New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-06
FOR ABSOLUTE SAFETY
Jersey City Police Board Wants
New Law on Explosives.
WOULD REGULATE QUANTITY
Believe That Responsibility for
Communipaw Disaster Will
Be Firmly Fixed.

The Board OF Police Commissioners OF
Jersey City, which has been vigorously In
yestiSatng the cause Of the explosion on
Pier I. OF the Central Railroad Of New Jer.
sew, at CommuDipaw, last Wednesday, is
SUED statement yesterday calling for
stringent action by the Legislature and the
devsing OF stricter local methods 10 pro
bibit railroad companies and others from
bringing explosives into the city In large
quantities and without the proper permit
"The work OF the police Is only just be-
gun" the commissioners declare. some
safe method must be devised prohibiting
railroad companies or others from bringing
explosives into the city in ouch quantities.
The inspector OF combustibes Will receive
every assistance from the police. in any
case. We will use every means at our COM
mand to prevent the bringing OF explosives
into the city in large quantities.
"The greatest help must at this time come
from the Legislature In passing stringent
laws It Is fair to suppose that II the whole
consignment OF explosives In the Central
Railroad yard had exploded certain parts
Of this city and New York would have
been wrecked That such quantities OF
city limits IL unthinkabe"
Commenting on the work OF investigation
so far the board expresses itself as well
satisfied with the prompt and thorough ac-
ton taken by the various authorities. and
declares that it is the firm belief or the
commissioners that the testimony OF the
witnesses secured will Ak the responsibility
beyond question Of doubt
Acting Police Captain Lee and his de-
tectives have obtained number Of state
ments from employees of the railroad and
members Of the crew of the Norwegian
bark Ingrid, which was anchored on the
south side OF Pier and suffered the loss
Of two men and great damage 10 its rig
ging and hull at the time OF the explosion.
These statements, together with other data,
will be turned over to-day TO Prosecutor
Pierre Garven OF Hudson County.
Prosecutor Garven was In conference yes
terday afternoon with Detectives Sharlock
and Mcdonald of his office. who have been
rounCing up the witnesses for the grand
fury investigation. Mr. Garven said yes
terday that there would probably be TWEEN
ty-fve or thirty witnesses called before the
grand jury. He will probably not present
the case to the grand jury until Friday. he
said The Prosecutors case was practi
cally completed however. he said, and he
had strong hopes of determining the exact
cause Of the explosion and fixing the re-
spcnsibiity from the witnesses.
There might be- other indictments re-
turned for criminal negligence and man.
slaughter, besides those expected against
the eight men already charged In warrants
with the responsibility for the explosion
and out on bail, the Prosecutor said. He
vas inclined to take little stock In the as
sertion of officials Of the Du Pont de Ne
mours Powder Company that the explosion
was caused by ten thousand pounds OF
black powder on board the lighter Cattle
rino w, and that the tons OF dynamite In
the freight cars on the pier. and being
loaded into the lighter. were frozen and
consequently could not explode.
Divers continued to explore the river bot
tom In the vicinity Of the explosion yester-
day, but failed TO discover any trace OF the