New-York tribune., 1901-08-02
FINDS TUNNEL A NUISANCE
GRAND JURY MAKES PRESENTMENT
AGAINST ~ Y. c. OFFICIALS.
DECLARES RAILROAD VIOLATES SOFT COAL
LAW-RECoMMENDs ELECTRIC MOTIVE
POWER AND TEARING DOWN
OF WALLS.


OF WALLS
The grand jury made its presentment against
the New-York Central tunnel in Park-ave to
Judge Newburger in Part I of General Sessions
yesterday. 1t declares that the New-YorlS Cen
tral road violates the law by using soft coal in
locomotives running through the tunnel: accuses
the Health Department heretofore of laxity in
allowing such violation; calls the present
Health Board to take steps to enforce obedience
10 the law and after presenting the officers and
directors of the various railroads using the tun-
mel as maintaining public nuisance. recon-
mends the substitution of columns and girders
for the tunnel walls and electricity for steam as
the motive power to be used in the tunnel The
presentment in part is as follows:
Various citizens having complained to the grand
jury of the conditions of the Park-ave. tunnel
OF the dangerous consequences resulting from the
Operation OF, i Of numerous trains running through it,
ough and complete investigation of the tunnel of
its structural defects and of the conditions attend
ant upon the present method of its operations.
,DurinS this investigation the grand jury, with
the able assistance OF the District Attorney have
examined not only the most available expert wit
neSses, out many persons who compelled ride
tn, ,oush tne tunnel. or who live along line
oIeS several officers and employees of the railroad
Estimating the amount of pure air necessary for
iPsenser ~ appears that coach when filed
gf W uncontaminated) to last about one minute The
io, huiIiss, gases smoke and steam emitted by the
ther pollute the already contaminated atmosphere
r u snG passengers are thus compelled not only to
Eteprea1he re the vtiated air. but are also subjected
60 f ddt9nal peril from these gases. To the discom-
vitiation caused by lighted lamps and heat radi
ated from locomotive boilers. When the humber of
erd passing through the tunnel daily is consd-
ered 81 1t is not at all surprising that the air Within
persne not comfortably or safely breathable Tenn
elaity NJ at the point of saturation and the oxygen
whoIiy unsuitable to be taken into strong lungs
are nisny dangerous to weak lungs Unless steps
;n ohe nuisance Will be continued and increas-
;, From evidence adduced before it the grand t,rv
eectI that in the present OF the art of
has been so general and nIfor gnds ane prog
enmg requisite for electrical installation and its
steel rails or car wheels; that install electrical
TO HI .ese r4nnels and the approaches there
delay or great initial expense.
ophltumlnous coal is used in locomotives passing
f6j vhf9ugh the tunnel The utilization Of this fuel
charge r the Health Department of this city with
we think that the Health Department has been s
nereitor9re but We are satisfied that the present
with other branches Of the city government to re-
PASSENGERS on the road and residents along
As result of the investigation of the conditions
directors Of the various raroads ne 8eegs and
TINS tunnel, as maintaining public nuisance and
recommend that vigorous and speedy action be
Further We recommends:
FirstIThat the brick walls dividing the tunnel be
giEders be substituted thereon a steer columns and
Second-That passenger coaches while not In use
curing the day be protected from the sun by a
Third-we further recommend that ,nasm,cb a.
the most eminent engineers assert that there is no
remedy for these existing evils long as coal burn
ing locomotives are an Use, that the railroad com
panies be compelled by and under such laws as NAV
the motive power within the tunnel and ts sD In
proaches 20 some method Of propulsion as will not
and health f 4AO''
President Newman of the New-York Central
Railroad read a copy OF the presentment
through and then said:
II have no desire to pass any criticism on the
presentment. l have nothing to add TO INV
statement of last Saturday"
Mr. Newman said then that traction ventila-
tion and electrical experts had been at work on
the tunnel for the company. and that months
had been spent In considering improvements
but that no suggestion had been made which
had solved the problem. He said they were con-
sidering the use OF compressed air and cleo
tricty. Other officials said that no information
would be given out until after a meeting Of
the directors of the company had been held
John b. Sexton, president of the Board of
Health said last night:
not aware that soft coal was being used
IL Il Is am OF the opinion that It certainly comes
~ and ,,,n ~ ~. hosIu %. OF Ifeaitn and
coal Is st being used shall that it is stopped
at once.
With reference to the change in motive power
Mr.. Sexton said that he not quite sure that
the Board of Health possessed any powers on
that point. II have been investigating the pos
sibllity OF change IN the motive power used to
pull trains through the tunnel" said he but
/ don't know whether the Board of Health can
interfere IL find We have power 10 take steps
TO this end. shall certainly take action"
President Sexton was also doubtful whether
the Board OF Health had any authority in the
matter of substituting steel girders for the
brick walls In the tunnel. He said that anyway
the central tracks We're all right. but that it
the walls on the outer tracks that caused the
trouble.
Mr.. Sexton did not to have a definite
idea as TO what powers the Board of Health
really possesses in the case. but he is going TO
find out. he says. and when sure of his position
will take action