Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-05

Will III Ilm0 SuOl6cD INC country .,r -,
nation against which the people W = 1soe
The subject of Legislative action / uP0'
ing restraints upon the managemeL
railroads is question that should com
mand your earnest and careful attention
The foregoing considerations are not sug
gested altogether by the attitude of the
corporations existing or operating in this
state, but they are applicable in modi
| feAfnrm to the question as presented be
foHe&Sou.
Che very able and comprehensive re-
port of the railroad commissioner will fur
nish you much valuable information OBJ
tanned by thorough research and indus
trious investigation. His exhaustive dis
cussion of the railroad problem" in its
several phases as presented at this time
covers many suggestions of much practical
value. EHis recommendations are mum
erous, and of character that point to-
wards progress in the solution of this com
pick problem.
The classification OF railroads upon the
| basis of income, and the establishment of
board of CONTROL" to fix rates of trans
portation, limited by maximum for each
class and fixed by law, would, | believe.
provide remedy for those complaints OF
discrimination and extortion to which the
commissioners attention is being constant
ly called. recommend such legislation
as will embody this principle. 1t may be
said that legislation of somewhat like
character some years ago was disappoint-
ing IN its results. To this it may be
answered that the conditions are greatly
changed. Then the railroads OF the state
were struggling against adverse circum-
stances. Many of them were practically
bankrupt; their lines were largely located
in sparsely populated or wholly uninhabit-
cd districts, and in some cases without in
come sufficient to meet their expenses. A
decade has wrought wondrous change
in our railroads as in all other material
interests of the state. They are
now, with hardly an exception,
wealthy corporations, earning dividends
and carrying surplus in their treasures.
The wilderness they traversed has been
occupied by populous communities; their
tonnage has increased eight fold, and their
equipment is taxed to its utmost to do the
business pressing upon them. The legisla
ton of 1871 was crude and ill considered
The same principle embodied in provisions
compromising a more enlightened under
standing of the question, gained by the
experience of decade, would prove sue
cess where it was failure ten years ago.
The railroad commissioner recommends
that telegraph companies be placed on the
same basis as railroads as to inspection,
surveillance and taxation; that sleeping
car companies now untaxed, be required to
report to him and pay taxes on basis of
income; that more effective legislation be
had to compel railroad companies to per-
form their duty as common carriers in the
shipment of grain; that railway commits
sion composed of the governor, auditor,
and railroad commissioner for purposes of
appeal and more important questions be
established, and that more power be given
the commissioners Office over railway
companies for the enforcement of existing
laws and regulations effecting railways.
The reasons for each of these and other
recommendations of the report will appear
in his elaborate exposition of each subject.
During the year closing with Dec. 1,
1882, there were constructed 531 87-100
miles of new railway, making a total of
3,749 1900 miles within the boundaries
of the state. The total cost of the rail-
roads of the state is given at $149,312,
631.30, an average of $43,934.12 per mile.
The total amount given to these railroads
by the people of Minnesota in lands and
bonds on cash basis as estimated by the
commissioner is $76,489,790, an average
of $23,331 per mile.
The earnings of all lines in the state for
the year ending June 80, were: From
passengers, $4,816,218.14 freight, $13,-
l58,697.44; miscellaneous, $830,277.5S;
total, $18,8O5, 1876. Total operating ex-
penses, $1O.221, 1859. Average earnings
per mile, $5,742.24; expenses, $3,O66.9O.
There were 9,962,383 passengers carried,
and 5,SS3,120 tons of freight transported
during the year.
The following statement shows the
amount of taxes paid to the state by rail-
road companies since 1864,