The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-02-21
MINNESOTA RAILROADS.
asSioner Bakers Annual Re-
Slsmmary of the Document.

assioner Bakers Annual Re-
Summary Of the Document.
Ianual report of Gen. James H. Baker,
ii Commissioner, to the Governor of the
|s just been issued from the press. It
Fs a great deal Of matter Of special in
certain classes of readers, but to the
public synopsis will be more satisfac-
n extended extracts.
eport, enters much less exhaustively
tr,Secessor into the discussion Of the
Pnases of the railroad problem, the re-
tween the companies and the state, and
lions at issue between some portions
Immunity and the corporations. On
der subjects of consolidation, diserim-
pooling, and the establishment of eff
troll by state authorities, the commits
'ntents himself with reference to the
onclNsions reached and advanced by
jar ago.
Equality and injustice of the present
fn gNading passes under review, and
missioner suggests the establishment
pm of state inspection, with provision
tanning of capable inspectors, having
sjects both the accomplishment of JUS
le farmer, and the general elevation
Tks complete separation of the e!e-
Htrol, and the buying and selling Of
urged as a prerequisite to any system
competition. A reduction of freight
Earnestly recommended, on the basis
.ns well as generosity The conclutl-
lTaph of Gen. Bakers treatment Of it
tiently express his views.
lming the whole situation, with the
obtainahle asto grievances and rem
appears to us that if an honest and fair
state inspection were adopted, based
lied o,.xhe Illinois law; if all eleva-
,rain warehouses were made strictly
lrehouses, and their business divorced
l'of buying grain; and finally, if the
'of grain was made open and free to
re- whon,J,eyer, as by law and justice
70 be, then by the operation of these
the injuries HOW complained of would
cease, and this business, like other
resolve itself by the laws and forces
1ern rg.fcttcrcd trade.
allnes:, of the compensation received
employees is advcrted to- 1t is point
BIT 1879 persons were killed in railroad
during the year, an increase over the
while the number of injured shows
Of 81. The casualty list is COM
d that of states having much great
., and it is urged by some action
taken to provide for the greater
employees.
ither, quite as excellent and vastly
artant, asks our congressional delega-
TT themselves i'll favor of the removal
'nded charges and pctty restrictions
~ losing, to rs the traffic Of Manitoba;
! 1,,,, f,,,.a 81 ,.<v1,f VII
permanent diversion by reason Of
3obstr,ctions. Matters of history Or
reference to the various lines, to-
d brief treatment Of the taxation of
nds, cover the remainder Of the re-
aboyc with the following summary
good idea OF the scope Of the report:
the year closing Dec. /, 1874;
railwHy have been built, making s
I,5O5.:sG33 within the borders of the
compared with 3, 100. IL miles ir
here has been some change
age since the last report
material alteration of track
of the roads; also the Off.
charges the mileage, as estimated
missioner, of some of the branches
last year. The net gain in the
dec. + is 1868 miles. or the
Inc counties in the state, seventy
how supplied with reasonable rail.
ties The total cost Of all miles OF
erate'. III the state up to June 81
s,O7 L, l5D.Il. The average cost
trailway operated in the state ur
so vas 1913, 3GS. &C. The tota}
ven to these railways by the peo-
anesota, in lands and bonds, on o
was $7G, G63 900. The average
mile, given to these railways by
-Ie of Minnesota in lands ano
Il cash basis, was $2O.432
fger earnings Of all lines in the
,nnesota for the year ending June
SIS, 2o4. OF. The average rate
ser per mile in the State of Min
8 ISL cents Estimated). The
lounC, received from, or the earn.
zach passenger in the State of Min.
, $1.3l. Estimated). Tho total
passengers carried during the
4, fl3,775. (Estimatcd). The
frnings of all lines in tbs
Minnesota for the yeM
ly 80, was $16,5sO, 435.7l.
lumber of tons of freight carried
year was 7,S25,7O4. The ex.
I, and miscellaneous earnings OF
the State of Minnesota for the
pg June 80, was 81, 1O9,300 50.
arnings Of all lines in the State OF
FOR the year ending June so, was
9.G2. The total average gross
I mile of railway in the State OF
vas S6, 23S. 80. The total operat
sof all lines in the State of Min
the year ending June 80, was
F7.45. The total cost OF opcrat-
les VT railway in the State OF
pas So, 02S. 80 per mile. The to-
ton ntc@ IF
rnings for oil lines I'm the state
- was> $685.. The total indebt-
roads in the state June 80, was
81. 49,, The total amount paid
* taxes due from rail-
ending June 30,
average gsarningR
entire lines, 81. o.
Ia i. carried over entire
tai earnings Of entire
$7S,s52, 569.43. Total taxes
80, SZeanies on their entire linefor
tN~s1G23. Construction ac-
s'sa =, lines, 934 1888, $40 81.
\ addition to operat-
E:S: Acres Of railroad
during year, 527, POI. II.
tiyen>bv railway companies dur
anols, So, AZ, 4C01s Elevator
State OF Minnesota. 20, 500, 200
e accidents during the year were
-F Total number OF passengers
tal number of passengers I'M ured,
tnber Of railway employees killed,
amber OF railway employees in
sOtAl number of oil others killed,
lmber of all others injured, % !;
n killed or injured during the
'tal plumber killed and injured
years, ,S7G; total number of
all railways in Minnesota,
,late6
VARIOUS REMARKS.
ito be no session of the legisla-
NSS4, the commissioner deems
te and timely to make some
iOns He points out certain
IT. In the meager railroad code,
amendments to govern and fix
5he responsibility Of railroad
the public. An adequate and
stem of state supervision OF
system is recommended, some
fal control of railways being
Sential to The public interests in
g recent legislature failed to
u consider any law upon this
hough a very large ma
be members of that body
CONSTITUENTS
slati6n should be effected How
Fund original purpose could
IN turned aside is matter for
Iteration. The question is asked
10 for the people to gravely
llroad Corporations have the
lily control the Legislative body
with the legislature for fail
e bill proposed at the last ses-
I complaint is made that the
lis NOS, clothed with sufficient
lie him to enforce his wishes or
work of the office as an inter-
eferred to, and the case of
on We Northwestern road in
pm wood is cited as an
he tariff was advanced
90 per cent, but negotiation
b resulted in such q reduction
Tiff Us was considered reason
mce, and proved entirely salts
parties complaining.
EUPON GROSS EARNINGS.
Grease in the taxes from gross
fmarked feature of the year.
I'm gross earnings for the year
El5,222. 80; for 1882, $685.
hrease OF ~ per cent in sin
tne OF this increase is due
knue of the commission
hese taxes go first for the
interest on the refunded debt
be railroad bonds, the interest
sthis year, amounts to $177,-
also applj cable to this special
he interest," on the internal i'm
Il fund, which now amounts to
sher annum. The residue OF
gloss earnings goes into the
benefit of the state institu-
) is probable that S12. 467.
sd interest, will yet have TO be