New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-06
NEED FOR TENDERS
Proper Safety Devices on Street
cars Would Save Lives.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Several years ago the Public Service
Commission made an elaborate test and dem
onstration OF tenders and wheel guards. re
sulting in an order by tho commission that
all streetcars in this city should be equipped
with proper safety devices Of this character
It was clearly shown by these tests and
demonstrations, and so reported officially by
the commissions engineers and experts that
a wheel guard was not n sufficient safety de-
vice on a car, as it would save or protect
only those victims who happened to be lying
PROSTATE on the track when struck. To the
great majority of victims, those walking or
standing on the track when struck the wheel
guard offered little or no protection.
The commission decided that until an eii-
cient automatic fender should be developed
all cars should be equipped with wheel
guards and tenders in combination, except IN
such congested sections as might interfere
with the use Of Tenders.
| The streetcar companies protested violently
against the wheel guard order Of the COM
mission. They contended that the rgid,
crude and cumbersome Tenders then in use
afforded all the protection possible or neces-
sary to the public. Since putting them on
their cars they admit that they have ma
terially reduced streetcAr fatalities in New
! York.
| Just as the commissions engineers and
experts predicted at the time of the fender
and wheelguard tests in 1908, automatic fend-
ers have since been developed and perfected,
according to the reports and testimony OF
| the commissions present engineers. An IN
vestigaton into the fender situation was
conducted by Commissioner Maltbie, lasting
about three years. He reported an order d.
rectng that certain streetcar lines be
equipped with Tenders, TO be approved by
the commission. The companies protested
against this order and sought rehearing
before the entire commission. This was
/ granted, and the order was reaitrmed by
unanimous vote of the commission. That
was in November 1918.
The companies interested have continuously
evaded and avoided that order, and few
days ago, by bare majority vote, the com
mission rescinded 1t.
/ In the hundreds of pages comprising the
record in this important case which ] have
carefully studied, there is not one fact de
veloped TO justify resembling this valuable
safety device order The records before the
commission show mat hundreds Of persons
are being killed or seriously injured every
year in greater New York by streetcars The
records show that the present devices on the
Ecors oro totaII,, unfit 70 nrevent AT the most.
o,oro hon On nor cont If all accidents that
,,;,,L+ ros,,1t f,or,, ,,s,sors bcip rum down by
stTeetcars Tho records show that in elite.
uboro eaciort fenders are in use not only
s+roo+c.r fatalities but eorious iniuries. are
practically eliminated
The official opinion of Commissioner Cram,
odortod h.. r,oiorit,. -ota If the commission.
;,.Iicstas ,bat he ;s NOT faroiii,, with this
,ocord Tho nrjncinaI reason he gives 70 ius
49,, roscindirc the order for Tenders is that.
1.-THE evidence further shows that no project
inc, fender has vet bcen made which conpIic,
win the terms Of the order"
And ,ot the record in the case contains a
lcrc,b,, ro,or, ,,sl. b,. tb. cororission's ov,,
.y,.,+s ~ ,bo oeici.i oyar,;,otior h., tbor
r. d 10. 80. al ,bo co.,,,,;...
,.,,,;-o-,an,. rI. co,,,,iss.o,,s cti.f e1,c.
,riral lr,l,,oor cleo ,,syo s,.or, ,es-;,,or,
49, no ~ ~ soyoral r,oruf,ctprers Who
corId Droduce tenders 70 meet tho roouire.
r,ents ~ tho order
COMMISSIONS Gran, further saws that If
fonders were a good thing 70 prevent occi
Int +ba cor,ranies tba,,sal,es courd bo dc.
nordod mon n buv Them Ito must know,