New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-23
THIRD RAIL GIVES ALARM.
TAMMANY OFFICIALS AROUSED TO AC-
TIoN AGAINST 1T.
BROOKLYN ELEVATED RAILWAY MAN
AYERS WARNED TO IMPROVE OR
ABANDON THE SYSTEM

Ayers WARNED TO IMPROVE OR
ABANDON THE SYSTEM
It is not often that Tammany official goes
cut of his way TO perform a commendable act,
but the general opinion seems to be that James
j. Kirwin, Deputy Commissioner OF Public
Buildings. Lighting and Supplies for Brooklyn.
made an enviable record along that line yester-
day. when he issued an order to the elevated
railroad managers in that borough that they
must make their third rail electric system abso-
lutely safe and harmless. do away with It
altogether. Nearly all persons who are we'll in
formed concerning electrical traction agree that
the method of employing the third rail system
which has been adopted the elevated rail-
roads of Brooklyn has been thoroughly discred-
tied by the comparatively large number of Sc
rious accidents many of them fatal which has
followed it's installation there. Men have been
killed. men have been manned for life, men
have been painfully shocked by the electric cur
rent in this highly charged third rail. which lies
innocent looking and naked, alongside the or
binary rails giving no intimation of its deadly
character until the foot Of the unwary steps
Upon It,
SERIOUS MENACE TO PASSENGERS.
The dangers of travel in this crowded city are
numerous enough at all times without having
this new terror added to them. Burned out
fuses or misplaced switches or many another
trivial accident may stall elevated train at
any hour of the day or night between stations.
The only resource on such occasions for passen-
gers whose need 20 reach their destination on
time is imperative has been to leave the stalled
cars and walk along the elevated track to the
nearest station descending thence to the street
by the stairs and taking surface care. This
feat is not without danger under the most IA
IL
frequent where persons walking the track in
that manner have fallen or been pushed from
the elevated structure to the pavement below,
but that a rail whose touch is death has
been stretched along the narrow footway- the
peril is increased hundredfold.
There is. moreover good reason to believe that
this fearful menace TO life and limb is really
unnecessary and can be wholly surmounted, If
enough money be spent for protecting the rail
from chance contact with individuals.
MANHATTAN PROMISES SAFETY.
When note OF alarm was raised the other day
over the proposal of the Manhattan Elevated
Railway to install the electric third rail system
on its tracks, the officials of that company as
sured the public that the rail should be made
perfectly harmless They did not explain just
how they would do it, but 1t is to be presumed
that they were conscious of their ability 10
fulfil their promise 20 the people before they
made it. and if it can be done in Manhattan it
can be done in Brooklyn. Deputy Commissioner
Kirwin seems to be well aware OF that tact, tor
instead of trying to tell the railroad othclaIS
how it ought to he done, and thus leaving
chances for the railroads electrical experts TO
catch him tripping, he takes the Doid grouhu
that, no matter what the cost may be to the
operating companies they must make their
third rail absolutely harmless or he will instf-
tute measures to prevent the use OF the con
gether.
ORDERS CONCERNING THE BRIDGE.
Commissioner Henry S. Kearny. head of the
Department of Public Buildings. Lighting and
Supplies for the whole eity-this Department
having immediate jurisdiction over the construc-
ton of all electrical applances-has also taken
the right stand. in the opinion of unbiased and
we'll informed persons. upon this important ques-
ton, and has directed Bridge Commissioner
John L. Shea either to discontinue the use of
the third rail system on the Brooklyn Bridge
to make it safe by placing guards three
inches high either side of it, so as to prevent
ready access to and contact with 1t. Mr.. kearny
thus suggests one method for multiplying or at
least decreasing the perils of the third rail. and
1t remains to be seen whether his idea is
practical one or not. 1t seems to promise well.
and Mr.. Kearny probably had the advice of ex-
Derts before he recommended it to Commissioner
Shea.
The third rail system was introduced in
Brooklyn several months ago without consulting
the Department OF Public Buildings, Lighting
and Supplies, and as soon as the fact came 10
the knowledge Of the Department the railroad
work. Subsequently. however, ii was permitted
to go with the undertaking, subject to GER
tain changes pointed out by the Department.
Later, it was placed in operation upon the Kings
County Elevated structure. The Only places
where the third rail is known to be used at
ground level are the railroad yards at Thirty
sixth-st and Fifth-ave.. and in the Culver
terminal Coney Island. These yards are
private property, and the rails are employed for
switching purposes. The arrangements are
similar to those on the n ew-Y York and Brooklyn
Bridge, only in the latter case the passenger
platforms are somewhat higher
The Rapid Transit people yesterday laughed
at Mr. KerWin'S statement. General Manager
Breckenridge said that the third rail was all
right and that nothing would be done to change
It, He further said that the third rail OF the
Brighton Beach road from the tracks of the
Kings County Elevated Railroad had been torn
up and would not be replaced. The trolley
would be used after the elevated trains turned
into the Franklin-ave. spur. 1t this line
that a boy was killed by the third rail while
walking along the depressed tracks of the road
near Park Place