New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-12

The tunnel horror of Paris was much discussed
in this city yesterday. New-Yorkers were spe-
cially interested in reading about the cause and
details of the disaster because of the nearness
of the time when they will be riding under
ground. Many of them had misgivings as to
the possible fate that awaited them.
f. P Bryan, vice-president and general mana
ger Of the Interborough Rapid Transit Com
pany. said accident disastrous as that
which killed nearly a hundred people in the
Paris tunnel could not happen in the new sub
way in this city.
1T would be foolish to say that we expect TO
Iun our road wholly without accidents" said
Mr.. Bryan yesterday. There will be times
when cars viii bump into each other. and people
may now and then get shaking up by car
leaving the rails. : feel perfectly safe IN say
ing however, that we shall never have an accl-
dent like that in the Paris subway. The New
York subway is close to the surface OF the
street and the air from outside has a free cir
culation in it. The stations close together.
and there will be room in case of accidents for
people to get out of the cars if they want TO
and walk to the stations. Our made
ireproof and much stronger than the Paris cars
The Paris subway cars are light, and haXSaG
lot OF woodwork a1f carviAg, making them IN
hammable. 1t is entirely likely that the poor
ventilation of the Paris tunnel had much to do
with the frIghtfuI mortality in the accident.
French writer's say there is nearly 50 per cent
of carbonic acid gas in the Paris tunnel and
if that is so, when the cars caught fire asphyx-
iation must have followed very quickly. In
tunnel close to the surface of the street there
would be no such percentage of carbonic acid
gas. In the Paris tunnel the ties are soaked
with creosote to make them waterproof This
impaired vile odor to the air. and Chief Engi
neer Parsons and myself remarked it when we
there on our inspection of the system. Our
will weigh $4,000 pounds each. They will
be of asbestos and transite on the flooring, while
the sides. from the floor to the windows will be
of copper sheeting When 1t is considered that
the record of the Manhattan Elevated since it's
construction is not a single person killed
through fault of the company out of the 490,-
o0O,00o,O00 people it has carried, think it is
reasonable to predict that there will be no Sc
riOus accidents in the tunnel"
Mr.. Thompson. the company's engineer in
charge of rolling stock, in response to questions
about the roads plans for freproof cars, said:
The first floor of the cars will be of maple
because 1t is about the slowest wood to burn
and does not carry flame. This is the bottom
on the car sills. On top of this is layer of
one-eighth inch roll of fine felt, an asbestos
product. Then there is another floor of maple
Before any of the sheeting below the floor is
laid all the timbers and the sides are coated
with ireproof paint. On the under surface of
the floor framing there a covering of quar-
ter of inch thick of asbestos transite board.
1t is very hard. and made out of asbestos and
other materials. including silicum OF soda and
magnesia. In addition have the floor
sheets Of quarter-inch steel above the motor.
The motor wires and control wires of $50 volts
capacity are all laid in electro asbestos cOnduits
and fastened to the lower sides of the floor
with screws. On each and every cable are lay
ers of asbestos insulation. Every point of con-
d tact Is protected absolutely. The sides of the
cars are of copper from the window sides to
the bottom of the cars. All the framing is
coated with asbestos paint before any exterior
interior finish is applied. The light wiring
is placed in the roof of the incased in
asbestos insulation, and placed in flexible
metallic conduits. In the subway, besides at
intervals of hundred yards. hydrants Will
be placed, that hose will be available at every
point for in cases OF emergency
Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal says that
fireproof cars and plenty of vent holes are neces-
sary to make tunnel riding absolutely safe
1t seems TO me-" said Mr.. Lindenthal, that
the maximum of safety will not be reached un-
less the are fireproof and there are plenty
of vent holes in the tunnel roof. l do not agree
with those who contend that safety is guar
anteed by having standpipes placed at short
intervals along the subway tracks. If fire
breaks out and water is thrown on the blaze
there will be smoke than ever. and hence
a surer death from asphyXiation, unless there
are enough vent holes. l confident that
every means will be taken by the Rapid Transit
Commission to prevent any such catastrophe as
the reported from Paris to-day.