New-York tribune., 1902-01-10
THE MAYOR BLAMES STEAM
HE THINKS ELECTRICITY SHOULD BE
USED IN TUNNEL-OFFERS
HIS SERVICES.

Mayor Low yesterday had his secretary. Mr.
Reynolds, tender 10 the people injured IN lhe
wreck his services as Mayor. All the hospitals
were called I'D. and the superintendents were
told that Mr. Low stood ready to cooperate
10 the fullest possible extent in the relief or
the suffering The services OF Corporation
Counsel Rives were rendered in much the same
manner although not as the law adviser or the
city.
Mayor Low when asked his opinion about
the accident. said:
don't see that there is anything that the MaX0r Layer
made by the District Attorney. coroners and the
State Railroad Commissioners The EVIDENT leTsSn an
not see how the accident could have oeeh a'oiueu
There is only one thing you can do for me. That
IS to find out for me how the people "no are hure
are getting along.
The Mayor said that he had not heard OF the
provision in the original agreement under
which the right to run in the tunnel was
given. that the railroad would change Its
motive power whenever the city demanded IL,
but said he must try to find the original agree
ment.
Borough President Jacob A. Cantor said that
a resolution asking for an investigation OF the
tunnel accident undoubtedly would be intro
duced at the next meeting of the aldermen. on
Wednesday of next week. He added;
The initiative for an investigation into the causes
city. Personally l shall not know whether me
borough government has any jurisdiction IN tne
James G. Collins superintendent of Highways.
who will consult the Corporation Counsel and per-
haps the District Attorney. 1t may be that in a
owned in fee simple by the railroad company oper-
ating it, the borough officials have no jurisdiction
Under the old Donean charter the city had abso-
lutte control it's streets and IN the opinion or
many lawyers the Legislature cannot SUP ts G.y W
partment has right to determine whether the
tunnel is a nuisance or not
Last autumn President Guggenheimer of the
Council introduced an ordinance in that body
calling for the change of motive power from
steam to electricity from the Grand Central Sta
ton to the Harlem River. public hearing
was given on the ordinance. A number OF per-
was represented by counsel for the railroad
The ordinance referred to the Railroad
Committee. II died in committee. President
Guggenheimer introduced this ordinance under
power which he said he found in the city ordi-
nances OF 1881. At that time the New-fork
and Harlem Railroad received a franchise from
the city 10 run by steam. but clause was
inserted that this 10 be done only at the
pleasure of the Board of Aldermen II was said
that this ordinance of 1881 was long ago dead,
as the State legislature in 1881 gave the state
Railroad Commission power and authority over
railroads and tunnels
In 1901 when a wreck occurred in the tunnel
and six people were killed the directors of the
New-York Central were indicted. as well as
the late President Hall of the New-York New
Haven and Hartford Railroad. These indict-
ments came to naught.
President Fcrnes of the Board Of Aldermen
would not say yesterday whether or not the
board would take up the subject OF the accident
He believed that the accident was the result or
gross carelessness and negligence. and that the
motive power used In the tunnel ought TO be
changed to electricity.