The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-09
WOODEN CARS
TO GO AT COST
OF $4,OOO,OOO
All Steel Bodies Will Be Sub
stituted i'm Subway on
r. s. c. Order.
ADAMSON PUZZLED BY
LONG DELAYED ALARM

LONU DELLA Ell ALhhM
Following an order from the Public
Service Commission yesterday the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company an
nounccd late in the afternoon that II will
,eplacc all composite cars in the subway
with solid steel cars az soon as the man.
uracturcrs can build them. Although 1T
tie more than an hour passed between the
time Edward u. Mccall, chairman OF the
commission. wrote TO Theodore 7. Shonts
president OF the 1nterborough. presenting
the opinion OF the commission. Mr..
Shonts replied that the company had al
ready sounded the car builders on how
quickly the delivery OF about 500 steel
bodies can be made.
Tho change to all steel cars in the sub
way will cost the company around $4,000
900, II was said yesterday. although thn
exact figures were not available because
he orders will be- for car bodies only
The present composite cars will be lifted
from their all steel trucks and running
gear and the steel bodies substituted.
About rs light steel trucks will be
bull; and tho composite bodies will be
placed on them for the elevated railway
system that liz. II the Public Service Com
mission consents.
The commission held its regular Friday
meeting yesterday and devoted all Its at
tentlon to the nteroorOugh. In addition
20 authorizing Chairman McCalrs letter
to Mr.. Shonts, resolutions were passed
directing Chief Engineer Wilder and the
electrical experts to make reports as
quickly as possible on half "A dozen ques-
lions which were raised by the subway
accident Of Wednesday.
Chairman Mccall. Letter.
Chairman McCalrs letter to Mr.. Shon.s
follows:
Following conferences between the en-
Sinecrs OF the commission and Of your
company and the testimony OF M. He'd
ley before the commission on January D,
1915, the commission Is OF the opinion
mat the Interoorough Rapid Transit Com
pany should replace composite cars now
operating In tho subway at the earliest
possible moment and accordingly request
the torwa rd!ng Immediately 20 the COM
mission the earliest practicable dates and
not later than May |. 1916, upon which
YOU can secure delivery Of cars or car
bodies for the purpose Of effeG;ing such
substitution
EDWARD L. MCCALL. Chairman"
MI. Shcnts In his reply to Mr.. Mccall
wrote:
I'm reply 20 your letter of this date
iust received IN which YOU state that
he commission IL OF the opinion that
the lnteTborough Rapid Transit CompanJ
should replace composite cars now operat-
'ng In the subway az the earliest poss. bic
moment. and accordingly requests the for.
warding Immediately to the commission
the earliest practicable date. not later
than May T. 1915, upon which We can
secure delivery of car bodies for the DUR
pose OF effectlng such substitution. l would
say that the company Is prepared to carry
out the plan for such substitution sub
s;antlslly AZ explained By Mr.. Hedley in
his testimony on January last, to which
YOU refer. We have this day asked tho
manufacturers 10 advise US as TO the
earliest dates Of delivery. We shall trans
nit that information as soon as received
by us.
~ will leave the discussion OF the de-
ais Of the exchange between the
subway and elevated systems TO be
taken mp with the commission at the
adjourned hearing next Tuesday
IT. T. SHoNTs, President"
RESOLUTIONS Passed.
The first resolution passed by the COM
mission directs the chief engineer 10
report:
l. Whether splicing chambers in tho
subway operated by the PETERBOROUGH
Rapid Transit Company conld be go recon-
siructed as to cut of all connection with
the subway.
2. Recommendation for enlargement.
arrangement or increase OF emergency
exits.
:. Separation OF high tension and low
tension cables, particularly In splicing
chambers.
T. The complete separation Of lighting
and signal circuits from power cables,
With auxiliary Independent connections for
emergency purposes
o. Independent supply or power for vsn-
Hating fans and for the lighting of signs
At emergency exits.
g. Auxiliary independent connections to
roNer sub-sta tons
T. Recommend tlonF AZ 70 increase in
he lighting cyst m throughout the sub
way.
Tho second resolution directs the cleo
trical eng neer 10 report on the effective
ness Of the maintenance by the Inter-
Borough Rapid Transit Company OF the
Emergency storage battery lights installed
IN all subway cars by direction OF the
commission"
According 10 the annual report OF the
marlborough the company has AS COM
1osltn cara. both motor and trailer and
Gs6 all steel oars. all OF the motor The
composite cars have steel underbodies and
trucks. steel or composition doors and
copDcr sheathipg on the sides to the tor
OF the windows There cars were built
when the subway was opened In 1904. AZ
the time they were approved by the Rapid
Transit Commission being entirely safe
They We're tested early IN fire on the
northern section OF the broadway subway
and Will" wooden cars burned they came
through unchanged.
Hedley's Testimony.
General Manager Frank Hedley in his
testimony before the Public Service Com
Hraaa rNs.Vas To-.