The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
COL. MURPHY KEEPING ATlT
HEiLTH BOdRD mas MORE TROUBLE
~ STORE TIE ELETATED.

Ninth Avenue Road Is In n Dreadful state.
the ColonrIrs Experts Tell Him-He Pro-
duccG the Reports to Prove II and Hints
That lie May Try to stop the Trains.
President Michael c. Murphy OF the Boardo of
Health summoned reporters TO his office yes
tcrday and announced that he had received a
number 81 additional reports concerning tho
alleged unsafe condition OF tho Manhattan
Elevated Railway structure.
Before showing you the report OF our ell
gincors. said Col. Murphy. 81 wish 10 read to
you Chief Sanitary Inspector fccncy's report.
Here Is what II says:
I have tho honor to submit herewith y rc-
port Of the result. of tho Investigations OF tho
elevated railroad structure on treenwich
s ,nnGH ~ rem in.r ,GS l Ba't"ry R to P F W' +, TGtr nr,I
nar and H. VI c. Wheeler of this division.
From the statements therein contained it Is
Of the. structure. and that because of these
conditions, an element Of Insecurity Is intro.
structure mcnaced. Cracked base castings:
The evident insGSnrity Of column IN, III; 33 2G
defective condition OF tho old sections
Of tho supcrstructnre and tho excessive
strain. as shown. by lateral SWAY exceed
lug n vibration: all these arc Indications ior
the necessity Of n thorough reconstrlction in
and meet the rcuuircincnts demanded by its
present use. ! would recommend that all
cracked base castings OF columns ne replaced
by proper new bases; also that tho base and
foundation Of column No. 1913 bc uncovered
and such repairs made rs shall render
the said column secure and provide q stable
SupcrStructurc: also that the old sections
Of the superstricturc be removed and re-
placed with a structure OF, quality and de-
sign equalling the newer and greater portions :
that all decayed ties and guard rails consti-
tuting the wood portion of the road be securely
replaced: that the track he aligned to gauge :
that the two structures, the %easterly and west
csly. be connected with cross girders or CON
~nections otherwise designed. to resist the
existing strains: that the entire structure be
painted q color combining durability and light.
pair. the use of this section of the road be
discontinued. IL on further inspection il should
be found necessary.
Now" said Col. Murphy. what do you
think OF that? II people really knew the con-
dition Of that road they would not ride over il. +"
Col. Murphy was asked If he intended to
issue an order stopping the railroad company
from operating the Ninth avenue line. He re-
piled cautiously that he was not prepared to
make any statement in reference to that mat
ter, but allowed It to be inferred that he Ger
tainly would make an effort to stop the opera
ton Of the line.
The engineers report said that the ties in
many places along the rOadbed were derayed
so badly that il would be impossible to secure
them to the girdrr flanges. and that their con-
passage OF trains. Such Il condition Of ties. the
report said, made the gauge "aivariable guam
tity" and increased the swaying Of the strur-
turc. The accident on the New York Central
although heavily laden trains passed over u
weak spot daily. Il disaster occurred at last so
quickly that the engineer had only time to
close the throttle before he was killed.