nothing seems
TO have been foreseen. Every improvement must
suggest itself before 1t is made. In that way
there can be no guarantee that the road will not
get out OF order at any minute. The people Of
other cities where the cable is in amazed
at the difficulty the people Of this city have with
the cable cars.
There would not be so much cause for complaint
II the cable had just been started and everything
did not work as 1t should. But the Broadway cable
road has been In operation for some time. Never
theess. the same accidents constantly re-
curing.
THE MANAGEMENT OPENS ITS EYES.
Some time ago the managers OF the road dis
covered some OF the improvements needed. They
have had time enough 10 make all of the improve
ments Only some of them, however. have been
made 1t was said three weeks ago that the Sec
ond cable would be ready for in day or two
The same thing said yesterday Had the Sec
ond cable been in readiness, as it should have been
the block Wednesday would not have occurred
Again. the signal boxes were to have been In
place fortnight ago. They are not ready yet, and
no knows when they will be. Everything has
been done slowly that 1t is no wonder that New
Workers begin to grumble at the numerous and vex-
atious delays the road. The continu-
ally running into the ends Of trucks, as the bat
tered condition of their dashboards will attest The
gripmen keep continually sounding the gong, so
that has hard time to convince ones self that
one Is not in ambulance. No. the Broadway
cable road up to date is not a success!
1t is interesting to know what Is the cause OF the
unsatisfactory working of the cable on Broadway.
Either the system Is failure. 1t was put in OPP
Grafton before 1t should have been. The probabili-
ties are that the system is not in fault That the
system was set in motion at too early date Is
now the accepted cause for its apparent failure
One of the civil engineers connected with the
road was seen by Tribune reporter yesterday and
asked to give an accurate account Of the existing
condition of the road. He said
what / am about to say has been said before
The system is now in nearly perfect working order
All the trouble far has been the result OF start
ing the cable before 1t really ready for opera
ton II the system had not been started until
every detail had been so far elaborated as 10 pro-
vide for every possible contingency, IT would nave
involved expenditures that might have been uh-
necessary. BY beginning to operate the cable as
soon as possible the points to be remedied would
much more speedily be discovered ana time anu e~
pense would be saved.
THAT was the plan adopted. 1t soon became
evident that there was need OF an automauc ue
vice for releasing the cable at points where IL
entered the conversations or descended into
sheaye-pit because although the gripmen shoud
have intelligence enough to throw out the cable
at certain points they could not be relied upon
with certainty to do Every time a grlpman
failed to loosen the grip at one OF those points
the cable was lifted off the wheels. and delay
resulted. Or. what was worse. II the cable formed
q loop around the grip, car ran away. inns leu
20 the adoption of the automatic grip and II mas
been applied to all the There will be no
longer danger Of delays on account or the iahure
Of a erpman to loosen the grip at certain points
on the road.
THERE'S A GOOD TIME COMING"
1.-THE delay yesterday caused by the break
ing of some of the strands of the cable as a re-
suit of gradual wear. With proper watching the
weak points in the cable are easily enough as
covered Only few days and there VIII be no
delay even should any of the strands OF the ca
BILE break; because by that time the secohd caoie
will be ready for work There are TWO sets Vi
wheels in the cable conduit and two dniereh'
cables With this duplex system one capie Gun
be run slowly for examination while tne o'her
f. going at full speed hauling cars III the caoie
hauling the clrs should get out OF ordcr' or any
of the strands break 1t can be stopped inmeoi-
ately and the other set in motion WITHOUT uVia'
or anv interference with the operation OF the
road.
..There soon will be a way Of signalling to the
rover-houses as soon any accident happens ~
the cable Signal boxes will be placed In the streets
lust outside of the tracks, at Intervals oi "" ~
700 feet In case there should be any troupie d"
the conductor will have to do Is to INT a iaSe
of waterproof He can then by y s ~ ;b
Of signals inform the engineer III sosn az the
signal is sent. hand on large dai IN ,ne ~ en-
Of the wssS 3 Sso B pc
on a sarge gong. Immediately afterward une NUM- nmt
Der S Ss s sns on smaller gong different tone
Informing the engineer wheT nn abe and the box
number will be printed on an endless tape.
pocEEr.rrLEpuoNE FOR TIE OFFICIALS.
"prov,s,on will also be made in each signal box
for the temporary attachment or portable 'e'c-
phones. which will be carried by certain OFFICIALS
OF the road. Thus 1t will be possible 10 tai" iro'"
any box to the power station"
" II yreeland the president OF the Metro
no,,,n Traction Company which controls the
broadway cable road. coud not be seen yesterday
George NJ A. Fecke. his private secretary, nov Nv
ever volunteered to answer any d,o o on
subject. Asked to explain '''e 'o''''"'
the CO BILE road. he sald: l., ..oo. ,.or,,ro oraer
=, Inc Inc sy ysrted before it was really ready This
go 70 satisfy the public more than for any
o,ner Yea reason. In short time. however when all
the necessary improvements have oeen H9ue haJ
~ni started the cable the public would have grum-
Sied Now that it is running the PUBIC sr"''"e'
When asked how long would be Sefore an eann rne
nHsct,v nav The second cable is ready Tor use
automatic grip has soS ses" be- ready
ss ~ =" cav the new tirle table was put lnto
effect yesterday but the speed o o, ine c@oe
The reporter asked whether the system ho ~ same
In ne-h,ndred twenty % .rbc systems
are different The one in in tSe one