The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-05
THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS
REPORT.

Of three hundred and seventeen miles
over the preceding year. The stock of
nil railroads completed in the state TO
June 80, 1885, was S}0I SD, 1852. The
debt of all railways operated in the state
To June 80, 1855, was sos ,264 1852.
proportion of said stock and
debt is Sl69, 3D., 5000. Here follows n |
statement of earnings. The number of
carried by all lines operated |
IN Minnesota to June 30, 1885, was H. |
$50, 512. The average distance travelled |
10y each passenger OH ail lines operated
IN this stale 10 June 80, 1850, was 3S.42
miles. The average earnings on each
passenger over all lines operated in this
state To June 30, 1855, WAS SI.02. The
average gross earnings per mile of rail-
ways IN the state for the year ending
June 80, 1885, were 80 ,35l Us. The aver
age cost per mile OF operating the rail-
june 80, 1855, Was 50, 45l 50. The upcr-
.ling expenses i'll Minnesota for year
ending June 80, 1889, were Sli ,5SS, 9S5.4.
The operating EXPENSES ofall lines oper-
tted IN Minnesota ior year ending June
30, 1855, were Si4 800 ,O63.5j. The amount
paid IN addition 10 operating expenses
oh entire lines WAS sis. IL, l2o. The
taxes paid on all lines operated in Min
nc>ota Tor the year ending June 80, 1855,
Mere =, l65, 493.12. The taxes paid Oh
iIncs IN MINI, sofa for year ending Dec.
81, 1881, were s6lS, 214.31. The number
vi tons oi freight carried in Minnesota
for year ending June 80, 1855, WAS s.
IA ,OO9. The average amount received
Tor each ton of freight banded during
The year Was Sl.97. The number oil en-
ployes Oh ali roads operated i'll Mime
sofa ioI the year ending June 50, 1850,
Mas 5O,2ll. The number of cars of all
kinds used by the companies operating
III tie state Tor the year ending June 50,
1855, Was 7O,73S. Number OF engines
used by all roads operating III the state
for year ending June 80, 1855. was , ,3j5.
The construction account for the year
for all lines operated iii the state was
SO, 525, sos %. The rambler of miles
of steel rail track IN Minnesota is
2,S55.66. Elevator capacity III Minneso-
Ia AT close OF year ending June 80, 1885,
10, sos, 200 bus .elS.
There are 20 tables showing numbers
of miles of railway, total tonnage, eX-
pense, average earnings, slsa rles, equip
ment, accidents, extension, railway SER
vice by counties and rated number and
capacity OF railroads cost of equipment,
etc.
Considerable space is devoted TO a re-
view of the work ofthe board under the
new regulation from which we clip these
remarks:
The commissioners felt as though
they Were measurably responsible for
the fate of these laws. Not having
framed them, they are not entitled To
credit for their virtues, nor are they re-
sponslble for their detects; but they are
accountable however for their cautious
and prudent enforcement, 50 that the
people may secure all the benefits pos
sIble from their good features, and las
Illtle evil as might be, from any inlirm-
tiles"
About four hundred stations have
been visited, various interests consulted
and general facts noted and journatZed
\ large number OF meetings have been
ueld III various parts of the state. Sta
! ZION houses upon nearly all the lines III
The stale have been visited and duly
examined, with Il view of asCertainIng
their conformity 10 the requirements OF
the act of March I, $3.50, TO provide
| suitable passenger waiting rooms" Bet
| ter accommodations for the public ut
| stations have thus been secured, while
others are now IN progress Of enlarge
| nent, ami still others promised in the
near future. \ large number of COM
! paints have been received and duly
considered, ana of these most of them
| nave been adjusted, and many other
grievances OF individuals and cummuni-
lies, not regularly flied, have been re-
dressed. Rules OF action have been
| formulated and principles enunciatcd
III decisions, through which Il system OF
wholesome and permanent adminIstra-
| non Is sought 10 he established. Uni
| .urn grades Ill wheat and other grain
and Il uniform system OF weighing, have
been put III operation, which have 81
cured regularity at the terminal points,
| With growing tendency To secure the
| same result throughout the state. 1t is
| believe that a foundation is thus being
prepared Tor system of state control IN
| all Railway and gram matters upon Il
| oasis OF sound principles, such as will
secure Substantial benefits 10 the public
and To the roads themselves, and 50 cs-
oentlal 10 all that the system Will hence
forth become permanent in the admin
lstration Of the state government.
They give ample attention to the mer-
its and dement's of the law; and declare
that it Is good measure-''a step IN the
right direction" but make the following
suggestive assertions in commenting up
on its practIcabiIity.
This commission will never attain its
full measure of usefulness unless com
plants, of whatsoever nature, are freely
made to IT as the tribunal created by
The state 10 consider, and remedy them
Ii can never know the abuses of the
railway service, To the proper and ne
cessary extent, unless those who suffer
make known their grievances with
view of redress. The law under
winch this commission is constituted is
II good one. 1t is AN important step in
the right direction"
In reasoning the rate on problem they
declare that:
at is believed that the time has come
when the maximum rate for passengers
in this state, might be fixed at three
cents per mile. The volume Of business
and the increased facilities of the roads
will July warrant this maximum rate
There can be but little doubt but that a
lower local rate would induce Il greater
local travel and the roads would be the
gamers thereby.
And then give thorough denuncia-
ton of the "scalper" system, branding
1t as an imposition upon the travelling
public. They lay great deal of stress
upon the necessity of preventing COM
binations among railway companies |
which naturally kills competition.
Transit rates are COMPREHENSIVE |
handled by the commissioners, and they
acquesce in the move to establish ma
lional board Of commissioners to regu-
late Interstate commerce.
=
The Albert Lea ,Stdnddrd has been bur-
rowing after the gamblers i'm that city.