Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-23

it wise to amend the laws so that they may sometimes order the town, instead of the railroad, to make the changes. The number of highway grade crossings reported this year is three less than last, while of the whole number sixty eight are protected by gates, being nineteen more than last year; thirty-six by fagmen, being one more than last year, and six others by electric signals. besides those which also have gates; leaving eleven hundred and thirteen unprotected grade crossings against eleven hundred and forty two last year.
 Concerning the commissioners order rs- garding the obstruction of the Asylum street crossing, Hartford, by the New England road, they find it substantially obeyed and much relief experienced. The order govern ing switching has been, they are informed, continually disregarded. Likewise with the say Under the law authorizing us to per- init the passing of a drawbridge by railroad trains without being brought to 8 full stop not less than two hundred nor more than eight hundred feet from the draw, we have permitted all east bound engines and trains on the New York, Providence and Boston railroad, which have come to 8 full stop at West Mystic station. to cross the Mys- tic drawbridge without again stopping. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company having adopted and put in operation at Westport drawbridge an interesting appa- HL0S HAICA u WOulO SS6u E0DuSES 11 pOD- sible for train to run upon the bridge when the draw Is open, we have permitted 1t to run it's trains over this bridge without making 8 stop provided the speed of all trains shall be reduced to not exceed ten miles an hour when within two thousand feet of the draw and not increased till the draw is passed.''
 THE BILL OF MORTALITY.
 Not passenger, save young Griswold at the Plainville collision on
 
 out Of 16, 352, ,617 transported, in Rnyl accident to the train in which he was travel ing. The total number of persons injured on our railroads during the year was 267; of this 99 were either killed OF fatally hurt. Two passengers were killed and Is injured; Al en- ployes were killed and 118 injured. Of those 159, 37 fell from cars and AZ were injured in coupling or uncoupling; 9 persons driving over the tracks at grade crossings were killed or fatally injured, and others injured; two per sons crossing on foot were also killed; 45 other trespasssrs were killed and 27 injured The commissioners do not think any law can secure good death or accident returns and will take information from any source hereafter. Automatic couplers have been added to 715 new freight cars and many old ones with excellent success. The stan dard time for railroads is recommended, and an amendment of the law asked for.
 The commissioners endorse the plan of 8 tax on the real property and gross receipts of railroad companies in lieu of all other railway taxes. Regarding the annual return of the New England road they say: "We made no investigation ss to the value of the reported assets, in regard to which there were variety of rumors, believing that the examination begun under the direction of President Clark, immediately after his appointment and which culminated in his appointment as receiver on the 1st instant, would best promote the interest of alLpar- ties" With reference to their own industry they close as follows: t'The new railroad en- terprises of the year, the additional duties required Of us by recent legislation, and the increasing demand for our services by the people of the State have made the past twelve months very busy ones for us During the four months the Legislature was in session wa were at office in the capitol large part of the time. Two months more were taken up by the spring and fall ex- aminations of the railroads. Over sixty days more were occupied in the hearings in regard 10 the New York and Connecticut Air Line and the Hartford and Harlem railroads Some fifty hearings upon other matters have been held in different parts of the State All these matters, with the time occupied in examining and preparing decisions on mat ters heard, in going from place to place as our duties called, in the preparation of this report, and a very large amount of core. spondence, have left but little time for rest or private affairs"