The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-13
SUBWAY CUT IN TWO ALL DAY
Continued from First Page.

to the sewers" .The roofs and walls OF the
subway are intact and not q drop got
through them, said he.
As for the damage, It was estimated
at the marlborough offices yesterday that
UP to 10 o'clock last night 400 900 fares were
lost, and that comes to $4,000. What with
damage to cars and possible damage to the
third rail and other parts Of the equipment
the total loss probably will be $50 900, 1t
was said. The coverings Of the third rail
were burned for blocks when the waters
rose high enough to close the circuit. Long
sections Of wire may have been burned too
August Belmont, president Of the Inter-
borough Company, was asked yesterday
whether his company considered bringing
an action against the city for negligence.
He said that that was a matter which would
have to be decided by counsel for the Inter-
borough.
Chief Engineer De Varona OF the Water
Department made a report yesterday after
noon to Deputy Commissioner Frank j.
Goodwin. who at Mayor McClelan's request
had taken up the flood matter in the alb
senoe of Commissioner Oakley. MIR. De
varona reported that the main which burst
had not been in use for two years until
1890 O'Clock Sunday morning.
]
sion which killed Major Shaier, the subway
contractor" said Mr.. Goodwin. Ever
since that time this department has been
urging the Rapid Transit Commission to
have the main put In shape That com.
mission finally ordered the work done, and
took hold of it. They reported last week
that the main was ready for service and
early Sunday morning our men turned on
the water. They remained on duty until
$50 A. NJ, and then, believing that every
thing was all right, went away
been such delay-four and half hours
in shutting of the water at the gate.
That's because there's no emergency
gang said the deputy, commissioner.
Nights and Sundays are holidays for the
workmen except when we KNOW o. some ne
such times. We recently asked the Board
Of Estimate for see, 900 to keep an adequate
force in the repair shops at oil times, but we
did not get the appropriation. After this
accident it was necessary to notify Thomas
Ryan, the foreman in charge Of the terri.
tory between Houston and Forty second
streets. whose repair station is at Ninth
avenue and Thirty-seventh street, and he
in turn had to find his workmen, who were
not on duty: 1t is hard. even with the use
Of the telephone to &c! the men together
Engineer De Varona's report, which will
reach the Mayor to-day. will urge the es-
Establishment OF an emergency gang, but it
is not likely to be needed by the Mayor.
who had thought out remedy early in the
trick of shutting of water gates quickly
and without extra expense, and he sent the
following letter to Commissioner Oakley:
SIR: request that you viii confer with the
Fire Commissioner with view TO the estab-
pertinent in order that the commanders OF
lre companies may famlisriz themselves
with the plan Of the supply pipes Of the city:
prompt action shut Oh the flow OF water in
the mains and thus prevent damage. As
at all times and can be readily communicated
with, ! think it would be advantageous TO
have them at command II case OF need for
GFoRGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor.
A similar letter was sent by the Mayor
to Fire Commissioner Hayes.
Lawrence WELLER, secretary of the City
Club. wrote to the Mayor suggesting that
piled with maps showing where the water
gates are.
Deputy Commissioner Goodwin said yes
terday that he had looked up the story
that Frank McCluskey. an employee of the
Degnon Contracting Company was first to
1T isn't so. said Mr.. Goodwin "one
of our own men, O'Connell, turned the
water off. He is foreman Of a floating re-
pair gang
A Sun reporter found Foreman O'Connell
in front of the Hotel Belmont on Sunday
night a few minutes after the water had
been shut off. O'Connel admitted that he
had arrived too late and that the gate had
been shut under the directions OF Frank
McCuskey. McCluskey, who was present
said that that was 70 but he refused to talk
about it, saying that he did not wish to put
the Water Department in hole"
Alfred Craven, assistant chief engineer
Of the Rapid Transit Commission, said that
the main which burst was one which was
diverted from Forty-second street to For
tieth street in an early period Of subway
construction. After the explosion which
killed Shaler the Water Department COM
planned that the pipe did not appear to be
safe and would not allow the water to be
backed up the Water Commissioner In this,
and after a long controversy with Norton
d Dalton, who were sub-contractors for the
Degnon company, the main was ordered
repaired.
lit was not modern pipe, said Mr.. Craven,
"for 1t had only four inch hubs, and modern
pipes four feet in diameter have eight
inch hubs. 1t is as yet impossible to say
what caused the break. There may have
been small leak at joint from the
minute the. water was turned in. This
would not have been apparent on the sur
face, but the water would have washed
away the earth about the ends Of the pipe.
This would allow the pipe TO sag and sep
arate.
IL think that the employees Of the Water
Department should have, under the cir
kept ri their patrol longer than
four hours. We have notified the Subway