New-York tribune., 1902-02-08

cum of betterment should be accomplished
within few months.
In the mean time the board, among other re-
quirements, has directed that smoke be
emitted in the tunnel, and that trains be run
at what il believes to be safer intervals of time
and distance than formerly. This latter require
ment, however brought new complication for
the locomotive engineers. by creating a greater
exhaust OF steam in the event OF their being
stalled and. at times made IL difficult for them
TO get ahead of their own steam. The board
has consequently, substituted for that order a
requirement that trains shall not pass through
the tunnel in less than five minutes. This will
fix the maximum OF speed at about twenty-four
miles an hour and, in the opinion Of engineers
viii give them safe and sufficient headway
GREAT TRAFFIC A DIFFICULTY.
Signalling experts who have testified before
the District Attorney and this board unite in
declaring this tunnel 10 be the most perfectly
equipped as to its signals in the world. but
they at the same time declare that they know OF
no other tunnel difficult of operation. both by
reason OF the large amount of traffic going
through It and its unfortunate location close
20 the terminal yard. The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad tunnel, at Baltimore. and the Liverpool
tunnel. under the River Mersey. bear COM
par1son to IL IN respect to the uahc. In 1871
there were III $50 trains moved through the
over 4S6 day. and il should be remembered
that this movement takes place-through public
necessity-almost wholly between o'clock a. m
ana . o'clock p m, or in less than nve-eighths
If the day of twenty-four hours. The time is
not many years distant when. even with these
contemplated improvements in operation the in
triple railroad terminus Will require enlarged
and better facilities 1t may be here noted that
possible ways of anticipating this need are: ID
Through the extension of the company's facili-
ties by establishing new train yard the
Long Island side of the East River, CD by
Increasing and improving the company's exist
ing terminal facilities on the West Side of the
city. in the vicinity of Thirtieth-st. and Thirty
tourth-st- and the North River By this means
perhaps all, large part of the suburban
traffic might be carried TO this terminal and to
mat extent relieve the Grand Central Station
The surface and elevated roads would quickly
extend their connections to make that
terminus easily accessible, and, in any event
the probable early advent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad TO this part of the city would make
such a terminal desirable, perhaps necessary.
MINOR CONSIDERATIONS.
The board has been asked to order a score of
changes, of minor character in themselves
but which would tend in some degree to the
convenience OF comfort of passengers. Such
sosgesuon; Tor Illustration, is that which calls
station. so that they may be flush. level, with
the deck of the front and rear platforms Of the
coaches, and enable passenger TO step on or
on on level floor. This would undoubtedly be
improvement and a convenience, but the
Vestibuied coaches are almost the only coaches
fitted with the adjustable platform covering
the steps, and to require this change to be made
In all of the ordinary coaches would be in effect
altering them TO suit the conditions OF a single
depot or station. The ordinary steps would
have TO be in use for all other stations-in this
and other States.
Further. the of many railroad lines come
Into the Grand Central Station. and the board
their equipment in this respect. OF course,
special act Of the legislature would accomplish
IL. was actually done regarding the prohibi-
ton of the use OF stoves in passenger cars in
this State In any event the cars and landing
platforms OF the new suburban electric loop
system should be built on this plan.
A large number of letter have been received
from inventors and patentees of various safety
devices but few, II any. of them have been
tested in practical use and it is not the function
of this board TO test untried devices, neither
will il undertake the responsibility Of recon-
he m raj 1TOod ,afTiH
Much has been said publicly the subject
Of steel framed passenger coaches as being in
common railroads. and 1t has been as
serted before the board that special cars for
official use built steel sills. There are
no such cars in general any road, nor
does the board know of any in private use
Car builders say that they would be so heavy
ss to be impractical They further declare
that the body frame Of the telescoped rear car
or the NeW-Haven train was OF the same char
acter as the body frame of a Pullman sleeper
drawing coach; that it was in good
condition, and that the Pullman fittings and
finish might properly be placed on IL.
In conclusion, the board deems il proper to
say that il will require the responsible COM
panies TO give close attention details of signal
and train equipment and operation, and to the
discipline and efficient service Of train crews
during the period required for making all of the
contemplated changes whether temporary or
permanent. These details will be communicated
10 the companies through special letters and
upon personal inspection by the board and its
inspectors. ASHLEY W. COLE,
FRANK NJ. BAKER,
GEORGE W. DUNN,