St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-01
BEFORE The PEOPLE.
Railroad and Warehouse
commissioners Advance
Sheets.
Gross Earnings of Minnesota
Railroads for the Year
Past.
President James j. Hill Ap-
rives in New York From
Europe.
His Business Trip Crowned
With Every Element Of
Success.

The advance sheets of the annual re-
port of the railroad and warehouse
commissioners were issued yesterday.
The report shows that twenty-five rail
road companies have furnished in
formation to the commission, 154 miles
Of new road was built during the past
year. while forIy-eight miles were dis
continued from service. The total
mileage i'll the state for the year ending
June so, 1890. was 5,409 miles, an in
crease over the previous year of LOG
miles. The capital stock OF the report
mg companies was S414, 124,2lO. the total
funded debt $3.50, 6S9, 994, and total of
current liabilities S1O,35O,51S.
The gross earning of the roads for
the year was So, 1913, los, an increase over
the previous year of 81. 967, 800, of which
sum SO, iI9.1l9 was received for freight
and Sj,6l1,G9j from passenger earnings.
The freight earnings increased S2,S45,-
$50 over the previous year. while pas
scnger earnings decreased S369,211.
The operating expenses of the roads
were SlG,3ll ,GG2. leaving Sl0,SS2. 1G6 as
net earnings to be divided among the
Stockholders. This sum was an increase
of $642, 800 over 1889.
gross earnings The sum Of S69S. 229 &c. an
increase OF &, S13 over 1889.
The accrued interest on funded debt
of all roads in the state was SO. 262, 94S
Twelve companies report a surplus or
S!0.lG1,9S0, while seven report deficit
S2.6iO979.
The total number of tons of freight
carried during the year was ID, 537, 0IO,
All increase OF 3,315,S52. The total num-
Der of passengers carried was SEAS, 5Sl,
decrease of 7G7, 125.
The number of men employed by the
roads in Minnesota was 1918, VIII re-
ceived in wages So, 7616. BY acct
dents ninety persons lost their lives and
543 were injured.
The commissioners heard and passed
upon eighty-one complaints during the
year. embracing various subjects. and as
result of their deliberations recon-
mend the passage of laws which will
give to the people of this state equal
SpOrtation of passengers and prop
cry without discrimination as to per-
SONS or places. safe transportation of
the same. the best service the system is
capable o.. and the cheapest tran5pOrla-
ton that Is compatible with the fOrego-
ING and Is Just TO the companies.
On the subject Of free passes the re-
lbl tStilS al SOluS ltliSIu, ana saws.
If il snail hc deemed eXpedieut to put our
state law into harmony with the interstate
commerce law. The provisions Of section 1,
chapter No. Of lie General Laws of 1887 which
allows railroad companies to issue passes for
The free transportation Of passengers, must
be repealed.
1T Is ;he conviction of this commission
that the issuing OF free passes as now prac-
uced III this slaie,iS an unjust discrimination
nS against every passenger that pays and
thus opposed TO the spirit of the act passed
for the regulation of common car
rlels; thai il is fruitful source
Of corruption; that it is injurious
alike 10 public and private interests and to
the interest of the companies themselves;
and that il one OF The chief obstacles in
The Way Of proper and necessary reform in
railway enhancement and the control thereof
lHdcr The authority of the stale
In again calling attention to this subject
the commission expresses its conviction that
II the Tree transportation of passengers and
persons iu Til, state is prohibited by law,
material reductions can be made in pass
euger rates without loss af revenue to- com
mon carriers. and 4 practice which is itself
nothing hut an unjust discrimination ana Il
continual source Of irritation ana annoy
ancc 10 The general public can be eliminated
from inc evils which affect the system