New-York tribune., 1910-12-21
TO BAR PRESSURE GAS
FROM RAILROAD YARDS
The Explosives Commission An
nounces Purpose After Investi-
cation at Scene of Explosion.
NO EVIDENCE OF DYNAMITE
Waldo Says Pintsch Gas Wasn't
Classed as Dangerous-No
Evidence Yet to Warrant
Arrests, Says Whitman.

Arrests, Says Whitman.
Sweeping recommendations to prohibit
the storage or transportation within the
city of Pintsch gas, which is now gen.
orally admitted by the authorities to
have beer the cause of the disastrous
explosion Monday at the sub-statlon
power house of the New York Central
Railroad in the new yards at Both street
and Lexington avenue, will be made by
the Municipal Explosives Commission
This is the result of its investigation
Yesterday of the railroads plant for the
manufacture of the gas at Port Morris
and the conditions surrounding the scene
of the explosion.
A member of the commission said last
night that it was the consensus OF oplh-
ion of the board to forthwith adopt
resolution prohibiting definitely the stor-
ing or carrying through mains of TINS
gas at high pressure, such as was fouhd
in the mains and tanks of the Centrai
system in the terminal yards, and at the
plants at Mott Haven and Port MOTIFS
1t was stated that the railroad mad
obtained permits for the storage ana
piping of the gas at the Mott HaVsn
nIant. but had neglecred to obtain per-
mil for the storing and use of the gas IN
the terminal yards where the explosion
occurred.
Frederick j. Maywald, the chemist
who is acting chairman of the Muillclpal
Explosives Commission, said last night
that the commission would suphilt us
report to Fire Commissioner WALDO To-
dav. and strongly recommend thdC fH
order be issued Immediately prohibiting
the TRANSPORTATION of Pintsch gas. or the
storage Of it. within the city limits. He
said that the commission had suggested
in the report that the New YORK Central
be allowed fifteen days in which to move
the retainers and pipes in the termlnai
wards. and that the filling of the car
tanks be done in the future at Mott
Haven.
At the instance of the Fire Commis-
sioner the commission visited the gas
plants yesterday in line with the search
ing investigation of the cause of the e&-
plosion which is being vigorously pushed
bv all the authorities having juisdic-
ton ncases of the kind.
Commissioner Waldo said last night
that the present regulations governing
eynlosiyes had evidently clasSed Flntsch
gas in the category with ordinary lllum-
mating gas. and not as a dangerous eA-
nlosiye. Should the result of the present
investigation warrant it. When ali the
evidence was in, he said, means Would
he taken to secure an ordinance 10 place
Pintsch gas in the danger list. 1t may
be q day or two before the Fire Depart
mept investigation is finished, he SAID
Found No Evidence of Dynamite
The Fire Commissioner, Coroner Holtz-
bauser and District Attorney whitman
all spent some time yesterday at tiie
scene of the explosion. The District AL
tornev. accompanied by his secretary
and an expert on explosives, mace
careful examination OF the broken pipes |
and the shattered train at the point
where the explosion occurred, ana IN
snected the entire gas system III the
wards. Chief Engineer Kittredge OF the
railroad showed them about.
IT was said afterward that the DlS-
trict Attorneys inspection had been
chiefly to determine whether dynamite
or high explosives other than the Pintsch
.as might have been stored at the SUB
station and caused the explosion. The |
District Attorneys expert found con-
vincing evidence to controVert the theory
of a dynamite explosion in the nature
and condition of things at the immediate
noint where. the explosion took place. it |
was said.
The District Attorney commented on |
the fact that apparently only one gauge |
is used to determine :he pressure OF gas |
in the four large retainers in which it is
stored in the yards at 41th street. On
this account 1t would be difficult to
locate an unusual leak in any part of
the wards in quick time, it was said, and
might have been responsible for the half
hour delay after the train had broken
the gas pipes and the explosion occurred
before the leak was definitely located.
The District Attorney suggested that it
might be well to have a gauge on each
retainer, especially If they fed separate
gas mains in the yards There were no
witnesses examined at the District AT
torney's Office yesterday. but Judge
Whitman said he had subpnnaed several
Continued third page.