Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-23
RAILROAD NOTES.

Annual Report OF the m0818cA u1ott8
Railroad Commissio ners-Che Five
Big Roads OF tho State Including the
Consolidated.
BosToN, Jan. 22.-The twenty-ifth an
nusl report of the Massachusetts railroad
commissioners shows that the new road
was only "a Sc miles, making a total of
2,11947 miles of main and branch lines,
or 4, 1870, including second, third and
fourth tracks and sidings. The total mile
age, in and out of the state, owned by
Massachusetts companies, measured as
single track, Is g. 1864. which is gain of
81. 10 during the year. The aggregate cap
ital stock of the Msssschueests corpora
tons was $lS8. 40, 422 ON June last, an in
crease of 81, 1926. $40 over the previous
year. The total cash dividends were $10,-
S32, 40O-an increase of 81 800, 1926 over the
year of 1899.
Since 1870 there has been q steady re-
duction of the average passenger fare. 1t
was 2.51 cents per mile In 1871. 1t
reached 1S5 in 1887. Since then IL has
fuctuated, but for the last three years 1t
has been 1888, or q reduction of ~ per
cent. in twenty-three years. Figures are
given to show that the rate was 2.59 in
1865, or 30 per cent. higher twenty-eight
years ago. The average freight rate of
8 II cents per ton per mile in 1871 fell to
1S2 in 1879. Then came a period of
fluctuations till it fell to 1876 in 1892. In
1898 it was l. SO cents-a reduction of 55
per cent. from the rates of 1871. On Eve
of the leading lines in the state in 1865 the
been q reduction of 50 per cent. In twenty
eight years.
Twenty years ago Massachusetts, had 80
corporations engaged in the Independent
operation of railroads; to day, by CONSOLE
dation and lease. they are reduc sd to IA.
Nine of these IA, except the New London
Northern, are purely local or isolated lines.
Five of tbs nine are narrow gauge roads
and the whole nine operate only 1877 miles.
The other five of the IA operate 93 per
cent of all the mileage in Massachusetts,.
These five are the Boston and Albany,
Boston and Maine, Fitchburg, New York
and New England, and the Now York, New
Haven and Hartford.
pertinent of interchangeable mileage
tickets, and people Of other states who
wished to take action similar to Massaohu
sets have written to the commissioners
for information about the law. Hence the
report reviews In detail the course by which
the law came to be declared to be uncon-
stitutional.
BOSTON AND MAINE RETRKNcH1Na.
Boston j an. 22.-Yesterday new sched-
ule went into effect on the Boston and
Maine road. which causes grief to many
employees. A number of trains were dis
continued, and others have been partly
laid off. Most of the trains discontinued
we're extra, which were put on during the
rush of business. About 900 miles have
been saved on the passenger trains and 400
on freight. and the estimated saving day
on train service will be 81, 1853.
By the change . number of engineers
have become fremen, and about fifty fire.
men have been discharged. A number of
conductors have been made ba9gagemas-
tiers, and baggsgemasters placed back a.
brakemen. About thirty brakemen have
been discharged. In the freight houses
seventy five men have been discharged dur
ing the last week.