New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-26
Thousands in the Stalled
Trains Walk Through
Tunnel to Exits
HAYWARD Blames Road
For Its Lack of Fuel
P. S. c. to Hold Inquiry
Monday to Learn Why
Bunkers Were Empty

The entire subway system Of New
York City was tied up for more than
three hours yesterday afternoon as the
result of a coal shortage at the power
plsnt OF the company at Fifty-ninth
Street and the North River.
Underground trains, carrying thou
sands of passengers, gradually slowed
down till they came to a dead halt. In
several instances the halt was made
midway between stations, so that pas
sengers were forced to alight in the
subway and walk through the tunnel
10 the nearest exit.
Coal Contractors Blamed
It was not until late in the after
noon that Frank Hedley, vice-presi-
dent Of the Interborough and its gen.
sral manager, announced that the
whole trouble was due to the failure
Of the coal contractors to supply the
company not only with safe reserve
Of fuel for the power house, but with
enough to keep the plant going yester-
day afternoon.
This explanation was supplemented
shortly sfterward by statements from
Public Service Commissioners Travis
Il. Whitney and William H. Hayward.
Colonel Hayward said that an immedi-
ate Investigation would be held and de-
dared that the breakdown in the SER
rs was due simply TO the stinginess
Of the Interborough in supplying its
bunkers with coal.
There was an element of comedy in
jected into the whole mishsp, which had
caused thousands of New Workers to
miss engagements and walk for blocks,
when Colonel Hayward in the course OF
personal investigation yesterday
afternoon learned that the subway had
been tied up because one lighter loaded
With coal for the Fifty-ninth Street
poEer house was foundering some
where in the North River, having been
ordered by mistake 10 the Seventy
fourth Street power house, supplying
the elevated and the surface lines with
electric current.
No Coal In 5sth Street Bunkers
you might expect such thing as
that 10 happen in Bird Centre or some
tueh place, but not in New York City"
said Colonel Hayward, acting chairman
q the commission during the absence
from the city of Chairman Oscar >.
S,raus. "The investigation ] have so
iir made reveals an astonishing situa-
tsa. The lnterborough at its Fifty
n,,h Street power house, ] am in
isrn,d, has bunker capacity for about
100 tons Of coal. For year, | under
ssad, there has been no coal in these
bgnkers.
The company has been unloading di-
rect from barges 70 the boiler room.
Three barges of coal, IL appears, were
due Yesterday. Officers Of the company
state that one of these barges went TO
ne power house for the elevated lines
q; the foot of Seventy-fourth Street
and the East River by mistake.
Il asked why they did not get tug
boat and bring that barge around the
Battery 10 the Fifty-ninth Street power
house. The excuse was made that they
we're afraid 70 bring u down the Last
River for a time on account OF food
tide. | then asked why they did not
AXE il up through the Harlem Ship
Canal, and they said that they were
AFRAID Of the bridges.
1T appears 20 me now that this rs
something that could have happened at
any time during the last year. That IS
practically admitted by company oh1-
eals TO our engineers.
The commission has had no way OF
Saowing, in the ordinary course Of
ossineys, that the Interborough was
s'ort Of coal and was pursuing such a
penny wise and pound foolish policy
policy that might az any time sub
.'e' the travelling public 20 vast
AMOUNT Of discomfort and ineonyen-
isaee.
II looks like a pure case OF penu-
noutnsss 70 me. This is blot on the
sseuthson Of the Interborough. II Off
,ss and counteracts many Of the com
pssys justified claims for operating
s1eieney.'
z. S. {. to Investigate
"a. tie-up did not exactly come as a
'-fprise 70 Commissioner Whitney, who
Ha he had heard some months ago
"a, ne lnterborough was short Of coal.
called Up one OF the officials Of the
ompsny, and was told that the Inter
syfough had plenty Of coal on hand"
o Commissioner Whitney. "In view
mat statement think an inyestiga-
'h oi this statement is demanded 30
"a stsps may De taken % prevent a
'sf9rrsnes of such an affair"
Colorel Hayward last night com
pAestsd with eH-Justice William l.
'orn' chief counsel Of the Commits
~, directing him 70 start an investi-
stoa .stIloa a. once, and prepare 20 iSsus
ssYpthas for all responsible operating
eis OF the Interborough and ar
ys ior hearing at 10 o'clock 20.
IeW morning In the Offices Of the
,,nml,ion, i20 Broadway Judge Ran
- - isid N. commission would get TO
trssY. Wv ""''' A"@'f ." '"o''
HedI.y's Explanation
ssnsrsl Manager Hedlsy placed the
% blame for the tie-up on the
s,'uioefs Of The pNr,<fvd WHIT CnaI