EAST BUFFALO, August 29, 1889. W. BUCHANAN, Superintendent, M. P. and R. S. : DEAR SIR.-Switching at East Buffalo the twenty-eighth inst., engine 517, at 6.20 P. M., when backing up with Rochester and Pittsburgh train from William street to Exchange street depot, Buffalo, made the stop at Western New York and Pennsylvania junction, and then started again. West Shore train No. 6 had made the target stop, and had started east. I was watching that no one was jumping off West Shore train in front of our engine, when on Seymour street crossing I discovered the cross-over switch just west of Swan street was wrong. I reversed the engine and whistled to the switchman who stood on Swan street crossing, but he made no effort to throw the switch. The fireman on my train tried to get to switch and throw it, but he could not reach it before the engine was on it. We struck the second last car in West Shore train, damaging the platform and ends, broke cab-seat brackets and demolished tank of engine 517. When we discovered the switch wrong we were running about six miles an hour. The target that controls the switch was closed, showing a clear track. We were almost stopped when we struck. Respectfully yours, GEORGE O. BARON, Engineer. WILLIAM KINKADE, Fireman. JOHN GALLIVAN, Switchman New York Central railway. M. MANIT, Switchman New York Central railway. VOSBURG, Trainman R. and P. railway. September 23, 1889-Mrs. Gorham attempted to cross the track ahead of freight train, at Clyde station, and was killed. Inquiry developed the fact that the crossing was not properly protected, APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR HEATING PASSENGER CARS OTHER THAN BY A STOVE OR FURNACE. The Legislature of 1888, by chapter 189, amended chapter 616 Laws of 1887, entitled "An act to regulate the heating of steam passenger cars," etc., so that "in special cases the Board of Railroad Commissioners" might "extend the time for a period not exceeding one year from November 1st, 1888, for any steam railroad doing business in this State, to heat its passenger cars by any stove or furnace kept inside the car, or suspended therefrom." Under this provision a number of applications for an extension of time were made in August and September of 1888, and the Board set down September 24th, 1888, as a date on which to hear all applicants. The action of the Board upon these applications will be found in the report for the year 1888, on pages 206 et seq. In no case was the time extended to a date later than January 1st, 1889. But various causes arose to prevent all of the railroads from equipping their cars by first of January, and, as a consequence, further application was made to the Board for other extensions. Chief among these causes was the extraordinary demand upon the steam heating companies to equip the cars of the various roads within the State and apparently beyond their capacities. The Long Island Railroad Company which, in its original application, had asked for an extension of time only to December 1st, 1888, was forced to ask for an extension to January 1st, 1889, then to February first, again to March first, and finally to April first, in which to complete the work of equipment, and during all this time the work was progressing without complete interruption. These various applications were granted. The road is now completely equipped. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, having been granted an extension until the 1st of January, 1889, applied for a further extension of ten days, which was granted. The Adirondack Railroad Company asked for a further extension of time from the 1st of January, 1889, to the fifteenth of January, the accidental breaking of two castings necessitating this. The Grand Trunk railway, for the reasons given in its original application of September 6, 1888, and which are set forth in the determination of the Board, under date of October 23, 1888 (see page 212, Railroad Commissioners' Report for 1888), made further application for an extension of time until April 1st, 1889, which was granted by the Board. The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh Railroad Company having been granted an extension of time to January 1st, 1889, applied for a further extension until June 1, 1889, alleging a desire to experiment with some new devices. The Board, however, refused to extend the time further than February first, and at that time, having been informed that seventy-one per cent of its cars had been equipped, in answer to another application, extended the time further to the fifteenth of February. The Fitchburg Railway Company having been granted an extension until January 1st, 1889, finding itself delayed in the work of equipment, asked and received an extension until February 1st, 1889, and subsequently until March 15th, 1889. The Central Vermont railroad asked and received an extension of time from the 1st of January, 1889, until the 1st of February, 1889, and on the latter date informed the Board that the equipment was fully completed. A large movement of troops, in connection with the inauguration of the Governor, on the 1st day of January, 1889, to and from Albany, necessitating the employment of cars by the New York Central and Wagner Palace Car Companies, laid up for the winter, and used only in summer, and therefore not equipped, these companies made a request for an extension of time covering a period between December 31st, 1888, and January 3d, 1889, which was granted. A similar condition of affairs existed at the time of the Centennial celebration in New York city, and applications were received from the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh, the New York, Ontario and Western and the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Companies. The Board, urging upon the companies not to make fires unless absolute necessity existed, granted an extension from the 27th day of April to May 2d, 1889. |