New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-30
Subway Tie-Ups
ToBe Averted in
Plans of P.S.C.
Duplicate Cable Systems to
Prevent Lack of Power
Urged

Hereafter lack Of coal in one power
house cannot be used by the Inter
borough as an excuse for tieing up
New York's principal artery Of travel,
as was the case Saturday.
This was made clear yesterday, when
it was learned that the Public Service
Commission had only postponed its
investigation in order to allow its en-
gineers to report on the advisability
Of issuing an order compelling the in
stallation of a complete tie-line sys-
TEN between the two great current
generating plants Of the traction COM
pany.
If adequate provision had been made
on Saturday to convey the surplus cur
rent from the Seventy-fourth Street
power station, which supplies the 81"
and other Interborough lines, to the
Fifty-ninth Street plant, which sup
plies the subway, there would have
been no suspension Of traffic, according
to the commissions experts.
Moreover, as a further safeguard the
commission will order a tie-line TO be
run from the Edison company to the
marlborough power stations for use in
case of emergency.
Duplicate Power Planned.
In explaining the position Of the
commission Travis NJ. Whitney said
yesterday:
"The necessity for transportation is
so vital that no means must be over
looked to instre continuous operation.
The electrical engineers of the Public
Service Commission will study the best
means of providing duplicate power
facilities. This question requires
careful study, because electric cable
systems are extremely expensive and
therefore must be considered from a
point of greatest efficiency"
The Commissioner added that the
cost Of the cables would be between
IS and IS per foot, and that this ex-
pense would be added TO the amount
the Interborough must be recompensed
for before the city receives a return
for its investment under the Dual Sub
way System.
er he believed in a law prohibiting
interlocking directorates, such as are
alleged to exist between the INTERIOR
ough and the Berwind-White Coal
Company, which supplies the subway
with coal, Mr.. Whitney said;
zone Of the difficulties which would
be presented in the enforcement of a
law prohibiting interlocking directo-
rates is that it might cause boards of
directors 70 come 70 contain a greater
proportion Of dummies than Of respon-
sible persons"
Reserve Bunkers Filled
It was said at the Offices Of the COM
mission yesterday that the order is
sued requiring the Interborough TO
keen a reserve of 5000 tons in the
bunkers Of the Fifty-ninth Street power
house was being carried out. Starting
yesterday, two barges Of coal, each
having a capacity of from 500 70 1000
tons, will be delivered each day. At
this rate in one week the bins will
contain the required amount of fuel.
Regardless Of the fact that the Inter
borough is still operating under con-
tracts ! and 2 Of the duel subway con-
tracts, the people ultimately Will be
forced TO pay a share Of the 40 cents
over the contract price which IS now
being paid the BerwindWhite Com
panv. The cost Of all the coal being
used by the subway being added 70 the
general expense account Of the Inter
borugh, which, IN turn. viii De added
10 that amount for which the Inter
borough must be recompensed before
the city gets return on its invest
ment
This forty cents extra ton which Is
being maid Berwind-W White Company
will run into hundreds of thousands
of dollars before the city starts 70
share in the profits Of the dual sub
ways.
Thus the city. which has had no say
in the letting Of the contracts, will be
fo-ced 70 assume a share in the in
creased cost of the coal under the
Rerwind- Shonts verbal agreement
without having been consulted as to
the expenditure.
The matter OF making recommenda-
ton with regard to legislation on inter
locking directories will be taken up
at the special legislative meeting OF the
commission on September II, when
Counsel Ransom will make his report.
Berlin Torpedo Plant Burns
COPENHAGEN, Aug. 29.-The foun-