New-York tribune., 1905-06-13
A FLOODED SUBWAY.

The bursting of a huge water main in Park
ave on Sunday which was the occasion of sert-
Gus Inconvenience to the public, was followed
also by an amazing display Of incompetence In
the management of an important department OIL
the city government Nearly five hours elapsed
after the accident occurred before effective steps
were taken TO check the deluge. Notice after
notice was sent to Commissioner Oakley's head
quarters by the police and the manager OF the
Interborough company, with next to no effect
Either nobody who had the requisite authority
to act was on duty, or else nobody possessed the
necessary knowledge to find the gate WHICH
commanded the ruptured main 1t was conf
dently reported Sunday that the requisite in
formation was at last supplied by an outsider,
and not by an employe of the city. That such
was the case is now denied; but no successful
attempt has been made to excuse the disgrace
full slothfulness which characterized the con-
duct of the Department Of Water Supply, Gas
and Electricity.
The delay which caused a partial Interrupt
ton to traffic in the subway for twenty-four
hours or more, the less excusable because
Commissioner Oakley had had ample warming
of the prospect Of accidents Of this class, and
of the consequences which might be expected to
ensue Fully year ago the lnterborough COM
pany called his attention to the subject, and
asked what provision he had made for dealing
middle of December last, 3 36-inch main at
S6thst- and Broadway burst and flooded the
subway. Mr.. Oakley was caught unprepared
however, and a suspension of travel at the
scene of the accident became necessary. One
lesson of that kind ought to have been enough
but It was not The department was caught
second time in the same sort of predicament
on Sunday, and it betrayed the same kind Of
incapacity.
The Interborough management also failed to
meet the crisis It should have done The
movement of trains ought to have been stopped
before any Of them could be stalled. An inter-
ruptIon of traffic on an elevated structure
tempts the passengers to expose themselves to
peril by walking to the nearest station. Such
an experience underground is beset with even
greater embarrassments and dangers. 1t would
not have been surprising If some of the patrons
of the subway who were trapped underground
on Sunday had been injured before they reached
the street surface again. Still more blame
worthy was the continued sale Of tickets after
through traffic was discontinued. Delay in issu-
ing the proper instructions Sunday led to an
overcrowding of the stations, and the offer of
transfer was not always as satisfactory as the
return of the nickel would have been. Even on
Monday number Of persons discovered how
serious was the interruption to travel only after
having dropped their tickets In the box.
Still another incident winch is sure to excite
comment is the revelation that the subway can
be easily flooded. Both the sides and roof were
designed to be waterproof. Against mere leak
age perhaps they are. But the chance that
water under high pressure may also seek to
invade the subway must also be faced. The
Rapid Transit Commission should at its ear
lest convenience ascertain whether Sundays
trouble was due to bad workmanship, defective
plans or something Of another nature Before
more contracts are let for subway construction
1t is desirable to know whether q broken main
is always to threaten repetition Of this weeks
experience.