New-York tribune., 1922-01-04
Wreck Causes
81" Inquiry by
Transit Board
10 Probe Adequacy and
Safety of Equipment and
Operation ON Overhead
Lines Throughout City
Call Hcdley and Mcnden
Signal Devices Must BE s.~-
n'aincd; Disirirg Attorney
Searches for Negligence

An inquiry into the adequacy and
safety of equipment and operations of
the elevated lines VIII be made ~ the
'ansi' Commission as Il :s,ult OF the
accident last week on the Ninth Avenue
l. george McAncry, chairman Of the
commission. announced Yesterday this
SuDlcct would take precedence at the
pub'1c hearings which are to be re-
sum"d tomorrow at 10 Lafaycttc
street An inquiry, with possible in
dictmcnts TO follow, also is under way
IN the District Attorneys c.licc
In connection with the investigation
Of the condition of tho elevated struc-
lures. cars and signal apparatus the
COMMISSION Will examine Frank He'd
Icy president and general manager Of
the lnterborough Rapid Transit Com
pany. and William 5. Mcndcn. manager
OF the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany, and their chief assistants in
operations.
SurNc! of Elevated Systems
Il had been planned to resume hcar-
lnes with a consideration OF the com
MlaSlon'S recommendations for the cou-
stfuctlon cf nov SubWays, but, in view
pt the questions arising out OF the
Ninth Avenue wreck the commission
decided to put q public survey Of the
elevated systems at the top OF the pro
gram.
Chairman McAncny said yesterday
the commission would not undertake to
go further into the matter Of the im-
mediate responsibility for the Ninth
Avenue disaster or to anticipate the
conclusions of the grand jury which
VIII conduct an investigation with re-
lation TO any possible criminal liabil-
1t. IT would, however he said, go thor
oughly into Che subject Of oqujDmcnt
and OF signal and safety dcviccs.
The contention expressed in some
quarters that the accident would not
have caused such a heavy Toll of in
jured had steel cars been used instead
Of wooden ones. the commission viii
seek to determine officially, by que s-
tlon'ng the operating officials OF tho
lines and its own cnginccrs
steel Cars Too Heavy
Engineers of tho commission. it was
SAID, were to some extent in accord
with the opinion of company engineers
That somc of the elevated structures,
particularly The Ninth Avenue. would
not support the weight OF steel cars.
Another reason advanced by the clc-
waited lines for not replacing INC Old
wooden cars with modern steel cars
was that the latter type cost between
H-V,CUV ana hZo,UvU cAch, and that it
was questionable if there would be
money available for the heavy and
stronger equipment even If it we've
feasible from an engineering stand
point.
Chairman McAncny pointed out that
a similar inquiry was conducted after
the wreck on the Ninth Avenue road
at Rector Street in April, 1920. but
that no action was taken or orders is
sued AS result. The Transit Com
mission, he said. in connection with
ITS general purpose to increase both
the efficiency and safety Of the roads.
was OF the opinion that a useful end
would be served by going over the
ground again.
To-morrow and Friday will be de
voted b. the commission to the clc-
waited inquiry and the construction
plan vii! be gone into next week. The
commission will then again take up
the matter Of the rccharting of the
surface lines, particularly in Brook
iyn, and the general question o; bus
operation.
The presentation and examination o.
the valuations placed upon the varion;
properties likely to be incorporated
in the proposed unified system viii
follow. Clarence J. Shcarn. special
counsel Of the commission, who vas
rcllevcd temporarily, to permit him to
attend to his private practice. viii
conduct the examinations whel thc
subject of valuations is reached