The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-18


The Railroad Commissioners. annual
report to Governor iurleigh has been
made public. 1t is a well written valuable
documeuuhlled to oyerhowing with infor'
nation, argument and statistics.
The Commissioners say that the statis-
tican Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion stated that on tue Both day OF June,
1889, the railway mileage of the United
States was 157, 1855 3-10O miles; the num-
Der of passengers carried during that
wear. 4721 ISL SAB; the aggregate number
of miles travelled II 1913 $40 ,445, which
shows ali average journey of 2iiI miles
for each passenger. OF the above number
OF passengers carried. $40 were killed and
2li6 more or less injured
This freedom from accident to passen-
gers on railroads, is not realized by en-
ployer. In connection with the railroad
system of tue county. there are 7O4, az
workers. the most of whom are men 1t
is estimated that independently OF stock
holders, the railroads of the United States,
provi 'e living for 5000, 600 persons, or
about one in twenty-five Of the total pop
ulation Of the country. or the above
number of employees, statistics show the
startling fact that 1917 were killed, and
&c, OPS others injured during the year end
ing June 3Oih, 1889, which completely
disclo.es the dangerous nature Of railway
travel.
The great danger TO travellers by rail-
road, is not that railways are improperly
constructed or maintained but by reason
Of ANNOUNCEMENT. aud the carelessness
and incompetency of employees. Nearly
every railroad accident to trains OF which
We road, can be directly attributed to the
above mentioned causes.
In obedience to Chapter AIS of the Pub
lie Laws Of 1889. railroad corporations
have generally discarded the use Of what
would be reasonably termed common
stoves, for heating passenger, mail and
baggage cars, and steam direct from the To-
connective, has been generally substituted as
m cans Of heating, though other lmethods
Of heating but little safer than the COM
mon stove, are still in use on many rail-
roads in this State. While this fact would
seem TO be Q violation Of the provisions of
the statute, which is being permitted by
the Board we can only give H an excuse
the one we gave in our last annual report,
viz: that the Board upon investigation,
found that q statute, similar to the one
enacted 10 this State, bad been in force
in the states of Mass and New Hampshire,
and that the railroad Com niissioners OF
these states had approved all methods OF
heating cars, other than what might be
called common stoves"
As the railroad system of this State is sc
closely connected with those Of Mass. and
N. H., and as passenger, mail and baggage
cars are daily being exchanged. 1t did mol
seem to this Board to be wise or erpedi
ent to adopt q rule or regulation, As tc
approvals. differing from that adopted in
those other states acting under like Oh
similar statutes.
That heating by steam is the safest and
best method yet devised, we have little
doubt but in many particulars as now
applied and regulated, it is far from be
ing satisfactory. How to distribute anc
regulate such heat, 80 IS to make eacl
passenger in the car comfortable, Is not sc
we'll known.
During the past year, about forty-two
miles have been added to the railroad
mileage of the State as follows: The
The Dexter and Piscataquis, now portion
OF the Maine Central, line running from
Dexter to Foxcroft, . distance Of 10 "a
miles. The Kennebec Central, q narrow
gauge line Of railroad running from Ran
dolph, opposite the city of Gardiner, tc
the National Home for disabled Volunteer
Soldiers, in the town of Chelsea, dis
lance of five miles The Augusta, Hal
lowell and Gardiner electric street rail
road, line running from and through
the city of Augusta, the city Of Hallowell
the town of Farmingdale and to the city
OF Gardiner, . distance of seven miles
Also an extention Of the Bangor Street
Railway, through several streets in tina
city and to and through the city Of Brew
or, distance Of 2.99 miles. The Somer
set Railway extending from Emblem t.
Bingham 0.06 miles.
a Accompanying this report will be foun,
a valuable map of the state, which thu
board has caused to be prepared durin,
the past year, showing the location of thu
several railroads.
-" ... soas.s..o1T -. ..o so, tiia. fosus
given in detail and the report closes n
follows:
The total railroad mileage OF the STATE
Is 14O1A; last year it was 1356.2S. Lac
year there were 81 killed on Maine rail
ruadB; shis, bot II
Itis gratifying to be allie to state tbs
he physical condition of railroads in
Maine has. during the past year, been wei
maintained, and we now think that linei
: OF railroads in Maine will compare favor
ably with those In other states. and tn
past year has been one Of unusual prosper
ity to all.
, Respectfully submitted,
d. N. Mo.TLAsD. Railroad
A. W. WILDKs. Com.
RosooE L. BowERs,) of Maine.
Augusta, Dec. IL, 1890.
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