New-York tribune., 1907-08-08
COMMUTERS REJOICE.
p. S. COMMISSIONERS ACT.
Upstate Board Inspects Nezo lorh
Central "Electric Zone"


yesterday. Only four members of the commits
sion made the trip, as Thomas NJ. Osborne. OF
Auburn is absent in Europe. Besides the
chairman. Frank w Stev ems, of jamestown
and the other three members of the conrniS-
sion. Charles II. Keep, of Buffalo, James T.
Sague, of New Hamburg and Martin 5. Decker:
of New Paltz- the inspection party incluoed w
c. Brown. senior vice president OF the roau' a
H. Smith. vice-president in charge OF opera
ton, and W ]. Wgus. head of the conStruc-
ton department: A. r. Whaley. general super
intendent of the electric zone: F. T. Slack.
superintendent of the Hudson River DIVISION
CT. Van Tassei, superintendent OF the halieii
division, and H. A. Stahl, assistant TO wee
president Wigus.
Two residents of Mount Vernon. who are con
versant with the sorrows of commuters TO that
village, also went along These were Joseph
s. Wood and August c. Thoma. Mr.. "ood Is
attorney for the Taxpayers Association or the
Fourth Ward in Mount Vernon. which yester-
day filed formal protest in writing WITH the
commission against the alleged unjust rates
quoted to the Mount VernoniteS by the Cehud1'
and MI Thoma is an alderman from the same
ward who knows something Of the INJURY 'ilal
has been inflicted on his fellow citizens pY inc
roads of soft coal in its steam locolio
tiycs The New York Central oflclals seeheu
a bit surprised when they found the men from
Mount Vernon waiting in the tram Sleu Aoi ''0
start of the special train
A RIDE IN THE CAB.
Promptly at 1890 o'clock the start was naoe
in a special train. consisting OF one OF Ihe pis
electric locomotives and two private cars inc
run from the station TO Wakefield was 1haoe
in the cab OF the locomotive Going through ne
Park avenue tunnel the train went at r"'e u
TWENTY-FIVE miles an hour, but beyond Mot'
Haven 1t hit II up to a siIty-hve mile rate,
The commissioners seemed favorably lmpreSsed
hy the easy running of the train. at the III
creased speed and the absence Of any resultant
Tha NKiv
ca boose were kept open going through the tun-
nel and the absence OF the gas and smoke Iade'
air must have impressed itself on the commits
sioners without the reminders OF the railroad
officials.
AT Wakefield a change was made to steam
engine for the run over the Harlem division 10
North White Plains. The speed was kept at n
low rate passing through the towns along the
route so that the commissioners might have
chance to observe Just what IS being done and
what needs 10 be done for safety and speed in
the territory through which the railroad expects
10 extend the electrical equipment. The COM
missioners looked and asked questions. while
Vice President Wilgus explained the improve
ments his road has already effected and those
it intended to make soon as conditions war
rantcd SpeciaI attention was given 10 the sub
tect Of dangerous grade crossings along the line
Mr. Wood ably seconding Mr. Wilgus In meaty>
suggestions for the consideration or the commits
sioners. They seemed especially Interested IN
the nIans which the road has in view for OBJ
tanning new right Of way TO the west Of the
present tracks in Mount Vernon and White
Plains. that some particularly dangerous
crossings at grade may be eliminated The cross
tngs at the Mount Vernon station on the Harlem
division where one trolley line has its terminus
at the foot of a nasty looking grade only a few
wards to the east OF the railroad track. and the
surface lines connecting with Yonkers and New
York City end almost 10 the railroad tracks
on the west were inspected very carefully. The
commissioners also asked many questions about
the crossing at the White Plains station. where
a trolley line crosses the railroad tracks. From
ss-eral remarks made II is more than likely that
the need Of doing away with these crossings. az
also another at Tuckahoe. which has long been
n thorn TO the commuters and source of anx-
iety 20 the railroad will receive early considera-
ton in their deliberations.
THE RUN TO CROTON.
The crossings again carefully inspected
on the way back to Merose Junction. where.
after an inspection OF sub station of the roads
electrical plant the train switched 10 the
Hudson division and the run made TO Croton.
the point to which electrifcation OF the system
has been already made. Special attention was
given to the improvements the road is now max
ing at Yonkers in the installation of six tracks
and the Strengthening Of the line as also to the
company's plans for elevating its tracks for a
considerable length
Returning TO Mott Haven. the party was taker.
over the freight route and through the recently
COMPLETED tunnel under St Mary's Park TO Port
Morris where inspection of the power station
was made. There the railroad company's boat
| Dispatch waiting TO take the party to the
! East 42d street pier. The visiting commission
ers wound up their days sightseeing by survey
| of power sub-staion 1. in East 50th street. and
| queries as the terminal improvements
The commissioners had few opportunities
on the trip to observe the blackness of the smoke
which blows at times out OF steam engines In
which soft coal is being used. The question OF
dangerous grade crossings. whose elimination is
requisite before the road IS able to operate cleo
tric trains although the equipment is already In
Mace will, from their remarks yesterday, be the
first subject to be taken up. The commissioners
| were undoubtedly OF mind that certain OF
these crossings should be cut out and that with
out delay One of the commissioners said that
| the state had only a limited appropriation for
| this purpose, but gave the impression that the
commission would do what II could to see that
| Westchester County got its share for this pur-
pose.
| When II was discovered yesterday that the
| commissioners for the I'd District had not IN
formed Chairman Wilcox and his colleagues OF
their contemplated trip somebody asked the chair
| man II this was not a Of "butting in Mr..
Wilcox refused be rufiied however. and said he
| thought the two boards would not fight over the
| matter The law creating the two commissions
gives that for the I'd District authority over
! through lines and matters pertaining to through
traffic even the four counties of the 1st District
The Jurisdiction Of the commissioners Of the New
York district Is confined TO local lines. but 1t also
| has authority to supervise and regulate terminals
| within the metropolitan district.
BAY STATE SENATORS AT ODDSl
IT, T~fA