The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-12
MUST HURRY SUBWAYS
STEEL CARS, SAYS MCALL
Service Boards Chairman Stirred by Reports That Change
Hasn't Been Ordered-Illness of Witnesses
Holds Up Accident Inquiry

Chairman Edward Il. Mccall OF the
Public Service Commission made very
prompt answer yesterday to interviews
quoting General Manager Frank Hedley
OF the PETERBOROUGH as saying that
his company had not yet received
any order from the commission 80 sub
subway.
"Mr. Hedley had batter take that
letter as an order and do what we told
him 10 do" said Mr.. Mccall. "iIe had
better not put any strained construction
on that letter. The sense OF the letter
is that the marlborough must replace
It's old cars with all steel ones and that
the substitution must begin by May !.
II Is true no formal order has been
given. but that will follow as soon as
our engineers find out how soon the
substitution can be effected"
Mr. Mccall was asked about the trans
fer of the composite car bodies 10 the
elevated lines
Il do not think the commission will
approve OF the use Of wooden cars on
any elevated lines. II anything elise can
ne found at present 20 take their places
he said.
Mr. Hedley. after he had spent a day
answering the questions OF many invest-
gators. was asked by a Sun reporter for
a statement on the car situation. and
added that Mr.. Hedley probably found no
time to do his work a. general manager.
Yes" responded Mr. Hedley YEARLY.
81 am the doormat on which all are
wiping their feet"
Formal investigation SIN Held Up.
Formal investigation by the Public Ser
vice Commission into the subway accident
OF week ago tomorrow Is still held up
by the illness OF the local train crew
nearest the scene, at Fifty-third street
and Broadway. and by the Illness or
passengers who were caught In the trains.
I'm all likelihood there will be AN adjourn
ment until tomorrow morning OF the Pun
lie Service Commi ssion inquiry scheduled
for this morning al 10 o'clock. District
Attorney Perkins, for similar reason.
will not resume his Investigation until
about the same time.
The burning OF a composite car on the
elevated structure OF the subway In The
Bronx early yesterday was used as text
TO urge more rapid substitution or steel
cars for the composite cars In the SUD
way. Fire Commissioner Adamson In
statement pointed to the accident as
proof that there must be no delay. The
Public Service Commission made its own
investigation.
II was reported that the car. which
stood on the storage tracks was having
its storage battery for the independent
lights filled The man IN charge had
other cars TO attend to and allowed too
much current. causing short circuit.
The car burned down TO its steel trucks
and underbody.
Adamson Criticises Re pairs.
Mr.. Adamson. in a letter yesterday to
| 81 81 W.
Commission, said:
Chief Kenlon, Chief Bates. our cleo
trical engineer. and Chief Hammitt OF
the Fire Prevention Bureau went through
the subway early this morning and visited
the scene OF the fire on Wednesday. They
have Just called my attention to the TACT
that the crossover cables are being re-
Installed without being enclosed in iron
armored conduits. according TO the best
modern practice and according 10 the
method followed for all interior wiring OF
! ireproof structures.
Mr.. Bates calls attention 10 the fact
. that the standards for wiring construc-
/ ton, now generally adopted under the
| national electrical code. provide methods
| OF installation which insure far more fire.
proof conditions than those existing in
/ the electric circuits OF the subway. As
/ the repair work IL now progressing
/ thought | would bring this matter to your
! attention, az YOU would PROBABLY wish 70
| take IL up at once with the Interborough
| company and see that the crossover cables
| are installed with better outside protec-
| ton"
! Travis IL Whitney. secretary OF the
| commits sion, said later: '"rhe commits
sion Is determined that every possible
! safeguard shall be established. Mr..
Adamson mentions the National Electrl-
! cal Code. That code makes no provision
! for railroad cables hence there Is no
| standard established for the castings. Out
side the splicing chambers and the cross
| overs all cables in the subway are en-
\ closed in vitrifed brick conduits, which
are absolutely ireproof.
zone thing should be observed, how
ever. that whether iron or lead is used
| short circuits cannot be prevented. These
| occur when there Is a grounding OF the
| current through the third rail and that
cannot be affected by the iron. II Is the