The New York herald., 1922-01-04
Structures Cannot Stand
Steel Cars Which Cost
$4,000 to $25, 1000.
IiEDLEY WILL TESTIFY
Block System Never Used, as
1t Would Delay Trains,
Is Contention.

Prompted by the train wreck last
Friday night on the Ninth avenue ele-
waited railroad, In which one man was
killed and several persons injured. the
Transit Commission will begin to-mor-
row morning in its headquarters, 40
Lafayette street, an exhaustive public
examination into the adequacy and
safety of the elevated railways pres
ent equipment and operation.
Among the first witnesses to be ex-
amined will be Frank Hedley, presi-
dent and general manager of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company.
which operates the lines of the Man
haitian Il" under Ieasehold, and w.
S. Menden, operating manager Of the
B. r. 7. elevated lines under the re-
ceivership. Each is to be accompanied
by members Of his engineering and
operative staffs, and these experts also
will be sworn and questioned.
There are 1900 wooden cars in regular
use on the elevated lines of Manhattan
and Brooklyn boroughs. Many are
thirty, and even forty years old. The
great majority were built more than a
decade ago. Several of the cars in
volved in Friday nights collision, which
resulted in one death and in the serious
Injury Of four other passengers. were of
ancient construction.
Obstacles to Replacement.
There are two major obstacles to the
sugge stion that these old wooden cars
be replaced with steel ones. A steel car
now costs to build from $4,000 to
$4,000. To retire and replace the a,000
obsolete wooden cars. therefore. would
mean minimum expenditure of &c.,
100000 By corporations one OF which
already is in receivers hands and the
other of which, as its president. Mr.
Hedley. testified recently, Is 'scraping
the tilP' TO avert a like fate. The other
difficulty. which will be explained by
engineers of the corporations concerned.
is that the old elevated railway struc-
lures. particularly those in Sixth and
Ninth avenues, we're not built strongly
enough to carry the weight OF solid pas
senger trains of steel cars.
The Second and Third avenue lines
are In somewhat better shape. They
were heavily REINFORCED when the third
track was installed. The section OF the
Third avenue line running through the
Bowery was practically rebuilt. Whether
even these structures would be capable
Of carrying steel cars. however. is one
Of the problems on which expert engi-
neering advice is sought.
There Is no block signal system in
use on the elevated roads. When this
lack has been agitated heretofore 1t has
been argued that the use of that system
would entail such delays as would
greatly increase traffic congestion. All
these questions the Transit Commission
expects to thresh out tomorrow and
Friday. Commenting upon the plan and
scope of this examination. Chairman
McAneny of the commission said yes
terdey:
"1t had been planned to presen. at
this session the commissions plans and
recommendation for the construction of
the subway lines for which early pro-
vision must be made. In view of the
immediate interest of the public how
ever. IN the matter of the adequacy and
safety of the elevated railway equip
ment and operations. that subject will
be taken UP first and the construction
program will be put over until the first
part of next week.
Seek Data on safety Devices.
The commission will not undertake
TO go further into the matter OF the
Immediate responsibility for the Ninth
avenue wreck or to anticipate in any
way the conclusions of the Grand Jury
which IN now conducting an investiga-
tion with relation TO any possible GRIM
inal liability. 1t will. however. go thor
oughly into the matter Of equipment
and OF signal and other safety devices.
Judge Shearn. who Is serving as
special counsel TO the commission In
matters relating to its plan, and who
was relieved temporarily TO permit him
TO meet his professional engagements
in the Emo will case will resume his
conduct of the examination when the
valuations are reached"
Joab III. Banton, District Attorney
said last night that the investigation Of
the Ninth avenue wreck had not been
completed by his office Benedict ID.
Dineen, Assistant District Attorney I'm
charge OF the Homicide Bureau. is di-
recting the inquiry.
II don't know yet whether any crime
has been committed" said Mr. Banton.
Unless investigation shows that n crime
was committed II will not come under
our jurisdiction. 10 Is not enough TO
show that there was a wreck and that
people were killed. There must be evil
dence OF criminal negligence before we
can ask for Indictments"
Mr.. Dineen. when asked about his in
vestigation. said he had requested the
crews of both trains TO appear before
him to-day and that he would make
report to the District Attorney after
that.
FINDS $4,000 IN BONDS.