The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-11

act requiring these companies, as condition
precedent to doing business in the State, to
spectively, in United States bonds.
Considering the difficulties already expe-
RE need in obtaining frst-class securities Tor
inve tment, except at such rates as to serious
ly impair the profits, q law which adds to
such difficulties without ensaring the adj
ercise OF arbitrary power, not only uncalled
for but detrimental to the interests OF the
State.
To assumption upon which the law seems
to have been passed, that United States bonds
afford the only means of safe investment, is
wholly unwarranted by well known facts. II
State bonds are good enough for our school
fund whose security we watch so zealously, it
is absurd and unjust to exclude them to any
extent as insurance capital. The effect Of this
provision will be to rule out about one third
OF the companies among which are some of
the best now operating in the State; and, as
an abundance Of com petitive capital is re-
qusite to secure fair rates of insurance, the
deleterious effect is obvious. recommend
that the act in question be promptly repealed
or SO modified as to correct its injurious re-
suits.
RAIL ROAD COMMISSIONER
The report OF the Rail Road Commissioner
COndenSes q large amount of valuable intOrma-
ton into comparatively small space. Il at
fOrds the following comparative summary of
the aggregate rail road traffic in the Stale for
the past three years as reported by the sever
al companies, the business year terminating
on the 3Oth OF June, respect ely:
Gross earnings g. 49,, 500 "a 1852 1852 Sc, 900 967
Net earnings l,894,8OO l,O26.8 l,798, 424
Passg. CARRIED l,Ol2,6O6 996,2l8 l,i69O72
Toms Toms It:; m0yed "a l lsss ags s5s
It will thus be seen that the railroad busi-
hess aggregated larger amount, the last year,
than during either Of its predecessors, al
though the earnings were less than those Of
| The sales Of railroad lands for the year end
ing Dec. 3lst, 1875, were unusually large,
reaching i79, 200 acres, which sold Tor 81, 3l7,-
| 779; while for the first halt Of 1876 the sales
| were ia, 470 acres, of hevalue Of $978, 43O.
For the eighteen months thus covered TIE
sales were equal in quantity to 40 per cent. OF
the combined amount o all prior land sales.
These increased sales the Commis sioner
ascribes partly to the deprecated bonds OF
some OF the companies which practically
cheapened the lands purchased by them, and
partially to the extraordinary wheat crop Of
1875, which stimulated the demand for wheat
lands.
The only new railroad construction during
the year in the State, was the section IF thirty
miles Of the WOrthingtOn and Sioux Falls
road extending from WorthingtoK to Luverne,
which was completed and opened for business
in September. The Commissioner expresses
his qualification both with the enterprise
evinced in pushing forward remote frontier
work in period Of depressed railroad inter-
| ests, and with the tact thus evidenced, that
Minnesota is among the first to show a re-
vival OF those great movements which are at
once the cause and the effect OF material pros
perity.
In my last message / recommended such
enlargement Of both the powers and duties Of
the Railroad Commissioner as shall insure 3
constant surveillance Of the condition of the
various railroad tracks, and provide against
accidents from detective bridges and other
insecure structure. The fatal casualty At Brai-
nerd, which had then recently occurred, and
the constant liability of q repetition Of disas-
i tiers from like causes, were de0uced a. justify
ing the precautionary measure suggested. Va
riOus accidents OF the kind throughout the
for the action recommended, while the shook
ing tragedy caused BY the wreck OF rail-
road bridge In Ohio, gives melancholy en-
phAsis TO such necessity. again solicit your
protective Intervention in the interest not only
Of the travelling public, but in that Of the
railroad companies Themselves.
ii PrsCIcULrURE.
4 That there j. N increased appreciation Of
the pFacticability and importance Of the 0ul-
ture Of the several varieties Of fsh IN the
beautiful lakes Of our own 6tate, Il ovinced
IN gratifying manner by the voluntary aid
Afforded BY the different railroad companies
and individuals, in furtheEance Of the 1abors
: Of the Fish Commissioners. which have been
J prosecuted under adverse circumstances. I
! invite your attend n to the very interesting
! report 81 these gentlemen, from which Il ar-
pears that 216, 126 fsh have been introduced
into various lakes named ~ PER their detailed
] statement. and that other important services
have been rendered. The failure Of the leRis-
} lature 70 make the needed approximation ioe
| this work necessitated contribution from the
! Executive contingent, not only 70 insure ii
continuance but TO prevent the partial loss 81
} what had already been accomplished. l All
your considerste support Of this deserving
/ enterprise.
!. refer with pleasure to the encouraging r..
port q the Affairs Of the State Prism. Tn
number OF cOnvlcts It the close ef the yea
Was l66; the average number during tha
xsar, lo3 81. being q average increase Of IS
? The total expenses were 90, 406 70, and hi
. earnings e16, 166 81, showing ! net cost 70 th,
= State Of ~ PAT 81, Or 9lS8 PER capita. Thii
!. shows = decreased cost Of prison maintenance,
irOm thst Of any previous year. and compares
= fav0fably with the conduct of similar fnstitu
4 tj0nS elsewhere. Notwithstanding "a averae,
] increase Of Is inmates, the expenses u tk,
prison we're leN than those d the previon
: yeaT which the InspectOfs ascribe rartly {,
!, he decreased cot Of provisions, and partly