The Washington times., 1913-09-02
|. {. {. WILL PROBE
NEW HAVEN WRECK
Inspectors Ordered to Scene of
Accident as Soon as News
Reached Commission.

That the officials of the Interstate
Commerce Commission would make an
immediate investigation of the wreck
on the New York, New Haven. and
Hartford railroad, near North Haven
this morning. was the statement of In
spector of Safety Appliances II. W. Bel
nap. of the commission. Mr.. Beinap ha :
Investigated several of the wrecks on
the New Haven In the last two or three
years, and is familiar with conditions
on that railroad, having made a num-
>ber of recommendations as to what
ought to be done TO make that unfor-
tuEate line safer.
inspectors Swasey, now at Boston;
HALEY. now at Pittsfield, Mass, and
Howard, now at Lowell. Mass, were
ordered by wire to rush to the scene
of the accident as soon as the first
news of the accident was received this
morning by Mr.. Belnap, through The
Times.
Mr.. Belnap declared that in all prob
ability he would himself 20 10 the
scene OF the wreck tonight, arriving
there tomorrow morning in order 70
direct the work Of Investigation IN
Is declared that the Interstate Com
nerce Commission regards the num-
per OF wrecks in which passengers are
killed on the New York. New Haven
and Hartford railroad, with unusual
concern.
From the meager details In the hands
OF the onicfals Of the commission here
TINS morning. IL could not be stated
what steps should be taken to prevent
sim @alimllar accidents. Some explanation
VIII nave to be made as to why IL was
possible for a passenger train to leave
us rear so unprotected that a following
tram could crash into its pa sscnger
cnrs @ at nigh speed; 1t is thought. how
ever that this accident must be one of
the human equation kind, for the rea-
son that no defect in mechanism can
explain il.
Commissioner McChord. although
careful to reserve any discussion of
the situation on the New Haven road
because he Mil later be called upon N
pass on responsibility for the WalIing.
tord wreck. pointed out the significant
phrases of his opinion on the Stamford
disaster on the sane railroad.
i can only say We are going into a.
most thorough and efficient probe OF
the latest New Haven disaster" he
declared 'Manifestly. IL would be i'm
proper for me to discuss the WallinC-
ford wreck in advance of its being offi-
cially before me. But | call attention
10 10 the commissions report on the |
Stamford wreck"
Mr.. McChord marked the following
paragraphs In this report: Modern |
steel equipment for high speed passen-
ger trains should be installed at the |
ca arliest possible time. as recommended |
In previous reports OF this commission.
and legislation fixing such time !
should be enacted without delay"
In its twenty-fifth annual reDort TO |
congress- the commission called par
liCular attention to the desirability of !
nj cars used in passenger train service
being constructed Of steel - The I
New Haven railroad. however Is !
among these railroads which have .
made comparatively slow progress in q.
the matter of steel-car construction"
'Esta blishment of safer and more
Efficient operation of this railroad is !
necessary IL Congressional |
legislation extending the scope of Gov !
rrnmcnt regulation Of railroads Is not !
TO be called for and justified in the in |
tcrest of public safety" !