New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-08
TRYING TO STOP TROLLEY ACCIDENTS
INVESTIGATION IN BROOKLYN BY THE STATE
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS-SUGG
MADE BEFORE THEM.

INVESTIGATION IN BROOKLYN BY THE STATE
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS SUGGESTIONS
MADE BEFORE THEM.
TIL. State Railroad commissioners. A. Boards
lev A. c. Chaplin and Michael Rickard-gave
hearing In the Brooklyn City Hall yesterday after
noon and began an inquiry in regard to the opera
ton OF trolley-cars In the city The brooklyn
Heights Atlantic Avenue. Brooklyn city ana New
town and Coney Island and Brooklyn companies
were represented by their presidents. Commits
sioner Beardsley said the meeting had been caiied
TO see II something could not be done 10 prevent
trolley accidents. Colonel William Hemstreet read
a long paper setting forth that he had taken the
time of cars on the lines of the Atlantic Avenue
Company with a stop-watch. and found that the
cars ran frequently at eighteen miles an hour, when
the legal limit miles an hour lie spoke
OF the excessive noise and the danger TO people from
this undue speed There should be heavy hnes Tor
exceeding the limit and half the fines should go to
informers There Tenders which would ADJ
solutely prevent wheel-crushing accidents. lie
urged a permanent local commission to enforce
proper regulations for control or cars. 'apie
submitted by the speaker showed an average speed
OF thirteen and one-half miles an hour ior MY
seven cars which were timed
The Commissioners then inquired In regard TO
the observance OF rules and recommendations
adopted last year by them. ,. $500, c,,,.
- Presidents Lewis Norton Partridge ana siocun
answered the inquiries. and commented upon the
rules OF the commission. The hrst-named oficlal
stop at ali ntersecting lines, but they had to slow
up President Norton said hfty or sixty tenders
had heen tried but none was found entirely ef-
fectjve All OF the presidents said they had not
seen the rules and recommends tons made by the
Commission and II appeared that they were ohY
issued in the annual report Of the commission,
MIR Lewis opposed guards on the sides OF ne open open
cars as people would all get off on one side anu
would go around and be In 'front.' OF any car eoii.s
IN the opposite direction The scheme or instruct
ing motormen was explained by w. A. r. Bogardus'
~ the BROOKLYN Heights Company. All the prtsi-
dents claimed that their schedules did not cal Tor
speed in excess OF the legal rate PRESIDENT LEWIS
said that in 1891 the horse-cars Killed seven people;
and in 1894 only ten had been killed. and lVVoVv,
neonle had been carried. No fender had been found
entirely satisfactory but the design adopted by ms
company the same as mat ordefed ny 'hc
Massachusetts State authorities. .
In regard to the collision at Franklin ave ana
Fulton-st last week II explained that the
motorman on the Fulton-st. car was entireIy az
fault The motorman criminaly careless ne
had violated the rule OF not having his car under
control when he neared the crossing. 49,
Ex-Judge Morris made address. in which ne
said that the enforcement OF rules In regard 70
gates and guards on the platforms ire1uentry
caused accidents. The hearing was adjourned I'M
I'll next Tuesday.