The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-02-04
MINNESOTA RAILROADS.
Annual Report Of the Minnesota Railroad
Commissioners for the Year 1885.

Commissioners for tho Year 1885.
Grain Elevators and Warehouses and
Transit Rates Treated of ut Consider
able Length.
WORK OF THE COMMISSION
The commission began their work by
careful study of the law. 1t was thought
better to proceed slowly than to jeopardize
the public interests by precipitate action.
The establishment of state grades, the formu-
lation Of rules and regulations for the serv-
ice, and tie selection and appointment of
inspectors and weighers, were of paramount
Importance Grain and wood rates required
revision, and complaints concerning the con-
dition of station houses demanded consider
alton. The commission have succeeded in
abolishing transit rates on grain, except
In q purely optional form Wood rates
have been regulated, and other rates
of q general character have been
considered Station houses have been
visited on nearly all new lines, with the
result of securing better accommodations
for patrona Uniform grades in wheat and
other grain, and a uniform system of weigh
ing, have also been put In operation. The
railways, was the legitimate outcome of
complaint throughout the state that railway
managers were becoming arrogant The peo-
pie demanded the establishment of an indie
pendent tribunal, clothed with authority to
consider and redress their wrongs 1t is from
the complaints made by the people that the
board obtains its most reliable information
on the subject of corporate extortion, mis-
la w
ating the commission is an important step in
the right direction toward the proper regu-
lation and control of coporations that have
received their franchises from the people of
the state In administering the law, the
commission has sought to promote the in
terests of the entire commonwealth The
subject of additional legislation has been
considered, out no suggestions will be made
until the time for the next annual report
The commissioners state they experienced
much difficulty in preparing their report,
because several of the companies did not an
ever the questions asked in an accurate and
definite manner, evading, they say, the
question, or claiming the information could
not be given. From this charge they ex-
empt the Milwaukee l. ST Paul. North
western, Duluth l. Iron Range and Northern
Pacific In the future, the commissioners say
they will insist that the reports 6 all COM
panies be complete and definite. The COM
missioners consider a railway map of the
state necessary and will have one prepared
directly under their supervision 1t
will be a township matter, with the
topography compared with original data
from the surveyor generals Office. The act
Of March 3, 1885. which requires at least
one of the commissioners to visit the various
stations in the state, at least once in three
months. is considered TOO stringent, as it
occupies too much time of the commission
era The views of Commissioner Baker, as
stated in his annual reports of 1882, 1888
and 1884, regarding pools and pooling, is
reiterated by the commission. 1t thinks
that so long as this system is in vogue it
should be put under state control and state
supervision, until that desirable result shall
be fully consummated. Since the new law
became operative there has been marked
increase in the number of complaints The
ns lure and character of them cover wide
ran ye of subjects. Seventy six of these were
recei we'd up to December /, and of them
thirty seven adjusted The others were still
in proc, ,ss Of settlement
rRE1c, Vt CLASSIFICATION AND STATISTICS.
fying freie 'ht A uniform classification
throughout the country is advocated The
commissioners think the state legislatures
should do all in their power to secure this,
and also to have sE classifcations subjected
to the approval of tdhe commissioners before
put in operation. Ii the several states are
not able to do this, tie matter should De
made q subject tor federal legislation.
m
increased $71,396 R, :ferTing to reduced
freight rates. and the linn. e of such reduction,
the commissioners endorse, the opinion vent
ured BY the Iowa commits sion that some
point between 81 aud 81 cents
an average as freight can be
hauled under the conditions Of the present
traffic" The estimated average per ton per
mile in Minnesota was 81 46. ar d the total
average rate on the entire lines o. roads do
ing business in the state $1.3L Passenger
traffic is the subject of another paragraph.
in which So 65 is given as the ave. age rate
per passenger per mile, and $1.O-s as the
average earnings from each passenger. Com
pared with the figures of 1884, the average
rate fer all passengers carried shows u de-
crease Of cents The fixed rate per mile
for local passenger travel is 4 cents The
commissioners think the time has some
when this should be reduced to csnta
They think the volume Of business
aud increased facilities of the roads
would warrant this reduction. During
the past year the passenger rate per mile
was Increased on the Milwaukee & St Paul
and Cedar Rapids 4 Northern, and decreased
on the Omaha, Northwestern, Manitoba,
Northern Pacific and Minneapolis st Louis.
The scalper is given recognition in the re-
port to be condemned in very harsh Ian
guage Scalping tickets, the report says. is
species of brigandage which tithes the whole
passenger traffic. In concluding this para
graph the present policy Of the pass system
is deprecated, and the commissioners ex-
press the hope that cong Tess will fully con-
slider this question in the proposed national
supervision Of railways
PASSENGER WAITING ROOMS.
The act of March z, 1885, requiring rail-
road companies to provide suit able passen-
ger waiting rooms at cities. towns and vii
lagos, took effect June 1, 1885 Prom per-
sonal investigation rhirUy-one sta tions were
found inadequately provided wit accom-
modationA The results were preA ented to
tho companies, with satisfactory r esults in
most cases Twenty one stations ha We been
built or enlarged, and others promise. at an
early day. II, under the act Of Ma rch s.,
1885, the commission has the power to in
sist upon the erection of union depG is at
tunctions, it would result in great convent
ence to the people. At some points, as Red
Wing, Faribxult, Owatonna, Spring VAN ey,
Northfeld and others, the buildings are in
ferior In many places police regulations OF
passenger depots need immediate att ention
II reform is not inaugurated the COM
mission will take stringent meas
ures to enforce proper regula lions.
The stations visited were distribut I'd al
follows: On the Manitoba line. 8 stat ions.
8 Of which were changed as requa. Jed; Chi
cago. Milwaukee & ST Paul, 10, changes in
6; Chicago Il Northwestern, a, all chang ed;
Chicago. st Paul, Minneapolis d Omana,- 3,
changes in 4; Minneapolis 4 St Louis, 2,
botf, Of which were changed: st Paul b D u
lutr., 2, both of which were changed
u