The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-09
ON MAINE RAILROADS.
Affairs Seem To Be Prosperous--The
Commissions Recommendations.

AUGUSTA, Me-, December S.-The an
report of the railroad commission
has been published. 1t says little
nge has been made in the steam rail
mileage of the state, for the year
ing June 80, 1892. AS compared with
4 year ending June 80, 1891, there is
.it2.OS miles additional; the mileage
1891 being 1882 90, and that of 1892,
.3S5 miles.
However the gross transpot tation earn
ings of such railroads in Maine, during
the wear, show marked and gratifying
increase-it being $118, 70353 over that
of 1891.
The number of passengers carried IN
1891 was 5. 502, 646 In 1862 the whole
number carried was SITS, 076, being an
increase during the year of 675, 43O.
The freight traffic shows a correspond
ing increase. The total number OF tons
of freight carried in 1891 was 3,294, 900.
The total number of tons of freight car
ried in 1892 was 1904, 934, an increase of
397. 943 tons over the previous year.
( The total passenger train mileage for
the year ending June 80, 1892, was
2,65O,062 miles. The number of passen-
gers carried one mile was 1875, 267. 645,and
/ the number of tons of freight carried
I one mile was 271, 319, 1853. x -
The returns from street railroads
show a marked increase of travel over
that of 1891. During he past railroad
year, the number of passengers carried
was 5,671, $50, an increase of travel over
1891 of 75s, lS0.
The gross earnings of these railroad
corporations were S19S, l47.49, gain
ovef 1901 of $40 039 ID fs
Only one passenger was killed and SIX
injured during the year.
The number of employees in Maine
killed and injured during the past year.
was trainmen, three killed and % in
jured; switchmen, one killed and three
Injured. OF this number, one trainfnan
was killed while coupling or uncoupling
cars and nineteen were injured, and one
switehmaf was killed and one injured
while so employed. Though these
figures indicate the gratifying result that
the ratio of killed and injured in our
state is much less than in the country as
a whole, it also shows that the number
of injured in coupling and uncoupling
cars Compared with the number injured
in all other ways, stands in the ratio of
to 1.
In this come ton, the board treats at
length of the efforts made by railroads
to secure an automatic coupler and
safety brake for freight ears. The COM
mission tells of the difficulty found in
obtaining a coupler which shall meet the
requirements and says:
eve doubt if any legislation upon the
subject would be beneficial; but If any
be necessary, we think the extent to
which it should go, should be to provide
that automatic couplers and train brakes
of some kind Or type should be used on
all freight cars and trains after a certain
date. Uniformity of type and coupler
would necessarily follow, as railroad
companies would be obliged to adopt and
use the best devices; and that which has
been accomplished with respect to pas
senger cars, without legislation, would
be accomplished in respect to freight
cars
Another matter to. which the board has
been devoting much attention is the
stu ength of the railroad bridges in the
state. While no apparent defect was
found in the older bridges the board
called attention to the fact that they
were intended for lighter loads than
those now hauled.
On all of the principal lines of rail-
roads throughout the state, wooden SUI
perstructures are being removed and
substantial iron and steel superstruc-
lures of modern and approved design
and workmanship are taking their places.
During the past year more than a mil
lion dollars have been expended in re-
pairs and renewals on tracks and bridge
structures on the several railroads in the
state.
The commission speaks at length of
the danger arising from grade crossings,
and recommends law to prevent such
crossings in thickly populated regions.
The commission also urges the advan-
tage of the formation of railroad corpo-
rations under the general law instead of
by special charter.
The Portland Railroad Company, I'M
der provisions of its charter and rights
authorized and acquired, has during the
past year extended its line of railroad
from point in the city of Deering to
and into the city of Westbrook, distance
Of 5 62-100 miles. The road bed, though
within the location of the highway is
mainly built outside of the portion
wrought for travel, and in thorough
and substantial manner. The track is
laid with heavy steel rails and is well
ballasted, and in good line and surface.
Cars are run over this extension and over
the old line into Portland to Congress
street by electricity.
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