Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-10-31
Rn,,rond Commissioner, Repor,

The second biennial report of the board
of railroad commissioners has been present
ed to the legislature this week After
giving the number of fatalities on the rail
roads during the year and statistics show
ing the mileage of the different roads, their
net income or deficit, etc. certain import
ant subjects and recommendation are
taken up and discussed The first of these
is that of local passenger fares, which m
some cases. on the Valley road for instance,
remain almost as high as in the old stage
coach times The general sale of mileage
books is mentioned and approved, but the
fact is pointed out that by this means there
is established what amounts to descrimi-
nation against people who travel intre
| uuentlv and only short distances, and this
! latter class includes all those who are the
least able to pay. The board hope to see
all local fares so adjusted AT an early day
as to remove this inequality
Another subject on which great stress Is
laid is that of automatic freight train coup
lers The present system of coupling 10y
link and pin is productive of frightful loss
of life among railroad employes-au army
Of - 600 yearly killed or manned 1t has
been proved that an automatic aud inter
changeable coupling for railroad cars is en-
tirelv feasible and it is hoped that through
the interstate commerce commission, legis
atiou 10y Congress may be brought about
/ which will compel the adoption of such d
system a scarcely less important i'm
provement and reform is the automatI,
freight-train brake the application of which
has also been proved to Ice entirely feasible
There has been Il general movement
among the railroads Of the state to compl!
with the law of 1883, which prohibited th'
heating of railroad cars in any way excep
bv locomotive steam without the cOnsen
III writing of the commissioners. only
few companies however have made a tul
compliance with the act. OF these tn
Vermont Valley company is one Thoroug
ventilation of passenger cars and the III
vention of some safe and practicable de
vice for lighting are dwelt upon as tw
things of first Importance for the publ
health and safety
The board see no objection To the genera
, tendency to a consolidation among raliroa
, companies While but few complaint
have been made as To excessive treigl
% rates. the members Of the board beiey
r that as "A rule such rates are too high upo
II traffic beginning and ending within the stat
i Too often, in the struggle TO maintain shaI
j, competition through freghts are carried
t a loss and the deficit is made up from Il
j. pockets of those who must pay local rate
e " In other words SAYS the report, " Il
- local business has To pay and does pay
y heavy tribute to the through business
J. For this there should be a remedy, but it
e not an easy matter to find one, and if fouI
to apply it.
u Among much other matter of intere'
p there is given the results of the general i
TX spections of all the roads made each yea
r The excellent condition Of the Valley ro
'e in its road bed new iron bridges, etc,
h noted and approved Much was found
D. criticise in the condition of the Brattebo
r. X Whitehall road, especially in regard
rs several of its bridges in the inspection
1889, but general tendency to impro'
rs ment was noted in the inspection made
81 wear later