The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-08
WOODEN CARS MUST g.
GO, SAYS ADAMSON
Commissioning Ordered by Mayor
to Investigate Fire in
subway.
WILL WORK WITH p. $. c.

Mayo- Mi'rhc' Yesterday ordered Fire
COMMISSIONS Adlruson to conduct an
Investigation into the causes Of tn sub
way n'e Of Wednesday with view 10
determining What protection against fire
shall he established the underground
system. Commissioner Adamson will
work in cooperation with the Public
Service Commission which has started
its investigation. and his experts will aid
the comm ssion with their recommends
lions
The Mayors order went to tho Fire
Commissioner in the form Of A letter ac-
knowledgng the receip of a communi-
cation containing preliminary report
from the Commissioner
Mr. Adamson. in his report. after re-
citing the known facts about the FIRE
says all wooden cars must disappear
from the subway. He suggests that fire
escapes be installed In the tunnels that
a private fire alarm system be provided
connecting directly with Fire Headquar-
ters that a stand pipe service be in
stalled to provide wafer supply In
emergencies. and that doors between the
splicing chambers aud the subway be
eliminated. That there was not heavy
loss OF life Mr. Adamson regards as
providential
on the subject OF delay the Commits
soner says: There are indications that
ahere was trouble with the cables for
near ly an hour and a quarter before the
first notification OF the fire at Broadway
and Fif,y-hfth street reached the Fire
Department. At $40 a. VI. there was a
FIRE In a sw!tchbox at the Spring street
station Of the subway caused by short
clrcutlng, as our men were told of the
power cables Two fremen put out this
fire with two e$tinguishers. From this
time on the movement OF trains seems to
have been interrupted but not entirely
halted.
1T was not until after 9:i4 A. NJ, how
ever. that the first word Of the fire
reached the Fire Department and that
was by telephone from a citizen. Almost
at the same moment a patrOlman In
citizens clothes walked into the quarters
OF Engine Company No 20, IN Fifty-third
street just on broadway, and asked that
two men be sent 10 Fifty-htth street TO
a subHay FIRE
'Fortunat6ly Lieut.. Hotchkiss had the
good sense to take his entire company
When the firemen arrived they found
smoke pouring out OF the subway venti-
lator gratings at Fifty-ifth street. and
the subway filled with struggling panic
ElrltkeD FdHStDBtTs. ! ne nFt tNlutUNly
had been in. progress for some time. per-
haps half hour even. and why no alarm
was sent In before | have been unable
TO discover.
ut required all the men who respond
to a third alarm In that section and 200
extra men to eNtinguish the nre ana res
cue the panicstricken passengers"
The Mayors letter in reply was in part
as follows:
II have received your letter regarding
the subway FIRE. and the questions OF FIRE
protection which II ra SEES are matters
upon which recommendations Of the ex-
perienced officers OF the Fire DEPARTING pt
seem 20 me to be essential VIII you,
therefore have such investigation made
into the causes Of the fre. and into the
Necessary fire protection measures which
should he taken. may he necessary
to enable your department to submit
recommendations for remedial measures p"
The letter closes with orders for CO.
operation with the Public Service Com
mission