New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-12
STATE COMMISSION PROBE.
Investigation to Determine .Any
Needed Safeguards Wiu Be Made.

The state Railroad Commission win investi-
- the wreck at 9th-ave and 53d-st. to as
leo~-.;, If any change in the elevated structure
,here is needed TO prevent any similar disaster
= ths future Commissioner Frank Baker ac-
,o-onanied by c. &. Barnes. the electrical expert
~ the commission, went to the scene of the
aocdent in the afternoon and spent some hours
., an examination OF the structure and the sig
nails watching the operation of the trains at the
-rsh hours They would say nothing except
.bst the commission would probably examine
witnesses either at or after the ooroner's in
quest
There was a report yesterday that the State
railroad Commission had repeatedly warned
the MANAGEMENT % the elevated roads that the
s,rve at 52d-st. and 9th-ave. was menace 10
life because Of its being what is technically
known among railroad men fat curve-that
IS that the outer rail of the curve not
raised. as is usual in track construction The
raising of the outer rail acts as guard in
holding the wheels to the track and IN properly
balancing the cars.
The report that the recent installation of cleo
tric power made the curve more dangerous
caused considerable comment among railroad
men who visited the scene of the catastrophe
An effort made to see c. R. Barnes, the
electrical expert, at the office in the Whitehall
Building Battery Place and West-st At the
Office only the chief clerk was present, and ne
as TO the cause of the accident and other data
on the subject. No one. he said. could give out
any statement IN the absence of Mt Barnes. In
further conversation, however. the chief clerk
of the commission intimated that he knew OF no
warning such is alleged to have been sent to
the marlborough Railroad Company. He stated
that careful watch had been kept over the track
conditions and operative work OF the system,
and that there seemed cause for expecting
an accident at this point, except through the
meeting OF trains In the rush hours the chief
clerk said. mary as ninety seven-car trains
passed over the place in an hour. and OCCASION
ally this number had been increased by one or
two trains
# was impossible, according to the statement
made in the Office Of the Railroad Commission,
70 bank the curves, because of the grade cross
ings but IN order 10 safeguard the trains COL
lar OF steel. almost like a second rail. was ar
ranged against the actual running rails. ana IN
throwing the switches this collar was auto
matically raised, as TO prevent the wheels
from leaving the track 1t was said that MI.
Barnes would gather his material. and that a
report would probably be made to-day on the
result of his findings
Frank He6ley. manager Of the Interborough,
denied emphatically that any warning about the
curve had ever been given by any member or
members OF the State Railroad Commission
Mr.. Hedley said that the accident was one TO
be deplored, but which, with the best equip
rnent anG service in the world would occasionally
happen in the business Of railway travel he said
that pains or expense was spared. or would
be spared by the Interborcugh in making the
equipment as scientifically perfect as possible
in every respect, and safeguarding the lives
and property Of its patrons. He pointed out the
impossibility Of banking the tracks at bSd-st:
and 9tt-aye-, because OF the grade crossing, and
referred TO the fact that in the many years OF
traffic over this point. one Of the most carefully
watched in the entire Interborough system, this
was the first accident to occur. II was, he SAID,
TO prevent accidents that most scientific ar
rangernent Of track and switches had been in
stalled at this point, being as near perfection
as the best engineers and human ingenuity
could make them.