New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-15
,STRWAY PERILS.

Tho thousands who use the subway long ago
ceased TO regard il is pure and unaduiterateu
blessing unfortunately. perhaps-they are
learning only by degrees how great variety
of drawbacks attends the use of the under
Ground road fresh addition to the list was
made Yesterday when the third car OF an eA-
press train WAS derailed while running HI heail!
full speed. The effects of the ACCIDENT were
far reaching. Express traffic was paralyzed for
hours Men and women were delayed IN reAcn-
ing their places OF business. Passengers VINO
were imprisoned by the blockade on the express
tracks made desperate by lack of Information
about the probable duration of the trouble,
faced the peril of possible contact win the
third rail in order 10 reach a station. In the
mean time the station platforms became over
crowded very much as those at the bridge ter
minus do at times. and as retreat was soon cut
off there was danger of being forced over upon
the local tracks in front of approaching trains
Everything considered. ii is nothing short or a
miracle that nobody was killed.
Manifold and distressing We're the conse-
0uences of this mishap, they might easily have
been worse. If a loose tire, n broken axle or
any other cause should disable the front car
of train that was in rapid motion, what would
be the result? Once off the rails it would al
most certainly swerve toward the pillars on
either the right hand or the left. Any other
car might be held by its connections in front
and behind from going very far to one side.
With no such restraining influence the front
car would behave differently. II would be
pushed. not pulled. and the resistance offered
by the rOadbed would Of necessity divert it fur
Their and further from the track. AS there is
clearance Of only about twenty inches, contact
with the adjacent pillars could not fail to re-
suit. In fact violent collision with them
would seem 10 be a mathematical certainty.
The only point on which there can be any
doubt is the result Of such a shock. IF the edge
of the car were caught. either the pillars would
20 the side Of the car would he ripped out
A barrier being thus interpOsed IN front Of the
remaining ears. they, too, would probably be
wrecked before their. momentum was exhausted
If, on the other hand, the front end of the front
car were able TO slip past the pillars, the dam
age would undoubtedly he less appalling
But what guarantee is there against the for
mer possibility? The PETERBOROUGH company's
engineers may believe that the rounded front
OF the car floor. together with the form Of the
car roof, would prevent ENHANCEMENT Care
full inspection OF those outlines does not how
ever. reassure other people. and so long as
there is any uncertainty additional precautions
ought to be taken to minimize the effects Of an
accident that is sure TO come sooner or LATER
stout sheathing, six eight feet wide On
the pillars would probably serve the purpose
Perhaps continuous belts or guard rails Dron-
erly placed would do as we'll A fender inst
below the level of the top Of the car wouId
seem to be required as we'll as one near or
little above the level Of the car floor. The
TASK OF determining their thickness. shane and
position should properly be intrusted to ex
perts. but intelligent laymen will we beIievn
ma I'D me principle here suggested safeguard
% real value Public confidence in the security
oL lra.ei would be greatly strengthened by the
prompt adoption Of such IN expedient