The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-12
THE RAILROADS.
Report of the Govern ment
commissioners.

Washington, 10.-The report Of the
Commissioners of Pacific railroads is
made public to day. 1t is a compre-
hensive statement Of the condition Of the
roads, their government, earninge, etc.
In relation to the Oregon and Oalifor-
mia railroad line the commissioner re-
ports 800 miles. exclusive of side tracks,
in operation. He says that an inspection
of the property shows it to be in q some
what improved condition over last year.
It is the intention of the present manage
ment to improve and perfect the prop
erty as rapidly as time and money will
admit, from Portland to Roseburg on the
east of the Willamette river. The track
is good liue and part of it we'll ballasted.
The bridge across the Willamette is 20 be
renewed this year. The trestle approach
on the south side is about q mile long.
The strong current, high waters and the
soft yielding soil, render it impracticable
to fill this treetle, with material. The in
spee'ion extended south to Roseburg, the
present operated terminus. and some fl
teen miles beyond, where the track has
been lsid. Work on the new portion ofthe
line is much superior to that on the othera.
They are using good sound ties and rails.
The region from this to the southern ter
minus Of the main line is of O character
much broken by water courses, ranges of
hills and mountains, and some portions
Of the construction will be very difficult
and expensive. The plan is to build
seuthwardly to the line of the division
between the California and Oregon Bail
road, which is being extended north un-
der The auspices Of the Central Pacific, as
its Oregon division. The junction of
these two roads is expected TO occur in
the latter part Of 1883. and it is fairly as
sumed that sufficient business will
naturally be attracted to this route
to cause a fair and early re-
turn on the Investment. The road from
Corvallis to McMinnville, distance of
seven miles, is in most excellent condi.
ton. From McMinnville to Portland,
fifty miles west, the track needs better
material of all kinds. Properly man
aged, although built at heavy expense,
the local and through business of the
road. after its junction with the Califor-
MIA line of road, should be more LIAM
self-supporting. The total earnings Of
road for the year ending June 80, 1882,
were $685., 177.85; total expenses, S707,-
947.06.
In relation to the northern division of
the Southern Pacific, the commissioners
report the length of the road TIA miles.
OF which it has leased to the Central
Pacific 513, leaving loo miles operated by
the company. Total stock and debt,
$67 ,26l, 757 AZ; total assets SOS, s3l O8S75.
The road is in excellent condition. The
main line, which extends from San
Francisco to Monterey, is almost all laid
vita steel rails, iron rails being used on
the branches, aRd is entirely fenced. Ex-
tenslve warehouses for storing and hand
ling grain are located st convenient
points, and are said to meet ell require
ments.
The Pacific improvement Company
has constructed at Monterey a splendid
structure cal the ''Hotel del Monte"
which lie situated in the centre of beau
TRULY IL proved gr unds, and extensive
arrAngemeI is have been made for sup
plying the premises with nn ample QuAn-
titg OF water for irrigali,g and other
purp SIS. At Ssledad, the terminus of
one of the branches, large shipments of
stock are made To SIN Jose, the princi-
pal st OK market in that section This
company operates q short narrow-Ruage |
road rom Pajaro TO Santa Cruz, which |
was found to De ID good condition, and |
d Jig fair business. 1t is contem-
p aled t. incr' ase This branch to the |
gauge at al early day.
The adjustment Of railroad rates is ore |
Of the most difficult and delicate uues-
tions OF modern times, ard the most !
complicated in the United States, where
every trunk line runs through several
states, each independent within its own
and jealous Of interfere ce
by the general government on account
OF the enormous extent Of this interest;
also its growth, both in the increase OF
mileage and tonnage it demands that its
relation to the public ehall be under ju-
dicious legal control, and rates hud dis
ordinations not entirely within the
arbitrary determination of railroad COM
psnies. The report continues, taking Up
the benefits to the people Of widespread
water competition, which give the United
States the lowest transportation rates in
the world; states the difficulties Surround
ing the adjustment # rates to prevent
discrimination sgainst points at which
no competition; urges the necessity of