Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-12
MAINE RAILROADS.
Report Of the Commissioners
for Year 1893.
Facts and Figures Of interest to
the Public.
Showing the Business Done and Improve
menis Made During 1893.

T, His E1ce'lency, Henry B. Czeaces, Cor
eraor Of Maine:
The board Of railroad commissioners
RESPECTFULLY submits its Thirty Fifth An
nuaI Report for the year ending November
30, 1888:
Railroad Mileage and transportation.
The returns of railroad corporations for
The wear ending June 30, 1893, show that
the mileage of steam raiir Dads in Maine
vas, at that date, 1899 IA miles. The ex-
tension of the Portland ami Rumford Falls
Railway, extending from Gilbertville, in the
town of Canton, TO Rumford Falls, dis
lance of Id miles, furnishes the only
additional mileage over that of 1892. The
Green Mountain Railway having been
abandoned during the year, and some
fractional changes in measure having
been made, the mileage has been thereby
reduced, 50 that the total mileage only ag-
Qragates as stated above.
The gross earnings for transportation of
Messengers and freight, as returned, show a
marked increase over the previous year.
The whole number of passengers carried
n 1893 was G,332 ,535, as against 6, ,07G
in 1892, an increase of l5t ,459.
The number of tons Of freight carried in
1893 was 4 ,leS ,948, as against 3,G94 1874 in
1902.
The gross transportation earnings for the
wear ending Jnne 80, 1893, was Sc, 92l ,209 :
"a or Si0l ,027.97 il excess of the gross
earnings for the previous year.
The passenger train mileage in 1893 was
2.722, BOB miles, and in 1892, $3.50, 0G2
miles, an increase of ~ 24l miles.
The freight train mileage in 1898 was 2 =
4l2.939 miles. while in 1892 it was 1928,
50j miles, an increase of $50 ,434 miles.
The number of passengers carried one
mile, was 1926 ,94l .946, as against 1876 ,2G7, )
Si5 in 1892.
1t will be seen by the foregoing figures,
that up to the close of the railroad year
June 80, 1898, there was continuous and
gratifying increase of transportation, and in
gross earnings, which was even great'l
than the excess of those of 1892 over 1891
Street Railroads.
The street railroad mileage in Maine
'.,r" 20 1893. was 7G.l4 miles, and on June
30, 1892, 80 26 miles, AN increase las appears
Of II. SO miles. This increase in mileage il
made by the addition of the Rockland
lhomaston AMI Ca .nden Street Railway, the
Nousan River Railway, and an extension
OF the Bangor Street Railway, the first two
of which make returns this year for the
first time.
lhe number of passengers carried during
the year ending June 80, 1898, on stree
railroads, was 600 0G2. During the pre-
vious wear 5,S7l.5 39 were carried, an in
crease Of ! ,72S ,523.
The gross earnings of street railway
during the year were SAG 222.45. In 1879:
the gross earnings were 1928, l47 40, gail
over the previous year of SliS,074 96
The Mousan River Railway and tn
Rockland, TbomastO and Camden Stree
Railway transport freight ss well as pss
sengers, and portion of their earnings or
derived from that source.
Accidents.
1t gives us much pleasure to note tn
fact, that, while many appalling railroa
accidents have occurred in other parts
the country during the past year, no yer
serious ACCIDENT has occurred on railroad
in this State.
OF the 6 ,332 $50 passe myers carried onl
ore was killed, and but ten (l0) injured
seven of the latter but slightly, caused b.
the derailment of a train on the Boston an
Maine r ,ilroad. near kennebunk, specia
report of which is hereinafter published
AMI that accident, as appears by the repor
of investigation. was not caused by an
want of care or foresight. or by any appar
ent defect in the road or rolling stock.
The raj, of employees killed and injure
during TIE past year, differs but little fror
that of the previous year. AS appears D
the reports, the number of employees kille
was Ave, and the number il jured thirty-one
In 1892, seven were killed and twen,y-seve
injured.
These accidents, as appears by the az
pended report in detail, occurred mainly I
those engaged ia coupling and uncouplin
freight cars, and v ere caused. IN larg
degree, by the use of old fashioned device
and meth DDS,
Physical Condition Of Railroads.
At the examinations, made during tn
past year, of the several lines of railros
within the State, the board was pleased t
note the many improvements that had pee,
made throughout the entire system, IN road
b d, track and bridge structures. Espec
tally is this true of the lines operated D.
the Maine Central Railroad Company
though the work done and Improvement
made upon many other lines of railroa
deserve special mention.
In response to circular sent out by tn
board to several railroad corporations, re
spec,iug the strength and carrying capacif
of several bridge superstructures ON tn
lines of their roads, m antion Of which wa
mlde in our last report, nearly all hav
sent in detailed reports of said structures
made by competent bridge inspectors Q
mechanical engineers, which reports
reliable, show sufficient margin o
strength in the respective bridge structure
t, safely carry the loads to which they AZ
subjected.
Though the board has received no retur
from the Maine Central Railroad Company
in respect to several iron superstlucture
on the lines of its road, about which, II
quiry was m ade. we have been assured th'
the several structures mentioned in our Gil
cuar are to be removed the coming yes
and more modern and substantial structure
erected.
The freedom from accidents of seriou
nature to trains on the several lines OF raj
road within the State, to which we nav
called attention ia attributable, we DelleVt