New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-14
MR. mD0NALD IN ERROR.

In Wednesdays Tribune Mr.. John B. Melon
aid, contractor for the underground railroad,
contradicted. no doubt in good faith, an impor-
tant part of statement concerning the origin
of the recent fire in the New-York Times Build
ing which we had quoted from THE Times and
which seemed TO be otherwise we'll supported
Mr. Mcdonald said that the tar paper referred
TO was not on the tunnel side Of the wooden
partition I'VE had not said it was) but on the
side toward THE Times" preSsroOm; that the
boards of the partition were charred halfway
through on the inside. but not charred at all on
the tunnel side. and that an investigation
showed no defect in the gasolene lamps Mr..
Mcdonald interpreted these alleged facts to
mean that the contractors for waterproohing
work in the tunnel were not responsible for the
fire, and declared that TO be his belief.
On the face Of it this statement of the case
appeared effective but it is badly damaged by
the official report of Fire Marshal Freel-who Is
a captain in the Fire Department and of good
reputation for competency-from which we
quoted yesterday. The fire marshal asserts that
the fire started from the suffering Of one OF
the lamps, which caused burning OIL to drop on
some bagging that closed an opening In the
board partition; that the resulting flame was
blown through this opening by strong draught
of air passing through an adjacent aperture
from the outer shaft and set fire 10 the tar paper
sheathing on the pressroom side Of the parti-
ton. Until this explanation has been refuted
the account OF the origin OF the fire which 1.-The
Times" gave and The Tribune reproduced will
not need 10 be revised and brought into con
formity with Mr. McDonald's original under
standing of the matter
As for Mr. McDonald's effort TO Justify the
long delays which have characterized the work
A. A.
to show that the sub-cOntractors have not wan
tonly abused public patience. we cannot say
that 1t is convincing. No doubt there has been
trouble about procuring materials. but we main
tain that a proper sense OF their obligation to
reduce to a minimum the enormous evils which
the construction Of the tunnels might produce
would have led the contractors to exercise far
more care and foresight In our opinion they
had no right 10 make an excavation and set up
a barrier along the City Hall Park until they
not merely surmsed but knew that they could
carry on their operations steadily and swiftly
Moreover, when they found that they had made
a miscalculation or had been deceived they
ought at least 10 have restored convenient con-
ditions as far as possible-perhaps even to have
covered OYER their almost deserted trench and
taken down their barricade. If they had been
under an absolute ruler, and he had told them
that he would annul their contract If they did
not forthwith and pretty completely relieve the
unforeseen public distress which they had
caused, think we can guess with tolerable
accuracy what they would have done
Mr.. Mcdonald is right, and does himself
credit, in saying that 1.-The New-York public and
THE New-York Tribune have been most pa
'tent, fair and generous in their treatment of
those engaged in constructing this great en-
'terprise.' At the beginning of the undertake
ing we urged the people to reflect that the proc
ess Of supplying rapid transit needs would neces-
sarily subject them to serious trials which ought
to be borne without complaint in consideration
Of benefits to come. We have not changed and
shall not change that attitude but when we are
convinced that Affections are abuses we shall
not hesitate to say in the interest of Mr.. Nc
Donald and his associates as well as for the
sake Of the rest OF the community.