Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-22
THE RAILROADS OF KANSAS.
Fourth Annual Report of the Railroad
Commissioners.


have made the following interesting repor
to Governor Martin, which shows in detail
the great activity in railroad building dur
ing the present year:
| To Hon. John A Martin, Governor of Kansas.
SIR: We have the honor to submit t.
you the fourth annual report Of the board
Of railroad commissioners of this state.
The report herewith submitted embraces
the statements and reports Of the different
lines of railroad companies operating lines
of railroad in this state made to this office
as required by law, which exhibit in detail
the doings in transportation and the fnan-
cial result of railroad operations in Kansas
for the year ending June 80, 1886. an
also statistical tables compiled from the re-
ports.
We have incorposated in it reports of
such cases of complaint as have engaged
the attention of the board for the past year
which seem to possess general interest and
value.
Quite frequently complaint coming
from one indi yidual embraces cause that
affects in like manner great number of
others, and decision of the board comes
in such cases to have an extended applica-
ton 1t is equivalent to the settlement of
a principle to be applied to and control in
all like cases and conditions. Quite often
cases come to the board which involve the
settlement of no principle, but arise from
mistake or misunderstanding between the
shipper or agent These are Investigated
and adjusted without the necessity of a
formal decision, and since it would serve
no useful purpose to report them, they do
not appear in this report.
An inspection of the railroads operated
in this state show that their condition has
been well maintained and some have been
considerably improved. All the leading
lines are in fine order and are maintained
in the highest degree of efficiency
Several of the lesser roads which were a
few years ago allowed to get out of repair
have been brought to proper condition,
especially the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
and the Central branch The roadbed of
the Central branch and the crossties are in
excellent condition, but a considerable por
ton of the rails need immediate replace
ment with new steel. We have been adj
vised that 3, 500 tons Of new steel rails are
ready for shipment for use on this road and
would be forwarded without delay, to be
laid in the track the present year We are
also assured that it is the purpose of the
company to prosecute the work of repair
until the road is in first-class condition
The work of additional railroad building
has been progressing with most renarka-
bic celebrity in Kansas the past year. UpI
to November /, 1886, upward of nine hun
dred and fifty miles of new road was built
The work of tracklaying will continue
wit .hata al
operations We deem ourselves justified
in the expression of the belief that by the
end of the year fully one thousand miles of
new roads will have been added to the rail
road mileage of Kansas the present year
In addition large amount of mileage is
projected for the coming year. and it seems
quite reasonable to anticipate as great activ
ity railroad building next as has character
lied the past year.
The number of miles of new railroad
built in the United States the past year, up
to November /, was 5,439 Kansas leads
all the other states in respect to the con-
struction of new mileage
1t must be evident from the number of
new lines projected by responsible compa-
MES into every portion of Kansas, and the |
manifested by those companies to |
occupy territory in this state, that the vot- |
ing of bond aid by cities, counties and |
townships to aid in their construction is |
rendered wholly unnecessary Railroads |
will be built in Kansas in the future as fast |
as they are needed. and much faster than !
the conditions existing will afford many of /
them a reasonable support, without the
voting of another bond But so long as
the law remains on the statute books per
hitting cities, counties and townships TO /
vote bond aid, and thus burden themselves |
with tuxation for a long period in the fu- |
ture, it will continue To be done Ii is the /
easiest thing in the world to tempt a vote
of this kind by provoking local rivalries |
over projected but not definitely |
located line. The argument that If YOU |
don't vote the aid the railroads viii run !
through an adjoining township or CITY. in |
stead of through the particular locality |
whose aid is asked. Is irresistible Ii is /
not 10 be expected that railroad companies. |
whose intense riyalries lead them 10 build |
the most economical scale, or with the /,
least possible expenditure of their own |
money. will resist the temptation of asking |
aid when ii can be so easily obtained. We
think the people Of this state should be re- !
lieved from any further burdens of this |
character. In the past, most serious mis- !
chiefs have grown out of the practice of |
voting this class of aid, and though the |
law is more guarded in its provisions to |
prevent the practice of fraud than former |
ly, it will Ike inevitable that thousands of
citizens will come TO find themselves taxed !
10 support enterprises of more than doubt
full utility. The only way TO protect the
people is 10 repeal the law
The extent to which the public is voting
h,lrIaps ,r>n,, ;,oalf ~ RAILROAD a,rar