New-York tribune., 1902-01-30
OF TUNNEL EXPERTS
FAVOR ELECTRICITY AND AUTOMATIC
SIGNAL SERVICE
DER TO CHANGE FROM OIL TO GAS sUs-
PENDED BY RAILROAD BOARD
FOR THIRTY DAYS.

Chairman Cole of the State Railroad Commission.
ht the opening OF the afternoon session yesterday
Of the investigation of the Park-ave collision, an
Jcunced that the order regarding the use of gas In
the cars of the Eew-York, New-Haven and Hart
ord Railroad had been suspended for thirty days
she company had promised TO make changes IN
the illumination of rapidly as possible
General Superintendent Platt of the New-Haven
Railroad In the morning asked for the extension OF
.ime The board had ordered the change from oil
20 gas to be made in twentyfour hours and Super
lntendent Platt said that 2is cent of the COM
~any's cars were already equipped with gas In
the suburban service, however, he said that at
present there were two hundred cars. only fifty of
which were lighted by gas. 1t would take at least
ninety days 10 alter these from oil to gas
burners. The announcement was also made that
most Of the of the New-York Central Railroad
had oil lamps. but supplied with gas jets. so
that the order in force as far that road was
concerned
THE BALTIMORE TUNNEL.
Walter Douglas Young an electrical expert
ployed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was
the first witness after recess. He is graduate OF
Cornell University. He described in detail how the
Baltimore tunnel operated. Through trains
did not pass through the terminal yards Mr.
Young said that two electrical engines OF 125 tons
each were successfully operated in the Baltimore
tunnel. where only one train was allowed on
track IN the tunnel at one time. Ihe elecHicai
engines pulled the locomotives through the tunnel
8 SOAAANNNN-NS
the tunnel because engineers did not have
their fires in proper condition Incandescent lights
were strung through the tunnel
Mr. Young described the placing Of incandescent
Nights 400 feet apart in the tunnel. and said there
we're no danger signals. The Baltimore tunnel. ne
Aecisred could not be operated safely save py
electric engines. There was no SUBURBAN raHc
through the tunnel and there had never oeen an
accident in it When asked whether he thought
Il possible 10 use electricity in the Park-ave tun-
mel and Grand Central yards Mr.. Young replied:
The third rail is perfectly feasible along the line.
and in a modified form 1t can be used in the yards.
& pp }5rd rail could be used in the Parave tunnel
from e se eH eeccP in te rs aand
wards. even with the multiplicity Of tracks and
switches there.
that the electric system in the Baltimore tunnel
might be tied up by the bursting Of iywheel in
the power house. He also said that he preferred
20 take his chances In an electric wreck than in
a wreck OF steam engine.
HE FOUND NO SMOKE.
Professor William P. Mason who occupies the
chair of chemistry in the Troy Polytechnic Insti-
tute was the first witness called in the morning
He testified examinations which he had made Of
the atmosphere in the tunnel on Monday and Tues
day Of this week. The first day was misty and
foggy, he said. and the second day was bright and
clear. While making the inspection Professor
Ma Sd In 9nss and e hs said did nos
register any smoke on the trips
y noticed whitish vaper resembling steam"
quently noticed that the air was thick. exam;
med the engines and found they were % equipped ped
was for use in the tunnel Coke does not make
stewart S. Mss. consulting engineer Of the Bos-
ton Subway. testified that he had installed the au-
tomato signal service in that subway.
1t is an electrical system, said Mr. Ness, 'and
instantly set Al the same time BY eiectrc power
small arm is raised between the tracks, which
and brings the train to standstn. Under this
sntomate electrical device there can be no rear
There is no reason why. with proper insulation.
ssR a sduePa s the Sd G yd eg not be
aax f The % of hs the
ssngers should not be Instituted quickly as pos:
asked ass H wood aad Of
soa saa sa aa9 ON ssd ,sSonx that
IN s Shs askss hS e o4 to h .d smoke
81 cannot agree with that testimony. for while
s0%ns ok IN from S BOgs BOTtGn last night foSnd lots Of
They have now In in the tunnel signal
er aaa WOULD f onS afSen be tS Of
@ aoo'ng I OF another precautionary measure?' said
coJgs rIhe ct other methods would be unnecessary
to m ensneeT 9nSer 2 Of ne % USE % as & Earning
part Of the automatic system The examination
then continued es follows:
subway ever run past danger signals? A~Yes,
We have rrs had d many many such cases
pend them for the first offence, and II it is re-
Q.-How many trains run a day on the Bos-
ton Subway? A.-Seven hundred
Q.-How many passengers carried each day?
A-between 10000 end 250.Go day. That is the
average daily traffic. ~
Q.-Now. Mr.. Ness If q road can be operated for
ten years and S3 6 81 passengers carried In safety
during that period; wouldn't you think that the
method all right? Aft you mean the
road was through the Fourth-ave. tunnel
should say ii suck. know the conditions
there caused by smoke. steam and gas. and when
passing through the tunnel never consider myself
safe.
Q.-Do you think the read could be made safer
by alterations in the spacing of trains? Al
think
COMMISSIONERS ORDERS FOLLOWED.
TUNNEL TRAINS RUNNING LATE AND IN