Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-22
MINNESOTA RAILROADS..

MINNESOTA RAILROADS..
Commissioners Bakers Annual Re-
port Summary Of the Document.
s The annual report Of Gen. James II. Baker,
Z Railroad Commissioner, to the Governor Of the
y State has just been issued from the press II
embraces . great deal ct matter Of special in
terest 70 certain classes of readers, but to the
general public synopsis will bemore satisfac-
tory than extended extracts @SS@
The report, enters much less exhaustively
4 than its predecessor into the discussion Of the
certain phases Of the railroad problem, the re-
istion between the companies and the state. and
me, questions at issue between some portions
OF the community and the corporations. On
these wider subjects of consolidation, discrim-
lnation, pooling, and the establishment OF eff
Gent control by state authorities, the commits
sioner, contents himself with reference to the
general conclusions reached and advanced by
MN year ago. yE o..
The inequality and injustice Of the present
practice in grading passes under review, and
the commissioner suggests the establishment
or 2 system Of state inspection, with provision
for the training Of capable inspectors, having
for It's objects both the accomplishment Of JUS
nee 70 the farmer, and the general elevation
and Improvement Of the farming industry OF
.
Rvator control, and the buying and selling of
grain is urged as prerequisite to any system
ef fair competition. A reduction of freight
/ rates is earnestly recommended, on the l,asis
ct policy as well as generosity. The conclud-
Y ing paragraph of Gen. Bakers treatment of it
Will sufficiently express his views.
IN summing the whole situation, with the
best Light obtainable as to grievances and rent
edies, itappears to us that If an honest and fair
system Of state inspection were adopted based
md r1al,, oil MIA
tors and grain warehouses were made strictly
public warehouses, and their business divorced
from that of buying grain: aud finally, if the
shipping Of grain was made open and free to
AZ persons whomsoever, as by law and justice
thought to DO, then by the operation Of these
agencies, the.injnries now complained Of would
gradually cease, and this business like other
pursuits, resolve itself by the laws and forces
which govern unfettered trade.
The smallness of the compensation received
by railway employees is adverted to- 1t is point
cd out that 1873 persons were killed in railroad
accidents during the year, an increase over the
last of 81, while the number of injured shows
decrease of 81. The casualty list is COM
pared with that of states having much great
er mileage, and it is urged by some action
should be taken to provide for the greater
safety of employees.
And another, quite as excellent and vastly
more Important asks our congressional delega-
ton to exert themselves in favor of the removal
which are losing to us the traffic of Manitoba !;
atraffic that is ours by natural right, though i'll
danger of permanent diversion by reason OF
artificial obstructions Matters OF history or
detail with reference to the various lines, to-
gether with brief treatment Of the taxation Of
railway lands, cover the remainder Of the re-
port. Tho above with the following summary
will give good idea of the scope Of the report:
During the year closing Dec. /, 1877. 4:
miles OF railway have been built making {
total OF, 3, 9O5.38 within the borders of thu
state, as compared with 1891 miles il
In mileage since the last repor,
by the material alteration Of track
OF some of the roads; also the Off.
cial report changes the mileage, as estimated
by the commissioner, of some OF the branches
rel orted last year The net gain in the
gti 70 to Dec is 1865 miles OF the
&c. suty- nine counties in the state, seventy
th- co ara now supplied with reasonable rail
way facilities, The total cost of all miles OF
railway operated In the state up to June sc
per mile Of railway operated in the state u1
to June 30 was $43, 96S66. The tota.
amount given to these railways by the pco-
pie of Minnesota, in lands and bonds, on &
~aesh basis, was $76,663, 900. The average
ana unit per mile, given to these railways by
bonds, on cash basis, was $40 4;32.
STATE Of M1nnesota for the Tending June
30, was T5,s1s,254 o.: If1sSlveraeo rate
nesota was 284 cents. (aHghated}. Tbs
average amount received froifW OF the earn.
int:s f-on each passenger in the State Of Min.
neeota, was $l.3l. (Estimated) The total
nu,aser of passengers carried during the
srsras was saraars 81 al s'm nes in Thu The
State of Minnesota FOR the yeal
ending July 80, was $1,000, l3i71
The total number of tons OF freight carried
during the year was 1925, 7Oi The ex.
press, mail and miscellaneous earnings OF
all lines in the State Of Minnesota for the
year ending June 30, was 3 ,10a.3 80.
The gross earnings OF all lines in the State OF
Minnesota fox the year ending June 80, was
Fs3, sos ,OS0.G O. The total average gros;
sarnings, per mile Of railway in the State OF
ing expenses of I'LL lines in the State of Min
nesota for the year ending June 20, was
$13,295 ,:537.45 The total cost of operat.
ing the lines Of railway in the State OF
Minnesota was So, 52S. SIS per mile The to.
tai average percentage OF operating expenses
to gross earnings for all lines in the state
for the year was So. 55. The total indebt-
ednesa of all ronds in the state June so, was
$122,5l9, O347S The total amount paid
the state on account Of taxes due from rail
1882, was $6l3, SG5.G-l. Average earnings
from each passenger over entire lines, ST. Oi;.
Number of passengers carried over entire
n lines, 10 961 u II. Total earnings of entire
lines for year, 1913 So, $50. 43. Total taxes
VOC by al companies on their entire line for
the year, 81 800 026 % Construction &C
CO" ct for year entire lines, :f3l 1873 2IG 81.
A.nounu paid i'll addition to operat-
ing expenses for year, entire lines
$65, s2l,416. 53. Acres of railroad
land sold during year, 527 ,29l.11.
Amount received by railway companies dur
ing year for lands So, 142 100 Is. Elevator
= bushels The accidents during the year were
"a follows: Total number OF passengers
killed, d; total number OF passengers injured
20; total number Of railway employees killed
75;, total number Of railway employees III
iured, $40; total humber of all others killed
SO; total number Of al Others injured, 2:}
I to- number killed or injured during the
.yees.. 42l; total number killed and injured
Tor past ten years, ,S76; total number Of
employees on all railways in Minnesota,
23,145 (estimatetl).
F5# !, Z, ~ VARIOUS REMARKS.
AS there is to be no session of the leeisla-
ture during 1854 the commissioner deems
ii appropriate and timely to make some
Recommendations. He points out certain
marked defects in the meager railroad code.
adS suggests amendments to govern and fix
moro fully the responsibility OF railroad
companies to the public. An adequate and
reasonable system OF state supervision of
s the railroad system Is recommended, some
more eifectual control of railways being
absolutely essential to the public interests in
tho state The recent legislature failed to
even seriously consider any law upon this
subject, although a very large ma
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