New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-20
DEFENDS DUMMY TESTS
W1JICOY ANSWERS METZ.
Monsv Veil Spent to SAFE Human
life Saus p. S. Commissioner.

--r1isn P Wilcox. chairman Of the Public Ser
s,. Commission. oountered heavily yesterday upon
-.,-rnle- Herman a. Metz for the lstJers strict
- N The commissions bill for S2564 p for dunn
.. NEED IN the recent fender tests ar Schenectady
8 ps++sb-,rg Mr. Wilcox fatty accuses Mt. Metz
:, b,lsine u the building of new subwsys in this
,t,v snd asks some pointed questions about the
Tes-ho-olgh Rapid Transit Company, the Kissena
Psrk scheme and the police horse farms
Here are some Of the .posers" which Mr. Will
cox caIls upon Mr.. Metz 20 answer:
VIII ofe he in public speeches. before the COM
--ssstor had decided to proceed with the Fourth
avenue subway assert that Sc ooo000 had been ap-
propriated and had been laid aside for that sub
way and could be used for no other purpose? Was
Il true2
IF NJ vas really IN favor OF the change, as he
then said he was, and money had been appropri-
sted why did he oppose the route after the COM
mission determined TO proceed with II but had
changed certain features OF the plans?
In the injunction proceedings restraining acton
m tbs Fourth avenue subway there is an aff-
Ssv1t By one OF Mr.. Nets principal subordinates.
alleging that the city debt limit has been reached.
Il must be true untrue as a fact that the CITY
debt limit Is reached. and is. therefore, not de-
pendent upon the word OF any man. Why then.
bss The suggestion been made that the injunction
proceedings viii be modified If the commission con-
ssuts 70 build one and one-haf OF the sections OF
the Fourth avenue subway desired by Mr. Metz
and by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
with the Interborough Rapid Transit Company as
contractor, why isn't there money for one section
with the contractor that has been accepted by the
commission?
IF there isn't any money for rapid transit why Is
thsre money for Kissena Park schemes and, police
horse farms?
'T notice that Controller Meta" says Chairman
Wilcox in answer to recommendations OF this
commission 70 the Legislature as TO rapid transit,
has made certain observations upon bill submitted
by this commission for payment The issue raised
bv the commission IN its report cannot however
be lodged in this way. II there is any poser
II is in the statement Of the commission as to the
responsibility for the failure OF any rapid transit
development during the last year
AS 10 the bill for dummy supplies" continues
NJ Wilcox. I imagine that Mr.. Metz's views are
Dot shared by those peculiar people who object TO
reins killed or injured by streetcars. In the last
eighteen months. in New York City. 1888 persons
we're killed and Oh seriously injured by streetcdr
lines alone. Many OF these can be traced TO de-
fec;ive tenders and wheel guards
To determine the best devices before requiring
the companies 20 equip their with them, the
commission conducted tests Al Schenectady and
Iittsburg open TO ala manufacturers, where during
the period Of nearly month and q half, some
sixty different devices tested under rules which
provided for seventy-to tests for each device each
with different conditions as to pavement and speed
and position OF dummy. In addition, dummies
were provided which nearly ~ possible met the
conditions OF actual life
Three sizes 81 dummies used: One. repre-
sentins woman weighing 120. one man weigh
ing SO and one q boy weighing fifty sixty
pounds. Lead shoes were used in order TO give
weight Clothing was essential in order that the
commission could see effect upon the value of a
fender = wheel guard
The tests fully justify The use Of clothing on
the dummies for tine and again fender would
apparently make a clean pickup, only to have
The dummy dragged under the fender or pushed
along in front because the clothing had rolled under
tie car. Each OF th- eighteen hundred tests was
Photographed. and these photographs show conclu-
Fiyely that clothing plays more important part In
lie seriousness Of accidents than had been mag
ned either by company officials or by the fnspec-
tors O. the commission
The entire series OF tests did not cost $1,000.
which, measured pecUniariy, is less than the aver
age jury awards for the death OF a single person.
Consequently, Il the efforts of the commission to
secure the instalment on the street railways OF
Few York City OF better lfesaving devices result
n the saving Of only one life year, 70 say moth
ING % the hundreds Of deaths and serious injuries
hat may be possibly prevented, the public VIII
have in this case at least received full value for
the money expended.
The entire report upon the tests. with the orders
70 the companies as to changes in their lffesaying
equipment will be available within few days, and
ne public will then be able 70 determine whether
criticism OF this expenditure is justihable answer
% the inquiry: Who IS responsible for the lack OF
sectional rapid transit facilities?"