Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-01-11

bination bridges, measuring s,10o feet; four
iron bridges; and there are a998 wooden
trestles" and s.piles," measuring in the ag-.
gregate 28e,21S feet.
FATAL ACCIDENTS.
During the year there were twenty five
persons killed on the railroads in the terri
tory. Among these were seventeen en-
ployes and eight who come under neither
the head ''employes" nor passengers
The total cost of roads and equipment is
shown to be $685., ,00S, ,09S.80.
PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT.
1887. 1883.
Total number of passen-
gers carried. 2O6S7, $50 46,S85
gers carried one mile. 7es,20,ss2 7e.4ss57ss
freight carried. :..... a,e7A4ss sss07,445
Total number Of tons of
carried carried one - 49, -.
Total number Of tons Of l'''0*'' ''&s0'''0'
local freight carried. 1o.0el,ss8 1s.9ssO71
Average distance travelled
by !, each passenger ~, 80.
Opera Operating e1pences and taxes 4ssSsi
NeG oAEu10&S.. .8SGsO60VOO
TAXES.
One of the problems to attract general
attention IN Dakota during the past two
years is that of railroad taxation. Through
the order of the territorial auditor that al
railroad lands should be taxed, a conflict
with the Northern Pacific company, which
has an immense land grant, was precipi-
tated. The company refuses to nay taxes
on its land, and pending the result of the
contest it is understood that large amount
of tax money which would be paid under
the old s.gross earnings" system is being
withheld.
The following table shows the amount
of the taxes that should have been paid for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1888:
Burlington. Cedar Rapids & Northern.$ 2,05s.A
Black Hills q Fort Pierre. 20g.48
Chicago g. Northwestern: ern:......:........ 28,681.l4
Chicago, Milwau ee & st. Paul l........ s9,478.14
MINNEAPOLIS Pacific. % aso.72 a5
81. Paul. Minneapolis % 4 Maniitoba...... 76os5.@
Total gross earnings tax. 20
These are the amounts due or paid under
the system of paying taxes on the gross
earnings of the road. The question of tax
ing the lands will be brought before the
legislature this winter, and both the terri
tory and the railroads are awaiting the ac-
ton of the legislative body on this ques-
tion.
y COMPLAINTS.
During the two years that the pres
ent board has acted, over 500 COM
plants have been considered and, with.
very few exceptions, the cases have been
satisfactory adjusted. AS stated in the
boards first report, many cases over which
this commission has no jurisdiction, and
which, under any circumstance, must be
settled by the courts, has been received.
Men who have been damaged and fixed
the exact amonnt of damage have appealed
to the commission for relief. Where the
offense or discrimination came within the
reach of the law under which the board
is acting it has been thoroughly investi-
gated, and in nearly every case the rail-
road company has consented to proper
and
EQITABLE SETTLEMENT.
A case in view is that of o. A. Moe,
hardware merchant of Church's Ferry,
who claimed that through the carelessness
of the employees of the Manitoba road in
handling his stoves he had been damaged
to the extent Of $75.
The commission investigated the matter
and found that Mr.. Noes complaint was
well founded. Upon the presentation of
the facts to the officials of the road, Mr..
Moe was fully indemnifed and the case
settled without putting him to the expense
Of litigation, and leaving between him and
the railroad company a friendly and har-
monious understanding. beneficial to both
and gratifying to the commission.
This case is mentioned as an lllustra-
ton of what the commission has been
called upon to do, when strict construc-
tion of the law would give it power to pro-
ceed.
GRAIN AND WAREHOUSE.
The provisions of chapter 130 of the laws
of 1887, (the grain warehouse law, have
been ignored by certain firms of warehouse.
men doing business chiefly in central and
southern Dakota.
The act referred to, among other things,
requires each public warehouseman to pro-
cure license, furnish bond for each and
every warehouse operated, to keep in a
conspicuous place in each warehouse a
sample OF each OF the existing grades Of
grain; also keep posted to the public view
a copy Of the grain warehouse law. The
warehousemen in question have set up the
claim that the definition of the term s'public
warehouse" furnished by section of chap
ter 1870 exempts them from the require
ments of that law. Section enacts s'that
all elevators or warehouses in this terri
tory in which grain is stored for a compen-