The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-12-14
RAILWAY REGULATION.


Report 81 tho c0innissioner ~ Railroads
IN Interesting and Instructive D0ou
ment
WAsnEoroS, Dec. iO,--ln The annual TO-
port OF the commissioner of railroads fol
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1889, the com.
missioner says AS rule accounts OIL
roads are kept In thoroughly oomprehon.
s'yc end business-like manner. Members
oil the bureau made extensive trips this
year 10 inspect properties of railroads COM
ing within its jurisdiction. A decidedly
healthy Improvement in the construction,
operation ana business were manifest.
steel rails have been substituted
Tor IRON, as Tar as practicable, more tics have
been placed to the mile and OF superior
quality, better iastenings aud good ballast
afe pelhg used; biidges and buildings are
Lot only being repaired and renewed. but
generally improved or replaced by better
ones; embankments and cuts are being
Wldened; grades aud curvatures reduced
anu great improvements as lar as Dractlc.
aple; The best locomotives are being used
ana improved passenger and freight cars
purchased or built. The unprecedented
construction of railroads during the present
year deserves very thoughtful considera
!
developing that section, and make through
connection with important distributing
| points, which will ultimately be OF great
value TO the main lines. The money appli-
caoie TO The repayment OF interest, 5 per
cent OF the earnings, and the sinking fund
requirements, derived from trans
Portatlon receipts will be $l6,SO7 OH
Inc Ing tolal cash payment to December 3lsJ,
1881, required from companies in addition
10 the retention Of entire compensation for
services are: Central Pacific, Sl,2S2, 264;
Central Branch Union Pxcific. 81 953:
u Union Pacific, 1901 ,S37 total, 50 ls6,o5i.
TOTAL Indebtedness Of the several subidized
flAclhc railroads to the United States
y ~ oV, 1857, was; principal $780,
oo9,odo, IN view OF the low rate Of interest
returned from investments made by the sec
rotary OF the treasury, / deem it my
uuty 10 recommend section of the
act OF May Z, 1878, be amended to authorize
Inc secretary OF the treasury to invest sink
INK luhos IN flrSt mortgage bonds of COM
Panles, or such bonds as have been issued
W theli oy Inc United States, or other good
anu suInclent securities, and convert the
0ondsnow heldby the treasurer of the United
states IN said sinking funds into money at
inarket rates and reinyest the srme into
Ike sureties. AS many doubts are expressed
as TO the ability to meet the Indebtedness
or maturity, and as to the efficiency of the
provisions for the sinking fund, | deem it |
proper 10 suggest, whether it may be prac-
tcaOle ana highly desirable, with the cor. |
sent OF companies, to change the form OF in.
deotedness from running book accounts
lbto settlement by actual delivery OF inter. |
est'Dearlng bonds for amounts found to be |
due, on convenient day, say July 1st |
1863, at which time cne-half of the interest |
VIII be 'paid by the United States. |
Lei me ascertalned amount be divided into,
"a N nm al III -
De represented by redemption bond, one
payable each six months, together with in
ieTeSC upon the whole unpaid remainder of |
the debt, the lien to remain as it is. The |
report also says: The adjustment of rail
foaa rates IS one of the most difficult and |
oellcate questions of modern times, and it is
Specially complicated in the United States,
where every runk runs throuah several
states, each independent within its own iu.
risulctlon, and jealous Of all interference by |
the general government The enormous ex-
teut OF this interest aud the rapidity of its |
CROWN, both In increase Of mileage and
tonnage, demand that its relations to the
public shall be under some judicious legal
control, that rates and dsc'imina-
u9n shall not entirely be within the
arbitrary determination of railroad COM
panles. They are subject to competitions
winch they cannot control, upon the
ocean, upon lakes and upon the rivers The |
great lakes and rivers, so peculiarly adyan-
tageously located. with their numerous tar
reachlng and widely extended navigabe
tributaries, carry water competition into
almost every portion of the country, with
the effect Of so reducing general rates that
The United States enjoys the cheapest rail-
roac transportation in the world.
AS yet, no just basis of general
Application Tor adjustment and dis.
,rlminatlons has been found, and
u Is undeniable that their hardships are
neither few nor small, arising from existing
often arbitrarily imposed
which Affect disastrously local trade at nom
points. There is a growing and
,lamorous demand among the people that
"a lroad management shall be subject to
NE restraints of law, nor is railway man.
igement adverse to reasonable control. 1t
lds become necessity that wars OF rates
shall be controlled in the interests of the
people and roads. Such vars
commercial values, afTording sudden and
unusual profits to a few and entailing heavy
osses upon others. Railway commissions
rave been appointed in twonty-one states.
The report continues: The exercise of
lealthful influences over railroad manage
nent, but with railroad transportation
t1ctly confined within state jurisdiction,
: so limited that IL leaves the real difficult.
les unsolved and the power of congIess
.ver the whole subject can hardly be ques-
Toned. The supreme court of Illinois con-
eded it and decisions of the supreme court
I the United States seem 10 rem
er it indisputable. The commission
recommended is to take into consideration
he whole OF the question report to con
ress facts necessary for intelligent and ef
Gent action upon the subject. The COM
Missioner speaks Of unnecessary and dan.
erous dissimiarity NJ railway SIGNALS. and
the adoption OF uniform sys-
an. After review in de-
Ill Of the operations of the
acific roads mentioned, he closes report
18th an estimate Of expenses of the railroad
'fiice for the next fiscal year OF $4,000.