New-York tribune., 1908-08-11
REDUCING CAR NOISES
r. ". WHITRIDGE'S REPORT
Third Auenue Receiver Replies to
W. Il. WilIcOG's Letters.

Frederick W. Whtridge, receiver of the Ihird
Avenue Railroad Company. in reply TO the letter
of Chairman Wilcox of the Public Service COM
mission concerning unnecessary noises by street
cars has forwarded TO the commission the report
OF the roads engineer of maintenance of way
which shows that much work has recently oeeh
done and is now under way which will tend to re-
duce operating noises. The report says among
other things:
At the time that Mr. Whitridge, receiver Of
the Third Avenue Railroad Company, took hold OF
the property. the roadway was In a very Worhout
state; particularly was this trre OF the CROSSINGS
and other special work. and in order tos keep the
moving planned to put these Hsa h paris r
in proper repair first 1t was also decided 70 t re
build the lower section of the Third avenue nne,
the conductor rail all the lines, and rebuild Inat
part Amsterdam avenue from lS7th street 10 for'
George, o.s,s .. .,e amount Of the re-
Of the special pee 6 work at n@ sPee snd Sees
ond 125th street and Lexington ana k Lehoh
d U IN 4ad street and seventh
avenue. under way 80.
Material has been ordered for renewal OF cross
over on Third avenue south of 42d street. cross
over on Park Row south of Pearl street crossing
34th street and Third avenue repair paris @ lot
frogs at Postofice loop, new connecton 70 car
at at f56 and and Street and also at
Manhattan street and Amsterdam avenue 11iIese
T0 caTs north to Fort GEORGE New
and two new " tracks into car mousse d'
Al the material for the rebuilding of the lower
nna f. from 10Th street to Fort George has been
ordered, and some of the material is no" peihs re-
The Broadway line found to be in bad shape.
particularly in loose joints and as soon as permits
were secured for the opening of the streets 70
make repairs two gangs were put 10 work on tis s
line, one working south and the otner M nGTl d
good progress is being made II is the lhtehtGn t
to renew the rail on some or the curves on 'iS
line.
J. F. Calderwood vice-president and general
manager of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
has informed the Public Service Commission that
he will cooperate with 1t in every possible way
to reduce the nuisances from the elevated and
trolley in Brooklyn. In a letter to Chairman
Wilcox Mr.. Caderwood says:
have to-day discussed the subject with the
have called for the issuance of necessary lnstruc-
arranged for such modihcations of our operating
methods as promise fair measure of relief.
Special Inspections will be made at various loca-
tions and results brought the attention of the
and of the chief engineer It is the intention
insist upon the proper handling Of cars and trans
effort 10 have the permanent way and equipment
in such condition that noise Will be reduced 10 "
minimum
In second letter the commission. under date
of August l. Mr. Caderwood refers specifically TO
the complaint of unnecessary noises made by the
cars in rounding the curve at Fulton and Jorale-
mon streets. He promises that these noises Will be
overcome in short time and says:
The surface tracks at the location named are not
In satisfactory condition, due 10 the CONSTRUCTION
If the subway Inc suoway e9t,[acoi I I9 We a-a
compelled 10 put in new special work. this. not
withstandng the fact that the special York at tn1s
point put in new at a cost OF aPproXlnlatGh1 h
$4,000 Just prior to the excavation for the SUP
way. The work at this point will be started to-
night and continued during Saturday night ana
Sunday 1t is anticipated that the work of renew
ing the entire layout will be completed within
three weeks
on the elevated line now preparing to
replace inside rails the curve and when this
work IS finished 10 replace the outside rais
A certain amount of noise Is necessarily incident
TO the operation of trains at such locations. 1t is
believed that the replacement of the rails viii
reduce this
In addition to the repairs of track as above out
lined. instructions have been issued to motormen
in both surface and elevated service calling upon
them exercise the greatest possible care IN tEe
handling cars and trains at this point