New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
ELEVATED ROADS SAFE.
REPORTS OF STATE RAILROAD COMMITS
sIONs EXPERTS.
ONLY TWO SERIOUS DEFECTS FOUND. AND
THEY CAN BE CORRECTED EASILY
~ DRIP PANS KEPT CLEAN.

/
.- DRIP PANS KEPT CLEAN.
Albany. May 3-The State Board of Railroad
| Commissioners. at It's regular weekly meeting
| this afternoon, received the reports Of the In
| spectors who examined the Manhattan Railway
| Company's structure with reference to electro
lysis and as to its physical condition. The
Board adopted the recommendations incorpo-
rated in the reports, which show only TWO seri-
GUS defects on the entire road Secretary
Kenyon mailed copies of the report to george j.
Gould president Of the company with the foi-
lowing explanatory letter:
George ]. Gould. Esq. President Manhattan Rail-
Dear Sir: fnciosed herewith you will ind a copy
of the report OF the electrical expert o, tn's
S q m structure With reference electroyss
Also ne ~ s0rs p Gt Of
icaI condition Of the structure OF the Mahnstthhn
Railway Company TIE % nsnector are hereby
made the recommendations OF this Board
BY the Board
CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE.
Inspector j. D. shutz according to his report.
examined a total OF 10000 miles OF single track OF
the Manhattan Railway Company, which was COM
menced March IL. and continued without Interrupt
ton up to April 49, The inspector walked under
meath the structure the entire length OF all It's
lines frequently going over portions OF them the
second time
In this manner were examined foundations ana
columns. and general view was obtained OF girder
connections etc. from the under side. Everything
pertaining to maintenance OF tracks, switches sig
mailing and stations also examined. and IN
fact all things connected with the maintenance ana
operation OF the road were scrutinized
No weak or defective foundations were discov-
ered says the.report. large portion OF the struct-
ure needs painting. although 1t is not In as bad
condition on that account as appearances wouio
indicate. The drip pans that are suspended De-
meath the structure are cleaned frequently-as
often once week.
The inspector found two defects in the construc-
ton of the road, In the open web Orders.
In those Orders the two angles which form the
bottom chord are not riveted together between the
panel points. and the bottom laterals connect with
the inner angle of the bottom chord about naii-
way between those points. The result OF this is
says the inspector, that vibration causes siight
opening between the bottom chord angles. breaking
the point and allowing water to get In permitting
rust to FORM which will result in injury. This can
be effectively corrected by rivetng the lower chord
angles together at those places, and 1t should DC
done.
The foor-beam connections on portion OF the
pin-connected spans the Sixth-ave. line are not
in satisfactory condition and should be improves,
The ends OF the floor beams at intermediate pSdrrS
the intermediate posts, and rest upon the edge OF
the pn-plates. but not secured 10 them or the
top by two bracket angles riveted to the fange OF
the floor beam and the channels The slight st
caused by vibration and slight bending OF the moor
beams under the trains has worn the pates' ma
angles at the top OF floor beams that they nave
either broken through the apex nave ys nued
loose The result OF this is to allow excessive VI
shoud b @h prom tsS aRen to- g
floor beams and the posts and thus prevent r,v u.
eted to the floor beams and channels for the entire
length between the fange angles ana that enough
rivets be put in to transfer all strains, h ~.
Four competent inspectors are empioyea oy ine
company who 60 over the structure da re ynromnt
remedied by experienced metal workers kept In ser
vice for that specific purpose.
REPORT ON ELECTROLYsIs
c. r. Barnes electrical expert. who made an
examination in reference to the action Of cleo
trolysis on the structure says in his report;
have made ss tests covering Al pUrtlGns Of the
structure s located These tests were made rom ON
the supporting columns OF the structure OK tne
of ySe Surface Under t. All tests with
leading TO thirty. One side OF this instrument was
connected by wires and clamps especially Inaoe Lor
this purpose with column OF the elevated struct-
IRE the other side with a water hydrant and gas
post and also with the rails OF the surface street TAU
each connection was made. making three separate
tests at each point where test was made lnese
Aeri 40 1883 All were made while the ground was
frozen The results OF these tests are given In the
table accompanying this report. -.
These show that at the time OF making the tests
the maximum difference of potential between the
elevated structure and the water pipe near II was
found at the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn
Bridge, where there was difference OF potential
tiaI was found in the neghborhood OF the Union
Hallway Companys system at One-hundred-an
thirty -ffth-st. At these two points the maximum
adherence OF potential the elevated structure was
posItiye TO the metal conductors in the earth near
r. showing that a current OF electricity was how-
ing from the elevated structure TO them.
After careful examination I find that there has
been no serious damage caused by electrolyss TO
the structure OF the Manhattan Railway Company
OF New-York. To prevent damage TO the support
ing columns Of this structure In the future make
the following recommendation:
That the Manhattan Railway Company I'M
nediatev nut their structure in such condition that
at no point will II be positive to other conductors
in the ground than one volt. and at this point
be maintained.