Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-12-21
VOL. V.-NO. 9.
D. S. Railroad Commissioners Report.
WAsHINoToN, December 10.

WASHINGTON, December 10
In the annual report Gf the Commissioners OF
Railroads for the fiscal year ended june SO,
1882, the Commissioner says:
AS a rule the accounts of roads are kept in
thoroughly comprehensive aud bussness-1ke
manner. Members of the bureau made extern
sive trips this year to inspect the vast proper
ties of the numerous bonded and land-grant
rail coads coming within its jurisdiction De-
cidedly healthy improvement in construction,
operation end business is manifested. Steel
rails are substituted for iron as rapidly as
practicable, more ties to the mile and OF
superior quality, better fasten ngs and good
ballast being used. Bridges and buildings are
not only being repaired and renewed, but gem
orally improved or replaced with better ones
Entertainments and cuts are being Widened,
grades and curYatures reduced, and general
improvements made as far as practicable
The best locomotives are used and improved
passenger and freight cars purchased or built.
The unprecedenU construction Of railroads
the present year deserves very thoughtful
consideration. The Pacific companies are
rapidly extending their lines to secure the
trade in MISUNDERSTANDING sections, or make
through connections with important distribute
ing poinrs, which will ultimately be of great
value TO the main lines. The money applicable
to the repayment of interest" five per cent.
of the net earnings, and sinking fund and it's
requirements, derived from transportation re-
ceipts, will be sic, 80, 044. The total cash pay
ments to December 81, 1881, required from the
companies, in addition to the retention of the
entire compensation for services, are: Gem
trail Pacific, 81, 2S2, 1854; Central Branch Union
Pacific, 81, 1858; Union Pacific, $90l.S3T total,
ST. ,454. The total Indebtedness OF the
several subsidized Pacific railroads to the
United States June 30, 1885,, wasi Union Pacific
principal, $50, 539, 5l2; accrued interest, 500
OSO 99S; total S63 620,5l0; Central Pacific, prin-
cipal 81, S55 $50; accrued interest, S24 $50, l3S;
total, S52 40 S13; Sioux City & Pacific, princf-
pal 62S $50; accrued interest 81 40, 447i total
S3043, T67; Central Branch Union Pacific, prin-
cipal 81 100000 accrued interest Sl,50l ,SOS.26;
total, So, 101,S0S.28. Transportation services
performed and money paid into the Treasury:
Union Pacific, $12,38O,603; Central Pacific,
5000, 665: Sioux City & Pacific, S95,27S; Cen
traI Branch Union Pacific. 1865; total, $1s,-
592, lO2. Balance in favor of the United States,
but not due until maturity: Principal, 1885,
1893, sos, ,7s6. The sinkng-fu2d accounts
amount, June 30, to $2,716,S221. The Commits
siOner says:
''This fund has evidently not accomplished
the result anticipated, and since April, 1881,
may be regarded as having practically failed
for want of suitable investment. In view OK
the low rate Of interest returned from the
investments made by the Secretary of the
Treasury, deem it my duty to recommend
that Sec. 8. act of May 7, 1878, be amended so as
invest the sinking funds in frst-mortgage
bonds of the companies, or such ponds as nave
been issued to them by the United States, or
in other good and sufficient secur ties, and
convert the bonds now held By the Unted
States in said sinking funds into money 'i1ey at
curities. AS many doubts have been expressed
as to the ability of the companies to meettheiH
Indebtedness at maturity, and as to the eh1-
cheney of the provisions for the sinking fund.-
deem it proper to suggest wIhether II may
not be profitable and highly desirable, with
"a
hook accOunt into settlement and ..ctual de-
livery of interest-bearing bonds for the
amount found to be due on convenient oays
say July l, 1883, at which time one-halT or th9
States; let the ascertained amount be divided
into, say, one hundred semi-annual 1nSialE-
ments each to be represented d, by dt Tede EMP
interest upon the whole unpaid remainder OF
the debt, the lien to remain as 1t is
The report says:
WTbe nd iustment of railroad rates is one OF
the most difficult and delicate questions of
modem mes, and it IS specially complicated
runs through several States, each Independents
within IT'S own jurisdiction, and jealous OF all
interference by the General Government: me ne
pid.ty OF its growth, both in increase OF mile
age and tonnage, demands that its relation TO
the public shall be under some Judclods legaL
control. Rates and determinations are not en-
tirely within the arbitrary determination or
the railroad companies. They are subject to
the ocean, upon the lakes and upon the rivers.
The great lakes and rivers, SO peculia ly ad-
vantageously located as 10 trade, with their
numerous far-reaching ana wideiy-eXt 'nded
navigable tributaries, carry water compe..
fiCion into almost every portion OF
the country, with the effect of 50 reducing
general rates that the United States enjoys
the cheapest railroad transportation IN tnS
world As yet no Just basis of general apFu-
cation for the adjustment of rates and d1scr1m-
nations has been found, and it is undenidble
that there are hardships. neither few nor
small, arising from existing DETERMINATIONS,
often arbitrarily imposed, which affect disaS-
trOusly local trade at DOn-cOmpeting points.
There is a growing and clamorous demand
among the people that railroad manaGemenE
Shall be subjected to the restraints or law;
nor is railroad mauage meut adverse to rea-
sOnable control 1t has become q necessity
that wars of rates shall be controlled in the
interests of the people and the roads Such
wars unsettle, within their operation, COM
mercial values, affording sudden and unrear
sonable profits TO the few and entailing heavy
losses upon the 9th rs.
IS The Railway Commissioners appointed In
tWenty-One States" the report continues, F" eX-
ercise healthfuI influence over RAJ lrOad man
agement.- But railroad transportation strictly
confined within State jurisdiction is so nmlLeQ
that it leaves the real difficulties unsolved ana
nearly unaffected. The power OF Congress
over the whole subject can hardly be ques-
toned. The Supreme Court OF Illinois con-
cedes it, and the decisions of the Supreme
Court of the United States seem to render IL
indisputaDle. A commission is recommended
to take into consideration the whole question,
and report to Congress facts necessary for i'm
telligent and efficient action upon the subject
The Commissioner speaks of the unnecessa-
~ and dangerous dissimilarity Of railway Sig
form system. a review in detail OF the opera
| lions of the Pacific roads mentioned closes the
report. The estimate Of the expenses OF the
railroad office the next fiscal year Is $4,000.