The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-12-21
IOWA RAILWAYS.

The Annual Report Of the Commissioners.
Tie fifth annual report Of the Board
Of Railroad Commissioners Of Iowa
comprises showing of the traffic. OPP
Grating expenses and condition Of the
railroad companies doing business in
Iowa for the year ending June 30, 1882,
as given in the returns Of the several
companies made to the board. The
board state with satisfaction that Oil
mile, have been added to the working
mileage Of the road ], and that probably
before the close Of the year several
hundred miles in addition will have
been completed Always abreast Of the
times, the prosperity # the past year
il nowhere more manifest in practical
results than in the field of railway en-
tarprise. No year in the history of the
Safe has added 50 great mileage.
Every county in the State is traversed
hv an operated line Of railway, and q
large per cent. Of the counties have
competitive or rival lines. The board
congratulates tie people of the State
npon the growth and increasing efiici-
encv Of its railway system, as it is not
only bringing the means of speedy,
safe and cheap transportation within
the reach of oil, but it hastens the day
for the development and perfection Of
Legislative system of railway control
that will at once restore confidence be-
tween producer ani carrier and carry
the service to the highest possible point
Of efficiency.
4 careful examination Of the report
disclose, facts worthy the attention and
study of all who are interested in the
transportation problem of the day.
More complaints have been presented,
examined and decided this year than in
anv previous year during the existence
of the board Complaints investigated
this year reached the number Of sixty
five. and while these cases have grown
in importance as we'll as in numbers,
involving. as many Of them do, ques-
tions Of much interest to the companies,
i it i era ifying to be able TO state that
the Il, ,cisions of the. board have been as
promptly ohcyed and complied with as
the mandates of court Of law, thus
demonstrating that an appeal to pub
lcity is luiie as effective with these
corporations a. IN appeal to the courts.
While this condition Of things in this
re ar.l continues ii may be neces arv,
perhaps. 10 discuss the question of pro-
vding further legal power Of enforce
ment. Power is frcaneatly quite as ef-
|, ctive in reserve a, in action. Should
these corporations at any future time
seem disposed to misintcrp,et this
grace on the part Of the State. il will
be an easy matter 10 promptly exercise
the power t. enforce obedience.
CAPITAL STOCK.
The total number Of miles Of railroad
in Iowa reported by the various som-
panies IL the board is 6.337 A. The re.
port Of the capital stock and debt is
/ based on the entire lines OF the roads
which run into other States-The entire
mileage Of these roads Is lS, ,54s.64. The
I Commissioners estimate ot the stock oi
| these roads representing the parts ol
i them in Iowa. added To the stock Of the
roads entirely in Iowa. amounts to Sl2l !.
/ l6O,Os4.Sl. or $40. ll7.54 per mile. The
total number Of stockholder, living in
] the State is returned at 73i: the total
amount Of stock reported rs owned by
persons living in tho State is $2,096,,
/ 34l Al.
STOCK AND DEBT.
The total delt of the roads in Iowa.
as reported and estimated by the Com
missioners, is S1lS,057, 1876, or SlS,
6as. 40 per mile. OF this amount Sll2,
637 7.966.O5 is funded debt-S5, ,419,
2l7.ll is unfunled or floating debt.
The stock and debt of the roads in
Iowa amount to $3.50. 2l7 ,267.91, OF
$37. 1854 per mile.
The following table shows the amour,
of stock and the amount Of debt pei
mile Of each company, as returned BY