The New York Herald Newspaper, March 27, 1879, Page 5

4 ‘ an) . form of the Chatham square station. DANGEROUS CROSSINGS, What the “L” Boad Officers Say About the Accident. CHATHAM SQUARE PROBLEM. Neither Company Finds a Satis- factory Solution of It. As the subject of the proposed crossing af the ‘‘L’* railways at Chatham square and their joint use of tho New Bowery and Pear! stroet track has acquired fresh importance from tho collision of Tuesday last B representative of the HERALD was sent yesterday to the leading managers of both roads to obtain their views on the propositions which have already been "made in the Hens to obviate this difficulty. President Cyrus W. Field, of the New York “L,” ‘was first questioned. Mr, Field said that the inter- ‘view with him in yosterday’s HxpaLp was entirely correct, excepting that instead of saying that {$500,000 would not be a sufficient compensation for thé loss caused by any serious accident the sum mentioned by him was $5,000,000, “No travelling is safe,” President Field said, where trains cross one another on the same level. Zam so convinced of that that I believe our own trains should not cross each other. Of course, that is only my own view upon the subject. I have not yet consulted all our . directors and engineers, and I am only one director mong thirteen. But my idea is that we should only take our City “Hall passengers up to Chatham square and there transfer them to a through train on the mainline. We can ‘haves bridge over the track by which passengers on safely rexch the plat- Whother this ‘will be done, howover, depends on my fellow direc- fors; I am in favor of it.” * ‘TWO CROSSINGS TO BE ABOLISHED. “How about the Forty-second street crossing and that at Thirty-fourth street and Third ayonue?” “We have already resolved to change the structure ‘at these points so as to do away with the crossing altogethor. Grand Central passengers will alight at Forty-second street, cross on a little bridge over the track, and then at the other side take a special traizf running back and forth. between Third ‘avenue and the depot. At Thirty-fourth street and Third avenue the same change will be made.” . “Mr. Field, you said yesterday that the Metropéli- San ‘‘L” could capture 600,000 Brooklynites by going down Catharine and South streets. If this is such a good route would it not be well for you to adopt it?” Very likely we shall,” Mr. Field impulsively ex- claimed, “if they don’t.” “And then you would give them the Pearl street route in exthange to avoid the joint track trouble, I presume ?”* “Not a bit of it!” Mr. Field declared. “Why, that’s the best part of our route. “But will you not have to give up half of it, any- way, Mr. Field? Is not half of it theirs ?”” ‘Well, they haven't paid us a shilling as yet for it,” Mr. Field returned, ‘They can go down.to South Btrect and take ovat a e portion of the fe: travel, for they would pass Wall street, Fulton ‘stroek Peck slip and Catharine ferry.” ‘i “But why could your road not take that route?” “How ,could we get our connection at Chatham Bauare without crossing them? It’s impossible.” ‘Mr. Field said in conclusion that he hoped the two companies would make some amicable and friendly tlement, and asked the ho ptm to go down to the junction of Beaver and Pearl streets to see how dan- erous the crossing would be at that pout from the igh buildings which would obstruct the views of the engincers. DIRECTOR DISHOP’S VIEWS. Director Heber R. Bishop, of the New York “L,” paid that he did not think it fair and equitable that the road shauld give up its valuable 1 street route in consideration of the ete: “L” giv- Ing up its rights in Chatham and bers streets.’ “We are there and aro running,” said he, “and we should not béesent away. Let the Metropolitan road down to Catharine at and thence along either uth, Front or Water streets—all three splendid routes, which would give them a large mn of bur ferry travel, and that is quite o sufficient sacri- fice for us to make.” ‘But conceding that the division of, the routes as z by the Henatp in its pene pastes, is ‘not perfectly equitable, w it not be made so by pooling the receipts of both companies below Chatham square?” 2?" Mr. Bishop re- “Why should we pool re Bes eer indignantly. ‘1 don’t see why wo ould.” “What objection is there to it?” ° “Well, it's einai business. Why should we pool ts with other company for the sakp. of that little bit of road’ through Pearl street? They whould keep cast of us, and take the big ferry trayel from Brooklyn.” “Why don’t your road take it, Mr. Bishop?” “Who ever heard of a man who has his house already built conforming his plans to thse of his neigh- bor, who is i going to build one ? We have built ourroad and are running—they’re not. They can do ssaclconng Sord the way of change—we can’t.” Director hop also informed the reporter of the xesolution of the Board of Directors of the 13th of ‘this month to change the structure at Forty-second atrect and Thirg avenue and Thirty-fourth ntreet and ‘Third avenue, and exhibited of thechanges. Upon asked when the c! would be ac- complisned he said in two or three months. After returning from Mr. Bishop, ident Field ‘was met again, On Broadway, and asked when the | ones arrangement of Grand Central trains would discontinued. Mr. Field said that probably to- morrow (Thursday) no Grand Central trains would be run after twelve o'clock. Chief Engineer Katte, who was in his company, was as\od how soon the povny md above alluded to would »» made in the ot ire at Forty-second and Thir:)-fourth streets and Third avenue, and said that he could not possi- Diy tell. Mr. Field said, ‘As quickly as moncy can qnake them.” PRESIDENT GARRISON’S VIEWS. President William R. Garrison, of the Metropoli- tan “L” road, was next called upon, and the ques- tion, ‘What do you think of this question of the ‘L’ railways Crossing each other?” asked. “I hope it will be fairly and amicably arranged to the satisfaction of both companies as well as of the public,” was the reply. “The Henitp has already suggested a plan which would entirely obviate the Sree for the New York ‘L’ to take tho City Hail branch exclusively and giv8 up the New Bowery and Pos?! street route, while we in return would give np our rights through Chstham and Chambers streets."” “But Mr. ‘ao says that this division is unfair, ir. Garrison “Well, if it is wo are open to any other fair and Feasonablo . “St that in view of the fact that President Field thinks the division would not be as profitable to his road as to yours the receipts below Chatham Square were pooled and equally divided?’ “I think that might be fair under certain condi- tions. Even if the pooling of profits would o; te ee eae hag Ay home to bey we 8) = ly agree to it for the sake of harmon; eee0e, and in order that public ‘snd conven: nce on the ‘L’ ronds might be assured. In fort, ‘we are willing to make any fair agreement what- ever.” Field bay that the Metropoliten ‘L’ should go down Catherine amd South streets and thus pm ae , the 600,000 Brooklynites landing at the Mr. Garrison laughed and replied :—‘‘Woll, if that 1s such an immenrely vainable line, and would take 600,000 Brooklynites,’ why does not the New York *L' take them? We shall most cheerfully join our pflorts to theirs to secure them that route in exchange for the Pearl street line.” WHOSE LINE 18 1T? “But Mr. Field aud the other directors a] to pbdject to any proposition looking to the jon- ment of there rl street route under any cireum- | whatever?’ Here President Garrison became very emphatic. Now, ploase do not call this their line, That is o ‘mistake which has been very ly made, it is Mot thoir line any more than it is ours. It to us jointly—balt to them and half to us—and it ent erroneous to apeak of it as ‘their’ line.” “Is not the presont arrangement as laid out by the Bapid Transit Commissioncrs very dangerous?" “Not at all,” President Garrison replicd. “With the spplianco of the improved interlocking switch th ep us and signal system already in use on our line no accident would occur, 1 should very much Uke the Hananp to send ite best experts to examine bial (uat ts propoved,crowsings” and fe, ave ot 8 cron: an nse of & fein track under those precautions would be entirely ble and perfectly sate.” ‘But the managers of the other line aay that they @re so convinoed of the danger of the crossings that fer oy i) iP even the crossings on their present ine, Mt. son, * “Well, we should greatly prefer not to cross thom, too,” President Garrison replied; ‘nevertheless, and T may as well speak traukly, we do not propose to be driven out of our present rights aud thus virtually to have our Second avenu killed off entirely under the pretence of a di which was never seen Until it was feared that we would take away @ portion of the oast side trafic, It is very y to say to us, ‘You must not cross us!’ and then ae ‘a refusal to enter into any other acceptable ar- ent) leave ws only one of two alternatives, ‘gither to give up altogether our Second avenue line, on which wo have already expended hundreds of ands, or to croes their road,” h YOU not suggest some other division of tho two roads below Chatham square?” “Well, if the New York “L.” is unwilling to cap. , NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. ture the 600,000 Brooklynites by going down to South and Catharine a still bet route for them would be saacueh tance and Broad streets, Where there’s a will there’ and if both com set to work with the neers and honest ialetaeen ts avoid any difficulty they will certainly solve the Prol P ‘VICE PRESIDENT NAVARRO'S IDEAS. Vice President Jose F. Navarro was also requested to give his views on this important subject, Hanap has made some anes su; subject,” Mr, Navarro re) |, “ans to adopt almost any of them. all very tauch prefer to avo! on the same not because we think it is especially danger- because we like to avoid even an appearance en, tho crossing at Chatham square, as now decidedly di ras?" mi \y ba lo, 2think not. As was pointed out in acom- munication to the Hxnaxp the other day, this cross- ing of trains is ully accomplished in Lon- don, where nearly one thousand trains per day cross each other at one point, and what is done there can, Iam sure, be done here. Ido not think we Ameri- cans are such nincompoops that we cannot do what is done in \d.” ’ “But, that is done on @ surface track, Mr. Na- “Over two thousand o: have been safely effected on our own “L” road every day at Rector street, Fifty-third street and at our Fifty-cighth street terminus, and we have never had an accident worth mentioning. Over two hundred and fifty thousand have crossed each other twice on our oud since it has been in operation without an acci- dent having occurred.” tery ; at yesterday’s accident at Forty-second “That collision never would have happened had the York ‘L’ Company had an interlocking switching and signal apparatus there,’ Mr. Navarro replied, with some earnestness. ‘I dohot like to say anything in criticism of our sister corporation, but for the sake of truth it must be told.” “Would not an accident at the proposed crossings greatly Jeopardize rapid transit, and would it not ‘to avoid them altogether?” “My dear sir, nqbody can be more anxious on that int than we are. If there was an accident weshould the ones to suffer immediately and acutely. We should be sued for hoavy damages by every porson injured and at once lose thousands and tens of thou- sands from the diminution of our receipts, Even supposing that as a ‘soulless’ corporation we had no for the safety of the public, except that dic- our own selfish interests, we are personally as deeply concerned in this matter of safety as anybody can possibly be. If wo run our road in an unsafe manner we, the managers, are just as likely to be killed or injured as the rest of the pub- lic, for we ride on it daily, constantly. Now, I say that while should much rather have no crossings at all on the same level, yet if every door to s fair and‘ equitable arrangement by which it could be avoi is closed to us, then we shall have no option but to cross, and we shall do so ina tly safe manner. I wish you would talk with . Baird, our general manager and chief engincer, and he will convince you that our interlocking switch and signal apparatus insures as absolute safety as human ingenuity can devise, and then I wish you would examine the system for yourself.”” FIELD’ un, PROPOSITIONS. “Mr. Field objects to give up his Pearl street route in exchange for your Chatham street: and Ohambers street » and says it would be fairer for your road to go down Catharine and South streets, where you may capture 600,000 Brooklynites.” - “Well, to that I can only reply that Mr. Field is very fond of joking. In the first place, if this route is so good, why does not Mr. Field take it himself? second place, how are we to get it? us @ year, and. then BP speed fail in the end, wi the avenue ‘L’ would meanwhile monop- olize the east side traffic. No, if the other company is unwilling to come to a fair and equitable agroe- ment, let us at try the present arrangement with every precaution which modern science en- ables us to take. Let us see it itis as dangerous as it has been pronounced. If Mr. Field thinks so well ot pee! arine and South street route, let him “But he says that the New York ‘L’ would then cross your road at Chatham square.” “«It could go over ours,” Mr. Navarro replied, “just as we shall cross over their road at Thirty-fourth street and Second avenue. See how ready we have been at this'point to do everything in our power in order to a1 crossing and to give satisiaction to everybody—we readily conseuted to run over their road at avery inconvenient height. Surcly all the concessions should not be on the one side.” “But the New York ‘L’ will discontinue its own crossings, Mr. Field says, and establish their connec- tions by means of bridges over their tracks.” “1 all, we can do that also,”’ Mr. Navarro replied. “We are perfectly willing to transfer our pas- sengers in same way, and it would not cause a delay of more than a minute e time. I- am sure the east side public would rather even that we did that than that we should — t up entirely our second avenue line, for which have so clamored. But you had better see Mr. our manager. I’m sure, from the extremely ful manner in which he bas run this road, no- body can say that he would lend himself for a mo- ment to‘sny unse’e plan,” GENERAL MANAGER BAIRD SPEAKS OUT. General Manager John Baird was very decided in his conviction that with the appliance of the inter- locking switching and signal system the proposed crossings and use, of the joint track would be entirely “This 8} om a te Sit oe with at ucceng, on leading ro: aT land, on the New York Central, at the Grand Central Depot, on our road and on many others, is so ar- that as the ewitchman pulls a lever and opens a switch for a train to cross the movement of his ® great danger in every direction, #0 that the track is entirely shut off to every other train until it has passed. A\ ot in ‘use, aldnough 18 nots very’ expensive ne use, 18 @ very expensive one—I it haa not cost us, thus far, over $20,000 for our entire line. There they only had some primitive hand switches, and while one man would move the switch another would wave the which was dupposed to serve as the danger signal, and while they wometimes acted in concert, at other times they were just as likely not to act so. It is the same at Chatham square and Frank- lin [ape and it was from the same cause that the recent accident occurred at the latter point. They are now about to ae one the interlocking system on the New York ‘L,’ which they might just as well have done six months ago. they now discontinue their own crossings and substitute bri over it just shows that extremes tremes of recklessness and extremes of over caution.” “But even in the interlocking system an accident might occur if the engineer disregarded the danger signal, might it not?’ “Of course; but we have taken an additional pro- caution even in that. The interlocking system which we adopted gave for the danger signal @ disc of a color; but as some men are color-blind I insisted upon‘ changing the signals, so that, besides thecolor, the position of the semaphore signal should strikingly indicate the danger. Of course if ap engineer will wilfully disre- such a signal, then such disregard should be made a State cee en Eade ifthe per arrangements are Pro) cross- Bees will be ent sate.” “What do you think of the Ros peers that your road should go down Catharine and South streets?” “I think it is very unjust and entirely out of place, We had this Pearl street route entifoly until the managers of the New York ‘L’ indu the Rapid Transit Commissioners to ge them the right of the half use of it, and now to crowd us away from it « her would certainly be # piece of great in- justice.” INTERVIEW WITH SUPERINTENDENT ONDERDONK. with Superintendent Onderdonk in to the accident revealed some interesting nse to the reporter's question the rintendent that switchmen and flagmen are id $2 per day and are all on dity twelve hours, howe at Forty-second street even longer, but are re- Meved for dinner. “How long are they: off for dinner?” the reporter asked. “Some of them aa long as an hour and a half. They are all allowed time to go to their homes,” was the answer, “Why was Davenport changed from down town to Forty-second street?” “He met with an accident which made switch duty necessary for him, and of course if he was compe- Ss? he was as competent for one place as snother.” ‘"But was he competent?” the reporter asked. “Most decidedly he was, Davenport is an intelli- gent and trustworthy man and a man of long expe- Few better men could be fo' But, like many other good men, he made jsteko, He thought that he had turned both «witches when, in fact, he had turned only one. It is impossible, even now, to convince him that he left one switch un- ts ‘onturday that J. ._F. Kidder, engineer, and ine No. 118, had bee: charged. that he wae at aioss to ee their ~ go one and ee = MJ atged men said at ti] eX) to be taken back, and therefore would "ay Sotntnig now, Both engineer and fireman refused to speak. J. Davenport, the ea oO. THE PRESS ON THE ACCIDENT. TEMPTING PROVIDENCE. {From the Times.) To indulge in crossings on gho level, protected only by employés kept twelve ‘hours and a half on the watch, is “tempting Providence,” NOT AN ACCIDENT, ‘ {From the Lage ng No accident can pen on the elevated railways of New York city. A collision involving the safet and life of 200 persons, from whatever cause, woul be acrime. A FORTUNATE RSCAPH, ‘rom the bog Hat the collision occurred in th® morning, when the cars on the’ down track aré packed to the plat- form with passengers, or in the evening, when the cars on the up track argequally crowded, the loss of lite might have been very grei THE DANGER OF ROKK TRACKS, {From the Evening Post.) Yosterday'’s warning ought ae an instant ond to all schemes tor using one set of tracks in part for two roads, or making the tracks of one road cross those of another. If such an accident could happen road, under a single managefent, what ‘ht happen in the case of two roads ut ry af perhaps conflicting or pn Ie control? NO CROSS TRACKS. {From the Graphic.) If the ers refuse to coelee, the neneoenry means to ure safety let them be rigidly confin to north and south tracks. Let no train going north be permitted to cross the track of a train going south. walk a few blocks than 1e or8 «i boy yey trains should be in constant jeopardy ol ives. INSUFFICIENT PRECAI ‘ {From the World.) Although it did no great: 0 the collision showed that the precautions taken op the road do not suffice infallibly to prevent collisions, The accident, though plainly Peper ged will be considered by the mana- ers of the @ piece of ill luck, but there is noth- ing to indicaté that it may not occur again ror it was a piece of surprising good luck that it no more mischief, A DEATH TRAP, (From the Star. | It was not the switch tender #o much as the sys- tem that was at fuult; and the point where the crash took plaée is not a tithe so dangerous as several other poters: along the line. ‘Take, for ii nce, the Chat- aM square junction; no human vigilance cun long avert a terrible tragedy from happening at that Ree while ouly the present safeguards are employed. ‘Phe crossing of so many tkains makes it a death trap even in midday; what will it be on foggy and tempestu- ous nights? GROSB CARKLERSSNESS. (From the Tribune.] And yet insamuch es it took place st a potat on the road which has long been recognized as a dangerous one, the public anxiety will be increased respecting ssiblo of switches and crossings, such as hose at Forty-second street, where this accident oc- curred, and those yet to be arranged in Chatham square for the accommodation of two-roads which cross each other. Carelessness at such points might work a fearful result, and carelessness was the sole cause of the trouble of yesterday. AN INVESTIGATION NECESSARY, (From the Mail.) Either a gross misrepresentation has been made to the public concerning the properties of tho patent switch board, oF a dangerous mothod of switch has been used when the company might just as wel have employed the sure system. In a word, the lives of the passengers of the Now York Elevated Railway have been needlessly imperiled, unless some, ex- planation which will account for yesterday's col- sion in some other way is'vouchsaied. An investi- ation into the matter should be compelled by the citizens, EDISON’S ELECTRIC LIGHT. SEVERAL RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE S8Ys- TEM—A DISCOVERY OF IMPORTANCE—LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF GAs, The first practical illustration of Edison’s electric light as a system has just been given.- For the past two nights his entire laboratory and machine shop have been lighted up with the new light, and the re- sult has been eminently sfactory. In the chem- ical portion of the laboratory two of the incandescent lights supplied the place of the fine gas jets ordi- narily in use there, and in the machine shop, a building 125 feet long by 25 feet wide, twelve of the new lights did the work of the eighteen gas burners previously used. The light given was clear, white and steady, pleasant to thaeye, and of such charac- ter that colors could be readily distinguighed. None of the unpleasant glare so noticeable in the carbon light was visible. ‘The electric lamps were regulated so that each gave a light of from eighteen to twenty candle power in intensity, but the purity of the light made the intensity appear even higher. The gen- erator used was the ordinary Gramme machine, said to consume two and one half horse power, but which in reality has been found to consumb three horse power. The exhibition was witnessed by some of the leading directora of the company con- trolling the patents, together with a few scientific friends of the inventor. All were much pleased at the result. * THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. The progress made during the past two months by Edison has been quite marked. The light, in- stead-of being at a standstill, as was generally be- lieved, has in reality been greatly developed. The most prominent of the improvements is one to the platinum and iridium coil. By a discovery, pronounced by experts who have seen it as.of great scientitic importance, Edison *has succeeded in prac- tically creating a new Creag! Says that possesses prop- ties hitherto unknown, Its melting point is fue higher than that of any known metal. This dis- covery has proved most valuable in connéction with the electric light. Previously the best result which the inventor could pir on) horse power was four hts, but by the use of this new alloy he now ob- with ease six lights per horse power, and makes it possible, under certain conditions, to obtain as high as eleven. A BETTER GENERATOR NEEDED. One of the chief difficulties Edison has had to con- tend against has been the want of a proper generator for his peculiar method. In the course of his experi: ments with the light he has used several, and con- structed two or thrve of his own, but none of them have come up to his uirement, The one givi the best setisfection. thua far is the Ae machine; but even that does not develop elec- tricity with sufficient economy to satisfy him, although from that machine he has obtained, as above stated, at the rate of six lights horse wer. He continues confident that in a short time will have succeeded in simon regs | & generator that will give much better results. But even with the Gramme, imperfect in many respects for incan- descent lighting as it is, he manufactures the light at acost of a trifle over ono cent per hour for six electric lights. His mechanics are now constructin, ® new generator, which promises to yicld muck better results, so far as economy is cot THE STYLE OF LAMPS USED. Since beginning work on the electric light Edison has devised more than a score of lamps of different styles, but ono by one they have been laid aside as * not co! up to his conception of what he ought to have. Therqnow remain only two styles, which closely compete with each other in point’ of ex- cellence. In both there is @ small glass chamber —- which passes the little coil which is mado inca ent by the electricity. One of the lamps resembles the ordinary student's lamp. The other is of globular form and hardly as handsome. Tho essential construction of each is ically tho same, although there are some few ints of difference. ‘The regulator or contrivance by which the electricity is turned off and on has been im- proved and is now much more simple than it was originally, the expansion of the air in the globe sorv- ing to work it. LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF GAS. The recent improvements which have been made by tho great inveutor have necessitated the changing quite materially of the figures upon which the cost of electric lighting has previoysly been based by him. Lately he has obtained estimates irom different build- ers ot the cost of engines, boilers, dynamo machines and the other necessary appliances. With their arantees and with the experiments already made ¥ the lamps now in use (the horse power consumed | Le being measured by a dynamometer and the resultant electricity by an clectro-dynamometer, the whole re- duced to #0 many foot + pounds per candle power), he has been able to make the necessrry estimates, ‘The results are certainly startling, as compared en as they show that if, must be made and stored in the gasometer at fifteen anda halt cents for each 1,000 teet to compete with his system, and with « possibility of a further reduction by improve- ment. In one of Edison's olectric burners equal to sixteen candles there is consumed 2,360 foot pounds per minute, whereas a gas jet of eq! sumes 48,000 foot pounds, or eighteen times more en- ergy to produce the santo effect as is produced by the electric light. To put it in more popular terms, the present estimates an to the expense of electric light- ing under Edison's system as made by him figure the cost of electricity as compared with gas’ at less than ong-half, or, supposing gas to be furnished at the rato ae Bs) Bor, 1.00 teot, an equal supply < re ht polly Pe ting wpe for $1, leaving at at price a fair or the company supplyin the electricity, The figures put forvarsby ng ~ companies Edison claims are on error, Those who make thom do not, he says, understand his system, and he further claims that in many in- stances they estimate twenty-four hours per day as the daily consumption, when, in point of fact, consumption of yas or electricity will not average = all tho burners more than three or four hours at e most. INCANDESORNCE V8, CARBON, . Among the experiments frequently tried of late in the laboratory is one showing the essential difference between light wed by the hetehpe gy and that by incandescence. In the centre of the labora- tory, suspended from the ceiling by wires, is a car- bon apparatus, said to omit a light of 4,000 candie power. Last night the twelve incandescent lig! wore frequently compared with it to show the rela- tive quantities of light. The light from the carbon gave apparently not more than three or four times as much light as that Liem by the incandescent lights, What it did give, however, was not nearly as fective for pract purposes as were the twelve in- candeacent lights. By the latter the mechanics were enabled to do their work with as m facility as if it was day, but during the time the carbon light was abining it was noticed that many of the worrmen were unable to work, the flickering, unsteadiness and sharp shadows from the carbon process br yaintul to the eye. Immediately in the vicinity the carbon the light was brilliant and intense, but at a distance Of thitty ox forty test it was very much decreased, ‘The scientists who witnessed the comparisons wero unanimous in pronouncing in favor of incandescence as much better adapted for practical uses, GEITING RKADY FOR THR PUBIC. ‘The work in tho laboratory during the past month has been assiduous, the machinery and mechanics boing kept going until midnight every night. Only two things, Edison says, are now necessary before the light can be given to the public. The first is the standard lamp to be tised and tho second a better generator than the one now in operation, Neither of these requirements is regarded by him as diffi. cult of attainment, Indeed, both might be dispensed with, he states, and the system be now put in practical operation everywhere, and electricity euy at less than half the cost ot ate but feeling ished that a delay of a tew mon’ will enable to get the system down to even greater economy he prefers to send it from the laboratory as near complete as possible. The undertaking to light up Park will be commence] in afew weeks. Mr. Batehelor, Edison's chief assistant, who has full charge of the details of the work, has already mi the estimates and given the preliminary orders for the acoomplishment ot the same. KILLING TIME. AN INSTRUMENT THAT TRANSMITS SIXTY THOU- SAND WORDS AN HOUR—ELECTRO-MECHANICAL MACHINE—INAUGURATION OF A SCHEME OF CHEAP TE! EGRAPHY. ; There is no pursuit so’ worldwide or long estab- lished as that of killing time. There is none that bas drawn its votaries from so many different classes, andthere is none that has so taxed the inventive genius, alike of those who cater to the tastes and the necessities of their fellows. The cook strives to annihilate an hour for his patron with a masterly bonne bouche; the composer or the playwright con- sumes an evening; while an afternoon melts. away easily for the yotary of pleasure under the spell of the novelist’s brainwork; the lieutenants of the Roman Empire, by the establishment of post roads and by training skilled runners, strove to bring the news and tho dainties of the distant provinces nearer to their luxurious masters, and railroads, steamboats and the telegraph have in more modern times continued the process of eliminating the factor of time from daily existence. But the newest and most daring attempt in this direction is the invention of a machine for the transmission of intelligence to any distance at # speed of 60,000 words an‘hour over one wire. HISTORY OF THE SCHEME. This ambitious project has long filled the minds of a number of gentlemen, and many experiments in all the various ‘modes of utilizing electricity have been made with a view to ascertaining what cxisting apparatus showed most susceptibility of improve- ment. Long and careful study pointed to the old ‘automatic’ system of sending messages as offering most promise of great rapidity, and accordingly the projectors of the scheme turned their whole attention to overcoming its defects. They claim that their efforts have been: entirely suc- cessful, and that the “Electro-Mechanical” telegraph- ing instrument, which they have recently patented, is the most accurate and most rapid agens for trans- mitting intelligence now in existence. They assert that in a long course of experiments witha completed instrument the best results have been ob- tained, and they have ey into a company for? the practical application of their system to usi- ness wants of the community. They have adopted the title of the “American Rapid Telegraph Com- any;” they state that they have a capital of $3,000,000, and they promise to commence im- mediately the erection of lines between Boston and Washington, takin, in New Yofk, and be tween the Isst mentioned city and Chicago. They hope to have these lines completed and in operation before the end of the current year. Tho date of the organization of the company was February 28 last, when Edwin Reed, of Maine, was elected president; Thomas Wallace, of Connecticut, vice president, end L. 8. Hapford, of Boston, treasurer. HOW IT WILL BE DONE. A Hznatp reporter called to see Mr. Reed yester- day at the company’s offices, No. 41 Wall street, and received much information trom him as to the in- tentions of the company and the details of the in- strument by. which they propose to accomplish their plans. “You sce,” said Mr. Reed, ‘when # message comes to us the first thing we do is to record it on a paper tape by punching small holes, which are ar- Yanged to correspond with the dots and dashes of the’ Morse system. Along one edge of the tape run the positive impressions and long the other the negative, We have @ machine for doing this punching work, and I would draw attention to the peculiarity that it spaces the various letters according to their length. ‘he letter ‘E’ is represented by one dot, therefore the tape is fed out only ‘a little way; ‘H’ takes five dots, therefore a ea) Piece of tape is allowed to run out when it is to be printed, and so all difficulty in reading is obviated.” Mr. Reed then oxhibited the instrument by which this work isdone. It looks Mke a combination of 4 small piano anda sewing machine. ‘Twenty-eight keys correspond to the let- ters of the alphabet and needed stops, and a treadle canses the tape to move, its speed being by attachments to the keys. A simpli device also provides for the rewinding,of the tape for the reamed machine. Mr, Reed added that this punching could be done at the rate of 2,000 words an hour, and said that the com- pany intended to send machines out to the offices of all persons who have much telegraphic correspond- ence, so that the punching might be done there by clerks or type writers. “Then,” he said, the “tay could be sent to the office of the company ine! of manuscript. The company will,” he said, “have » large number of these machines, so that when lo: messages come in they can be divided up an punched in a very few minutes. “ Now ai to the actual tolegraphing of the despatch “Now as actual telegraphing of the that cap be done at the rate of at least one thousand words @ minute,” said Mr. Reed. “The tape fn another machine, wherein it passes over & metallic cylinder. Two needle points press on it, which are connected with the poles of galvanic Dat- tery. That which leads from the negative pole is placed over the negative row of holes in the tape; connected with the positive pole, the Lag row of holes. The connected by & wire with a needle point at any distance off, which in turn presses on another tape—the receiving one— likewise running over a cylinder. Side by side with this point is another, the wire of which runs into the rest wheg does also one ot the wires of the double battery which is used to provide the current. Now suppose the first cylinder to be revolved, you will see that ev: time a hole inthe tape comes under cither of the points the point touches the metal cylinder and @ current is excited, running either way, according as the hole is under the posi- tive or negative pole. As this current strikes tho receiving it decomposes certain salts of iron with which it is impregnated and prints dots and run in the positive and negative impressions are arranged apart, side by sido, there is no fear of the impressions running into one unbroken line, and so the rapidity with which the h can be forwarded is only limited. by the with which the frst cylinder is revetved. Tho chemical tape is finally placed in the hands of copyists, who can render it into manu- seript at a rate of 1,500 words an bour, Some compositors would rather read from it than from writing, and in the case of long despatches the com- any will provide for their rapid completion by Rividing them among several hends. Une girl cat copy seventy-six despatches of ordinary length in an hour.” « . ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW SYSTEM. It is stated, as a result of actual experiment, that this instrument possesses the great advantage of working just as weil in wet weather as in dry. eikage in the wires is also of less detriment to ite ration than to that of the Morse system, and but a» low power of battery is necessary to get the best results from it. Tho expense of maintaining it in good working order is said to be very low, the prin- cipal outlay being for hands in the punching and copying Processes. In addition to its instrument the new company Proposes to avail itself of s new stylo of wire in the construction of its lines, It is well known that copper is a much better conductor of the magnetic fluid, than iron, but it is too soft to be used for long spans, being likely to part, from ite own weight. Lately combinstions of iron and Rog 4 have been put in nse, but it is found that when the two are connected by mechanical meaus the action of the weather soon renders them useless. The wire which will be adopted in the new lines ts of cast steel, coated by the olectric process with copper. It is said that this wire will have threefold greater ten- sile strength than that ordinarily in use, and will offer more than five or six ohms of rosistance per mile to the fluid, while that commonly used offers —- to twenty-five ohms. Duplex and quadruplex attachments can be mado to this instrument, and itis said to differ from all others in the fact that it admits of sending ond re- ceiving measages simultaneously from either ond of wire and to ot from any intermediate offices. It said that it surpasses all other systems in ac- racy, as it is impossible that any error can occur unless’ on the part of the copyist. The Morse Fe gn is obliged to make four,or five motions of the hand key to produce one let and his work is trom this as well aa other causes very Hable to error. ‘The promoters of the new enterprise promise many improvements in telegraphy, especially in the intro- duction of mail telegraphs, to be forwarded through co-operation with the post offices through the country . DAVID ©. WINSLOW'S CONDITION. United States Commissioner David C, Winslow, who has been suffering from congestion of the brain since Friday iat, at his place of residence, No, 390 Clin- ton atreet, Brooklyn, was yesterday afternoon ina very precarious condition, his recovery being despaired of by his attending physicians, Mr. Winslow, who in about sixty years of age, waa born in Ramapo, this State, and is a descendant of Governor Winslow, ono of the Puritan Fathers, who cume to America on the Mayflower. He was educated at Newton, Mass., and went to reside in Brooklyn thirty-four years ago. He stadied. law in the office of ex-County Judge N. B. Morse, where he quatifled himself for admission to the Bar, He entered into partnership with his brother, ex-District Attorney John Winslow, in that city, and enjoyed a lucrative practice, He was an active member of the ublican ty in Kings county, and was elected Justice of the Peace at Bay | Ridge, which position he hd for several years, Ho was appointed an Assistant United States Assessor in 186%, and in 1467 he held the office of Register in Balt} y. Bight years ago Mr. Winslow waa inted United States Comm@esioner. He is widely owe for bis inany sterling qualities. TALMACE'S BRETHREN, Brooklyn Presbytery Wielding the Cudg- els of Common Fame. RELIGIOUS J OURNALISM Clergymen Trying to Expound the Laws of Evidence, All Brooklyn is interested in the singular suit of Common Fame vs. T..DeWitt Talmage. It seoms as if all Brooklyn wanted to crowd itself into Clinton street church and watch the proceedings. But that edifice will hardly hold a thousand people, and, fur- | thermore, some of the Presbyters don’t seem to like the display. People who went early to the church yesterday were surprised to find ushers guarding the doors, and those who got there late (that is to say fifteen minutes before the trial began) were still more surprised to find the doors closed. Nobody was allowed to stand in the aisles, and the capacity of the gallery had been reduced by cutting off the rear portion with sliding glass partitions. Not # seat was vacant, and the usual number of hats adorned the accessible mouldings of the-organ. Dr. ‘Talmage entered in his customary fine spirits and sat down by his counsel, the cynosure of many eyes. The Doctor has a little circle of sympathizers about him each day of the trial. Deacon Corwin never leaves’ his side, and his wife and personal friends occupy the front seats in the side and centre rows. He spoke but one loud word during the session, and that word con- veyed a great deal in the way he uttered it. It was s simple “Hore” in answer to the calling of his name upon the roll. Ho appears to enjoy the trial amazingly, as do all the rest. ‘But {t is costing the Presbytery about $40 per day, so the fun is very likely to run itself out before long. . GETTING TO WoRK. | i Rey. Dr. Ludlow, the Moderator, who, by the way, ‘earns that title in its fullest ‘sense, called the Pres- bytery to order at three o’clock and uttered a fow sentences of prayer. Tho roll was called, the min- utes were read and the Moderator rose to express his action in reference to closing the doors after the seats were occupied. The counsel for Dr. Talmage thought that as these procced- ings were of such general interest, besides being of very particular interest to one of the largest congregations in the city of Brooklyn, the greatest possible accommodation should be af- forded, no matter if the Presbytery suffered a little inconvenience. The Moderator, however, explained that the number of people who could obtain stand- ing room in the aisles was inconsiderable, while the annoyance which their presence necessarily created was very considerable. Hig action was finally con- curred in by the Presbytery. Mr. E. Remington, the witness of the daybefore, was recalled. He was principal owner of the Christian at Work when Dr. Talmage left that paper, and the first dozen questions put to him by Dr. Crosby were met with about two mn objections from Dr. Spear and Dr. Millard. Tho'latter is doing most of the ‘‘skir- mishing” for the defence now, while Dr. Spear is held in reserve, like a heavy fi » until some difficult: service is uired. Prosecution was rather outgeneraled at the outset,and Dr. McCul- lough desired to know if the sbarp practices of a criminal court were to be tolerated in this trial. He asserted that such apparently had been the motive ton acer apaion neigh ge solemnit; ig a rr. Spear re great solemnity :—‘‘I woul dispute that statement with a t-h-u-n-d-e-r note, if I & voice equal to that dimension.” (Laughter.) ‘The Moderator s1 that the examination be continued. Mr. Remington testified that he had not any inducement to remain in the editorial chair of the Christian at Work; some time in 1876 he wrote to Dr. Talmiage that unless he could afford to accept a smaller salary than he had before received he might as well write his valedictory, REFRESHING RHETORIC. , Hons enodeer oe in the laws of ee was run ins: . Crosby began an exhaustive appeal to the Moderator, and Dr, Talmage endeavored during its delivery to snatch a few, winks of “We are not lawyers,” ee Sosahjalen toward his = sion, and a lady inafront pew whispered, a 3 Feats cases vay 95 os an emp! remarks rivalled in eloquence Dr. Tsimaaa strong a] for justice on the first day of the trial. The point in dispute was the sdmission se evidence of an inter- view with Dr, Talmage, published in the World of October 12, 1876. Dr. said that such 8 course was ga. “What! he exclaimed, ‘fare we to throw ai all the best intelligence of les of evidence, and establish for ot the succeed, American mind will not submit to it; the | mind will not submit to it; the ecclesiasti- cal will not submit to it.” There was @ minute's silence following thie ad- dresa. Dr. Crosby made s motion to upon his feet for s , but Dr. Spear him down, saying, “1’m not done yet. . Mecul th said he should be very sorry to interrupt such juence. He enjoyed it. * Dr. 8; am vory happy that the gentleman is happy, sir. (Leughter.) It is absurd to make a man responsible for an interview in a newspe- per. Why, Iam sa much of an interviewer as I am of the don’t mean to make a slur dare trust my th: smallpox. I upon the pres, but I don’t for Dr. Spear’s oratory, fessed a great admiration ut he could not say as much for his logic. The prosecution did not intend making any such dis- lays, nor had they s ‘attorney to coach Atto Tenney, wh Seioen satinn ieee Dr. Ta ney , who n . Tal- mage and his counsel throughout the trial.) Dr. was firmly of the opinion that the interview should be put in evidence. e A VICTORY FOR THR DEFENCE. The Moderator deciared that he could not sdmit it, and his reasons therefor at some . The Presbytery, he ssid, could not afford to establish new rules of evidence in place of those that the wisdom of ages had prepared. Those rules were accepted in every English-speaking land, Nor could the Pres- bytery afford to throw over an accused member a protection lesser - & hair’s breadth than that the common lew Hore was no loss of money nor loss of liberty; but loss of repute, the repute of a man who had enlisted his life in the service of God. The Moderator felt it his duty to rule, so far as his knowledge would ermit him, according to the establighed laws of evidence, and he should do so until o ise instructed by the Preabytery. Dr. Crosby—We might as well have this metter settled at once, and 1 from your The Moderator—Is the appeal seconded? Dr. Crosby—Can Impeak a tew words? The Moderator—No, sir. Th must be A Presbyter—I second the appeal reabyter—I seco C Dr. Spear—tI call for the yoas and nays at once. Let every man be put down itn black or white on this question, . Cronby—That 1s Just what we want. Moderator said that it required a request from one-third of the to call the yeas and nays. He took a vote on that SS a were |. The scene was one of Mont exc! of the trial, and the question closely affected the ts of the defendant. Roll call began, and after the first half dozen answers were given it was evident that the appeal was lost, for even now the “ line” is pretty clearly established in the Presbytery, and on this Reis it was clearly broken. The de- cision of the Moderator waa sustained by a vote of 18 to 11. When the result was announced Dr. Van Dyke, who had before refused to vote, declared his intention of offering a protest against the decision of thé Presbytery to-day. BN ROUTE ONCR MORE. Dr. ©: then continued his examination of Mr. Remington. The latter testified that under tho editorship of Dr. Taims the circulation of the Christian at Work wax improved; he had held & conversation with Dr. Taii with reference to the sale of the paper; Dr. Talmage asked witness her @ certain price named would be accep table; Mr. Hallock was Present during this interview and merely said that if certain terma could be upon the per could be din of; wit. ness thought thet this was in the month of March, 1876; could not say whether it was before or after Mr. Corwin’s withdrawal aa publisher; Mr, Hallock did not purchase the paper at that time, but the sale was consummated on the 10th of October that same year; witness had reason to suppose that a sale of the paper to Mr. Hallock would be pleas to Dr. Talmage; the arrangement waa not made wits reference to Dr. Talmage’s retention as editor, ‘Then for fitteen minutes a vet-to between counsel took place as to the admissibility of the interview between the witness and Mr. Hallock, untoss it could be brought home to Dr. Talmage. ‘The Moderator aaked Dr. Oren if he would promise to connect Dr. Talmage with the interview, and the latter re- sponded rather curtly, “1 won't promise anything.” Soon after that the witness wae given over to tender care of the defence, De. Spear bean b: diuiinary spol he . t began by “‘a preliminary "a8 called it, to the witness for anything of ry nature that he m ght feel compelled to ask him. reply to hie queries the witness said he was a mem- ber of the Methodist Church; he did not live in Brooklyn, but came there in answer to a citatioh to appear at the trial; he paid his own ex) on the trip; received a letter from Mr. Crosby while the meatier was ponding before the Presbytery; also re- ceived a second letter from Dr. Crosby; had no con- versation or correspondence with any other mem- ber of the Presbytery prior to the commencement of these proceedings. Dr. Spear inquired:—Did any member of the investi committee address you upon the sub- ject of Dr. standing charged by common fame with falsehood and conceit?” A general laugh followed; and Dr. Spear, realizing his mistake, said yry | “I mean deceit. I beg Dr. Talmage's pardon. He is the humblest man I know of.”’ The witness then said he had only communicated with Dr. Crosby; had an interview with him in re-. lation to what he knew and could testify to; did not ive him a detailed statement of ali that he knew; several times spoken ot Dr. Talmage as having done him (witness) and those associated with him a great injustice; had ‘a moral dislike’ to Dr. ‘Tal- mage, which ‘began at the time of his leaving the Christian at Work; did not attempt to see him within a week after his withdrawal; thought the qnanuer of the wrong was such that uo explanation was neoded; did not feel like coming in contact with him; had neither sought nor had any interview with Dr. Talmage since that event; had inaile efforts to well the paper before Dr. Taimage left: had a consultation with Dr. Taylor with reference to bringing the Jatter into official relations with the Curistian at Work without the knowledge of Dr. Talmage; an examination of the finiucial condition of the paper was made at witness’ request; did not inform Dr. Talmage of so doing, but it waa understood by Dr. Talmage that negotiations for the sale of the paper were at that time goingom Wit- ness was asked to name the employés in the office of the Christian at Work during the summer ot 1876, and furnished several names, He said his private busi- ness was that of a manufacturer of firearms and sew- ing machines, and was asked to name some of the employés there. ABOUT AN ADVERTISEMENT. Witness admitted that such a. man as Alonzo Al- ford was employed in the store; ne was admitted to witnegs’ confiden by witness’ consent Alford published an advertisement in the leading daily peer in 1876 offering to ‘sell the Christian at ‘ork; thought it was insertel in the New Youx’ Heraup. Witness was shown a copy of the Hxnatp of July 13, 1876, and identified the advertisement as one he had authorized, Had no knowledge of the phrasing of the advertisement till after it was printed; saw no reason why the name of the paper should have been given instead of the term “a religious weekly,” which was’ used; saw the signature to the advertisement was “A. L. Fort presumed that Mr. Alford had his, reasons to: signing the advertisement; it was a false name, with Bo intention cf fraud; witness had ¢ ented to the confinuance of the disguise, because thought there was no harm likely to arise from it; the name of the paper was not used for fear it would injure its standing if it were known to be for sale. The cross-examination was here postponed until to-day at three P.M. Dr. Halsey said, for the sake of hurrying through with the trial, he moved the Presbytery sit hereafter with elosed doors, There was such strong objection raised to this by counsel for the defence and others that it was withdrawn, as was another by Dr. Van Dyke that the public should be excluded during tho taking of evidence. Dr. Van Dyke remarke’, how- ever, “You will find it necessary to pass such a reso- lution within two days.” . The following is an abstract of the predictions de- veloped in the course of an interesting conversation reported in the Graphic of yesterday, the prophet being, we believe, Mr. D. (i. Croly, who was lately the managing editor of the journal named :— 1, The year 1879 will, on the whole, be a prospe: one for the United States. There will be a yeneral revival of industry, labor will be employed and con- fidence in the future universally felt. Before the close of the year there will be a widespread interest in precious metal mining. A dangerous speculative feeling in other industries will soon show itself. 2. There will be a partial tailure of crops this year. Our hay crop on the Atlantic slope will be short. 3, At least two important failurés of Wall street magnates will take place this year, They will be of persons with whose names every one is familiar, . AD unsuspected weakness in our national bank- ing system may be developed during the coming ae the disproportion between our exports and im- ports, such as we have witnessed for the ‘past two Years, will come to an end before 1881. Home prices will go higher and foreign goods be sold cheaper. all export less and import more. Unless tho * occurs there will be a drain of gold then resumption, as at present estub- Ushed, must be legislated upon anew or it will fail. 6. Should the country be prosperous and resump- tion stand until the national conventions meet in 1880, John Sherman will be the candidate of the re- publican party for the Presidency. 7. Resumption has not settled all our financial dif- ficulties. Questions affecting the business iterests of the country will be the subject of many warm political contests. But the final result willbe the establishment of a national bank similar to that of Great Britain or France, but probably called by us by a different name. When that occurs the Secretary of the Treasury will be stripped of much of tho power he now possesses. * 4 8. A foreign war before many years are over is not improbable, due to the weakness of our navy and the unprotected condition of our rich seaport cities. 9. A new pestilence or the revival of an old one, which will affect the people inhabiting the tom- zone, is among the probabilities of the near hutnre. 10, Anew motor will soon bo discovered: which will make air navigation possible. . SWISS CHARITY. GRAND FAIR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SWISS BENEVOLENT SOCIETY—BRIGHT SCENES |‘ aF IRVING HALL. A grand fair in aid of the funds of the Swiss Bo- nevolent Society opened last evening in Irving Hall. The hall is beautifully decbrated with emblems of the twenty-two cantons of Switzerland. Imme- diately on entering a floral temple of majestic pro- portions is beheld, the front surmounted by tlie Swiss cross and shield, with the Swiss Republic’s legend :— meacreovenocreresornsene sere rt re—® “UN” POUR TOUS; TOUS POUR UN.” 3 Mawes nenccere cere resere tern 9) At the end of-the hall is a large painting represent- ing s picturesque scune in Switzerland. On each sido, against the balconies, are paintings—one representing the “Osth of Fidelity,” the other a likeness of William Tell. The tables are artistically arranged and contain every conceivable variety of fancy articles. Among the chief contributions are a large number of arti- cles of furniture, such as bureaus, tables, chairs, stands, screens, pictures, paintings, Steinway and Weber pianos, musical instruments and thousauds of others. A notable feature of the exhibition is a collection of artistic Swiss poser a There are de- Ss of articles from Brooklyn and Hopoken, @ French. ent from the French resi- dents of this city, who in this way express their agmpety with their sister Republic. Another feature of the fair will be the presence of several young ladies in the national Swiss costume. MUKICAL ATTRACTIONS. The music last evening wae furnished by the Mo- zart Musical Union, an amateur orchestra of forty per- formers, William Biele conductor. This evening Mr. Frederick Stein, the baritone, and several amateurs will turnish the music. On Friday night Crook's band will appear. Mr. Franz Rummel will perform on the piano and Mme. Marie Roze will sing. On Saturday night Leiboldt’s band will furnish the musie, and a grand entertainment will be given to bring the affair to a fitting close. Contributions are furnished py numerous firms, including silverware from Tiffany & Co., goods from Arnold, Constable & Co., pictures trom Knoodler & Co. ls from Park & Tilford, Acker, Merrall & champagnes from De Bary & azade, Reynaud, Osborne, Sons & Co. di many others. The fair is very liberally patronized by all classes of citizens, and has been in every way successtully started. i The Executive Committee are J. E. Robert, presi- 1 L. Porrelet, treasurer; Ernest John Gerber, B. dent; Henry Ascher, A. E. Paillard vice presidents; August Mathey, Koller and A. Hourict, secrotari Krusi, F, Gianella and E. Durr. AID FOR SZEGEDIN. The New York Hungarian Society at their last meeting adopted the following resolution :— he New York Hungarian Society shall s for the aid of the h Wallach, o 72 n piace” Prauk street; M. Meokn Wwoudy. Xo, t Kiadixko, Hotel by No. 103 Bast Fuorteonth stroct; and Sigismund Vog No. 84 Fulton street, Letters have been sent to Brooklyn calling upon in- fluential citizens there to form a committce similar to the one in this city. Mayor Cooper has notified the committee that he will remit all moneys sub- scribed at his office to Mr. August Belmont, treasurer of tha committee. The following subscriptions were reported at the office of the Executive Committee up to six o'clock Jaat night: — Ad. Rothiniller. itz Bauet. ‘heo. T. A) John Eichler Wm, Zinsser & Franz Deak . 465, 1.6 George Kh THE BROADWAY RAILROAD. The Committee on Streets and the Committee on Railroads of the Board of Aldermen will moct to- day to consider the propositions that have been made from timo to time, in reference to running a horee railroad on Broadway, Both mitteok Will meet in the afternoon, the fortuer #t one v'cluck aud the letter an hour later,