Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California • Page 7

Friday, July 20, (962 7 Its Been One Year Since Tragic NWP Tunne! Fire Disaster's Impact Felt By Everyone In County By RANDALL GOULD Shortly before 5 o'clock on the afternoon of July 20, 1961. one year ago today, two employees of Northwestern Pacific Railroad entered the Puerto Suello Tunnel north of San Rafael. Their visit was routine but it was an annual inspection. So it was by one chance out of 365 that Frank E. Gladwin and James Dermit Ireland blundered on two Santa Venetia boys who had just fashioned and ignited torches made of rags, paper and sticks picked up nearby.

These lads, aged only 12 and 13 years, had started several fires in the tunnel structure. Gladwin and Ireland easily put out two, then conquered a couple of the fifth blazed out of their control. Such random happenings set off a complex of events which brought drastic immediate consequences, others still in progress, and may affect the whole future of Marin County. Despite every effort by quickly-marshaled forces including the San Rafael and other fire departments, police, the California Highway Patrol, public utility workers and ers, the fire within the tunnel was fanned into an intense conflagration which was checked only by rock and dirt cave- ins at both of a number of striking resemblances to Western Pacific Potrero Tunnel fire in San Francisco nearly a year later. But there were plenty of grim special items about the Puerto Suello disaster.

At an early stage it cost one life, that of a 23-year-old Alto fireman whose truck fell into a 100-foot cave-in as flames ate at the wood tunnel supports until the roof gave way. Two apartment houses on Lincoln Avenue, valued together at nearly $200,000, were victims of fire and cave-in. Major pipelines carrying Kent Lake water to the northern part of the Marin Municipal Water District were broken. Lincoln Avenue caved in, there was damage to nearby Ranchitos Road, and two southbound lanes of Highway 101 had to be closed temporarily. An electric line was snapped by a falling tree, cutting service to 325 homes.

Gas lines had to be rerouted, i These were onlv some of the immediate and in some degree neers decided it would be eas- passing consequences. Train ier and cheaper merely to esti- traffic through the tunnel was mate on a pre- of course halted, but that was sumption of tunnel condition, presumed by most people to Cost estimates on tunnel be only a temporary matter. reconstruction came out sur- But before long it began to appear that this question of freight service from the north through San Rafael might become permanent. At any rate, the owners of the railroad wished it so. Their attitude became apparent even before their now- famous application for aban- prisinglv close.

The railroad calculated a cost of $851,665 (though the private Morrison-Knudsen firm guessed $1,212,625) while the Jacob- Hawke cost estimate for the same type of steel-concrete work was $851,875. But even abandonment would mean more problems and donment was filed with the more exepnse. Interstate Commerce Commission. Lawyers have been interested in legal problems of respon- A result of the attitude so sibility all along the line, ap- expressed four weeks after- plicable in both the Puerto i ward bv Northwestern Pacific Suello and the Potrero Tunnel and its sole owner, Southern 1 Pacific, is that to this day nobody knows the precise situation inside the tunnel. County fire chief at that burnings.

Basically the question centers about how much responsibility, if any, a railroad must assume following a disaster times was Charles Reillev, who caused bv somebodv else. a mona a TRY MY DELICIOUS CHILI VERDE Sparrrib Saute with Special Sauce. Just one of the many dishes on our menu find something every member of the family likes at NOW SERVING TILL 10:30 P.M. NIGHTLY MONDAYS Tuesday RAMONA'S, 1 025 Street, Gl 4 0761, San Rafael WAGON Banquet Facilities Closed Monday Hwy. 107, Naof Richardson Bridge Mill Valley DU 8 0663 Featuring: Prime Rib Dinners Savory Sea Foods Char-Broiled Steaks German Intrees LUNCHES SERVED 11 A.M.

TO 3 P.M. DANCING FRI. SAT. GENE BYRNES COMBO Winner of the American dourmct Society Award for 1961 A PICTURESQUE RESTAURANT HIDE-AWAY featuring CONTINENTAL DINNERS Our Special Art Exhibit This Month Features the Paintings of Howard Gilligan featuring LOWELL HAWK at the PIANO BAR OF FAIRFAX Sir Francis Drake Olema Road For Reservations, GL 6-3870 Closed Monday Tuesday The Original of Marin SAN RAFAEL American and Italian Food Lunches Dinners (Cocktail Lounge Piano Entertainment Open From 11 a.m. (Closed Sundays) 931 Fourth San Rafael, Opposite Macy's 453-9994 Hector Rubini Guido Farina sent six units to help San Rafael firefighters.

He had one of the last looks into the flaming tunnel just before the north portal cave-in and it must have been a spectacular sight indeed. Reilley believed, however, that major collapse occurred only at the entrances and that after these had been plugged the fire was snuffed out by lack of oxygen. Water sent through the tunnel area in daily tests showed high temperatures prevailing for more than a week, however. The City of San Francisco has taken a militant view about the Potrero affair, caused by brush fire spreading to the tunnel, and in going ahead with work necessary to safeguard what is above the tunnel has threatened to sue the railroad. There was talk some time ago of water district suit because of the Puerto Suello disaster hut much of this hangs in abeyance pending outcome of the abandonment proceedings.

However, the railroad did LINCOLN AVENUE CAVES IN OVER This picture taken the morning after the Puerto Suello tunnel fire shows how Lincoln Avenue drop- pend as the timber supports burned in the tunnel below. The two apartments which suffered from fire and cave-in were just behind and to the right of the photographer. Note smoke arising from caved in area beyond group at left. Nobody actually has gone in- have to decide about damage to the tunnel since the disas- to two roads and its decision ter. County Coroner Frank was different because of dif- Keaton was lowered by crane ferences as to time when the into the cave-in where Fire- roads were constructed, man Frank Kinsler was lost but Some points of pertinence in he came up without results this connection were brought after three minutes.

out in the ICC hearings which body had to be dug started before Examiner F. out from under tons of dirt Roy Linn in San Francisco last and debris and was recovered Jan. 25, and after four eon- on the morning of the second day from 50 feet below street level. tinuanees were brought to termination on June 8. During March, Southern Pa- Aside from efforts to peer cific maintenance engineer W.

down the points of cave-in, expected survey by either the J. Jones said that if the railroad were allowed to abandon railroad or anyone else failed the tunnel he would suggest to materialize. This was to be only a of the a tender point between rail- southern portal to prevent road attorneys and the City of San Rafael, with no real clarification during long-drawn ICC abandonment proceedings. The actual facts seem so obscure but they illustrate how complications multiply fast in any such situation. Two internationally known engineers.

J. Donovan Jacobs of Greenbrae and J. P. Hawke of Orinda, were retained by the city and they proposed that railroad and city share costs of sinking shafts to explore the state of the tunnel. The railroad indicated it had no curiosity and indeed it had by then already filed notice of its desire to abandon the tunnel together with 2.46 miles of track north from Fourth Street in San Rafael.

sidence, at a cost of $25.000. Independent-Journal photos taken down a hole in the caved parts were produced to show probability of further cracking and Jones was asked by San Rafael attorney Boris II. Lakusta to assume that the railroad was wrong, it has the liability to prevent Jones said he had estimated $.300,000 cost for boring holes from above and putting sand or pea gravel in under pressure. The Jacobs-Hawke cost estimate for all that must be done under abandonment totaled $301,640 including such items as street replacement. But the ICC considers many things.

Among these was testimony that if abandonment A subsequent engineering were allowed, the state might report spoke of alleged save as much as $597,900 in fusal to permit reconstruction of Highway 101 which brought angry objec- through San Rafael, tions from the railroad. The Other cost figures pro and fact seems to be that though con ran beyond easy computa- the railroad wouldn't share tion. Some owners of business costs of exploration, and fur- enterprises testified that if ther pointed out that to dig left entirely without rail serv- from above would involve ice they must quit the county, property rights of third parties. Many testified that they were entry from one of the blocked handicapped by lack of serv- proposed wdth refer- ice from the north through the enee to the Potrero tunnel, even though rail points was feasible but the engi- south of San Rafael continue Refreshingly COMPLETE DINNERS DINING at NERO'S AIP CONDITIONED to be served by Santa Fe-operated ferries taking cars from Tiburon. Northwestern Pacific conceded that because of the weight and hulk of aggregates such as rock, sand and gravel, along with cement, this material ran he efficiently routed around the Bay and by ferry.

To truck southward from the railhead north of San Rafael costs more, despite a price cut at the Healdshurg point of origin which was temporary to existing contracts. Basic economic contentions brought out during the hearing differed vastly so far as the railroads were concerned. The Santa Fe Railroad claimed that it must lose a million dollars a year to its rival, the Southern Pacific (with which at one time it shared joint ownership of Northwestern Pacific) so long as the tunnel stays closed. Southern Pacific contended that operation of the tunnel meant an overall loss to its system which includes NWP. But so far as NWP itself is concerned, Hawk said that to rebuild the tunnel even at cost of $900.000 would yield annual return of 18.15 per cent on this cost.

He said the own figures indicate that in 1960, for example, the railroad was $101,656 by having the tunnel. Railroad spokesmen have consistently denied that tunnel abandonment would eventually lead to abandonment of all Marin County rail service. But efforts already have been made to abandon the Sausalito branch and an ICC turndown only led to an appeal still pending. Nor has it been denied that the present situation led to such obvious deterioration of service as twice- weekly ferries to Tiburon rather than daily as before. When will there be final official decision about ment0 Nobody knows but it certainly will be a matter of months, probably years.

Even in the matter of briefs, the lawyers were given until next Monday to file. The examiner must study for a time, then make his recommendation. Then will come decision by the commission itself which NORTH PORTAL ABLAZE Minutes before a slide of rocks and dirt shut off the north portal of Puerto Suello Tunnel a year ago today, San Rafael firemen and a railroad worker (leaning forward, in overalls) were risking their lives in a last effort to quench the fire. Flames, seen at top of the portal, had just appeared as result of a cave-in of Lincoln Avenue which admitted oxygen to the tunnel and caused the blaze to dart out through billowing smoke for the first time. (Independent-Journal Photos) delicious choice steaks superb seafoods prime ribs of beef famous chicken varieties plgi many more dinners on our menu (children's portions) Bring the Whole Family And DINE TONIGHT AT NERO'S DANCING nite I Banquet Facilities up to 150 WEDDING PARTIES at Nave lanes, 5800 Redwood Hwy.

NOVATO just North of Hamilton A.F.B. GL 4-4700, TW 2-61 18, TU 3-7834 Output Is Up For Russ Industry MOSCOW industry in the first half of 1962 boosted its output by 10 per cent and its labor productivity by 6 per cent over the first six months of 1961, Tass said today. The Soviet news agency said both industrial and farm outputs for the first half of this year were 3 per cent over the planned quota. Massage for Better Health Through Better Circulation ERIC LINDBERG and Dry Heat Swedish Masseur 12 Woodland Place, San Kafeef By appointment only Tel. 454-4849 may not follow the examiner's the Sausalito abandonment matter the examiner recommended a a donment but the commission reversed his view.

If the tunnel decision goes against the railroad, precedent of its attitude on the Sausalito case would suggest that there will be appeal. Finally, what of the two boys who started this whole affair? There have been rumors that one or both is free. But 'Right To Work' Laws Called Harmful INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Former Agriculture Secretary Claude R. Wickard has called to laws harmful to farmers.

loss of bargaining power of working people tends to reduce their purchasing power. The best customers are working people and they are adversely affected when their best customers lose Wickard said yesterday in a letter to the Indiana Council for Industrial Peace. latest check suggests otherwise. The family of one moved to Sonoma County and the hoy after coming under jurisdiction of the Sonoma court was turned over to the Youth Authority. Marin County probation chief Walter Rusher says that eight months is about the average for the authority to keep a boy but in this ease, he thinks the lad is still in custody.

Investigation of the other boy revealed strange conduct and hallucinations. It was concluded that he suffered from mental illness. This resulted in his being sent to a private center for treatment in Mendo- Marin Farm Bureau Seeking Candidates A Marin County Farm Bureau in the- People has been formed to seek nomination of political candidate believing in farm bureau policies. Members of the committee are Donald Mclsaac, A. J.

Bianchi. David Burbank. James Grossi and Fred Lafranchi. cino County, with Marin County footing the bills for his treatment. Though it is thought possible that he has occasional short holidays at his Santa Venetia home, Busher says the June bill has been paid and one Is expected for July.

a small part of the price Marin County is paying overall. MARIN FIRE CALLS YESTERDAY: 2:19 p.m., In wiring on houseboat caused small houseboat fire on Arquess property off Gate Five Road; no damage. 3:45 I call for accident at north end of Golden Gate Bridge: ambulance transported Arthur Hall of San Francisco to Marin General pital. 9:17 p.m.. Mill fire in carnival snake trailer at the Youth-O-Rama fair in Project 17 near the intersection of Camino Alto and East Blithedale Avenue; fire, which caused minor damage, was extinguished before firemen arrived; cause unknown.

TODAY: 7:13 a.m., Point Reyes Woodpile burned at S. Dilena residence on Mesa Road; $70 damage to two cords of wood; caused by cigarette. 8:58 San Rafael Spot grass fire on west side of Highway 101 near St. Vincents Hill; possible cause cigarette; no damage..