The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-02
CABLE SYSTEM IMPRUTEMENTs

| sigma, Boxes r ON whIch to Telegraph
| News OF Accidents" Low Chnin " EngIue-.
The dangers resulting from runaway cars
and tho delays due to broken caulos on til G
| Broadway line will soon be greatly obyiated
| by means Of a series OF automatic electric
| signal stations to be placed along the track s.
Chief Engineer q, W. McNuty was seen yes
| terday by a Sun reporter in regard to the sys-
| TEN. He said:
" There are so many cases in which prompt
communication with the power houses must
be made that we are placing along the outside
OF the tracks smull signal boxes sunk to tho
level OF the street These boxes arc about
eight Inches square and are from 500 to 700
feet apart. There is an iron cover and a
waterproof galvanized cover. which. when
raised. disclose an arrangement like q mes
senGer call These boxes are connected by
electric cables with the power house from
which that particular stretch OF cable il
operated. In case OF an accident. blockade
or a tire which delays the cars the conductor
pulls handle in the signal box q certain num-
Der OF times to denote the kind OF trouble or
delay.
In the power house are two dials one for
the UP and the other for the down track.
These dials are divided into eight points.
Stop Start Tension of. Test Tension
on Wagon. Telephone and Fire respec-
lively, BY means of tho dials tho eng neer on
duty knows exactly what to do. Tho number
OF strokes on the gong connected with the
dials are registered on an endless tape. so in
case he misses count. he can read the strokes
on the tape. An electric communication is also
automatically made with all the power houses
no matter 10 which one the alarm Is sent. We
began laying the line OF wires last spring hut
ths Empire city subway COMPANY coInprlled
us to cense work for at least two months. The
wires are not for business purposes, but are
an integral part Of the cable road. and we are
therefore not forced 10 lay them IN the sub
ways. They will he placed Ia the cable slot.
We have "A line OF this electric communication
at present operating from Fifty-nnth street to
Iiftieth street. IL was nut in 10y the National
Electrical Manufacturing Company Of Milford,
Conn. The work viii soon DO extended to
We hope In the future to rig the signal
boxes so that they may 10 connected with
portable telephones To te carried Ey the in
lay or injury to the cable may be sent in imme-
dateiy. Another device have been inves'i-
cat ng is one for automatically cutting III the
steam from the cnblr-driNlnE engine at a sig
yet haze done nothing in the matter Sew
eTal systems have been submitted.
In about two weeks We expect to have all
our ear fitted with the new grin Thus grip
lifting the cable oil the terminal wheels and
either breaking the cable or Iamming IT,"
Engineer Hose OF the Houston street power
house sal that the enGinS to operate the lazy
cha,n Al FONTS where the ears shItt from one
"a le 10 another Will sOun be in operation. The
laIt cham Is practically sluw-mOying
auxiliary cable to take tho place OF the horses
Ihat are now used 70 draw The cars across tho
cad hetWs9h the cables at Houston street.
The same device will soon be put In at Thirty
sixth street