The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-09

Number In process OF con-
structlon ..........-............-. LOT
Increase of 1882 over 1881. 266
Incrt ase of 1882 over $780,. 1873
Capitol stock on railroads at
close of 1882 sls5 600. 600
Bonded debts on railroads At
close Of 1882. 14s, SOC, OOC
Total stock and debts........... 283, 500. 0UC
Increase of 1882 over ISL. 16,75SOOC
Increase of 1882 over $780,. SO, los, O0C
Gross earnings In lSS2.........- 80 Zoo. 0Ot
Increase of same over ISL 5000 O0C
Increase of same over $780,. l0,600O0I
Operating expenses in 1882. $4,000 600
Net earnings in 1882 1000, OOC
From this $11 600. 900 is to be paid the
interest on the $148, 500 900 of debts, which
smounts to about $3.50, 900, and the bal
ance, g, IN, 600, to be divided between the
holders of stock:
Per cent. of increase of net
earnings Of 1882 over 1881 %
Per cent. of increase of net
earnings of 1881 over 1880 90
Gress receipts on passengers,
l6SZ......... .............. % zoo ,OOU
Issl......:.............. ......:..... $4,000
Gross receipts on passengers,
ls80...................... ........... 1928, 600
Gross receipts on freigbts. 1882 24,O9O,0OO
Gross receipts on freights, 1881 I9,71O,OOO
Gross receipts on freights, 1880 16,352,OOO
Gross receipts on misceila-
neous earnings from trans
portat,on, lsS2............... 1,e5o,OOO
Gross receipts on miscella-
neous earnings from trans
psrtation, 1881 100000. .......~ 1850 900
Gross receipts on miscella-
neous earnings from trans
portation. l8SO......... ........ 1,120,0O0
The cost of transportation Ito the COM
panies) has gradually diminished for sew
sral years past resulting in part from the
largely increased volume OF tonnage and
travel. and SO distributed. as to employ
their machinery prsftably in passing to
and fro along the whole or part of the line.
The cost to the public Il. e. rates) has been
Is per cent. less since March 1878, than be-
fore resulting from the operation of the
law of 1875, as administered by the Rail.
road Commissioners. This has saved to
the people $25, 900 900 in five years.
Number of persons employed
on railroads in Missouri in
1882. ..................-......... 24.75O
Average number to mile of road 81
Highest local passenger rate,
1882..............-......... cents.
Lowest through rate reported. cent.
Average on all under tending
downward) ..-............ ........ 2cents.
Average freight rate very little
change since 1885, ...-......... u cents.
The general condition of the roads is
good and constantly improving; the ex-
seption being on short lines with light
traffic. Iron rails are being replaced with
steel, and iron bridges are replacing wood
en- ones. The first $50 miles of the St.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad is a
specimen of excellent track. The capital
represented in the roads is shown BY TIE
stock and bond account 10 be $283 500. 600.
Their cash cost to the companies cannot
now be ascertained. The road-beds, gen.
orally, throughout the state, are in excel
lent condition, and are being constantly
improved BY labor. and with the safest
modern appliances, such as steel rails,
iron bridges, tresfles with embankments,
reducing the short curves and heavy
grades. and extending over the trunk lines,
substantial stone ballasting. The COM
panies repair suggested faults and defects
in their road-beds and machinery with
alacrity, and We may congratulate them
upon the greatly improved condition of
their road beds and character of their
coaches, and mail and express cars, and
locomotives; the acceleration of speed
with which they move their trains, and
the politeness and vigilance of the officers
and employees of the various roads.
Along the lines of the old roads are still
seen many old sombre looking depots,
which were erected at an early day in
their history, and which should be re-
placed by buildings of more modern archi-
lecture, in keeping with the prosperity of
the roads. / am satisfied that the man.
ayers of onr railroads will see the necessity
for such changes, and will further elevate
their roads in the public esteem by these
additional improvements. Section IL of
Article IL, of the Constitution forbids the
consolidation of parallel or competing lines
of railroads within this State. This Sec
ton was not inserted in the Constitution
for the purpose of arraying the police
power of the State'against the roads, but to
prevent their franchises and privileges
from being used against the interests of
the people, and converted into powers to
Cypress those who invoked them into ex-
istepce. do not know that such consol-
idations as are prohibited By the Coustitu-