New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-10
vestigation Of other matters pertaining to the man
agement of the company.
THE RAILROADS OF THE STATE.

THE RAILROADS OF THE STATE.
REPORT OF THE STATE BOARD OF COMMISSION
ERs-How TO IMPROVE CABLE AND
ELECTRIC RAILWAY SERVICE.
Albany. Jan. e-The eleventh annual report OF the
BOARD of Railroad Commissioners. submitted TO the
Legislature to-day shows that for the year ending
June 30 1885, the net earnings of the railroads In
New-York State were sT7,22565o r. as against wv
GA 800 81 for the year before. During the three
months ending September 30. 1882 the seventeen
principal railroads of the State were run at net
loss of s56,1sS C3.
The table of accidents for the year ending June
90 lS9s shows a large increase in their number. as
compared with the table In the report for 1917 Ihs
increase is. for the greater part accounted for by
the fact that the table In last years report was
only for nine months, owing TO a change In the
fiscal year. and by the further fact that a nuinper
of companies not heretofore reporting have reported
Seven hundred and forty-two persons were Killed
and 22SS injured compared with $50 killed and 1'iS2
injured during the preceding nine months
Discussing the question of aboshing grade eros
sings the board is of the opinion that one-haif the
expense should be borne by the roads. In view OF
the franchise rights they enjoy. OF the danger 10
the public incident to the exercise of those rights
of the increased protection to their property which
would result from under or over crossings, or the
advantages gained by not being compelled to lessen
speed and of the dlmnuton of the pecuniary labii-
ties as a result of such crossings.
The board renews its recommendation Of last year
that the Legislature compel the abandonment OF
the drawbridges the line of the New-York Cen
trail and Hudson River Railroad between Albany
creeks crossed by them no longer navigabe water.
The adoption Of the block system is commented
and the generally improved efnciency OF railroad
management noted.
That part of the report touching. the operation
of electric and cable street railroads recommends
the adoption of guard safety tenders of the best
type maximum speed Of four miles an hour q, at
brakes. and qualifying examination or motormen
and grlpmen.
railroads. that 'the cars should be lighted by gas
Them eT Ts arse beer ii sn ha
given from an oil lamp. TO say nothing OF the ayod-
which is not an infrequent occurrence. The Board:
therefore. recommends that some such system OF
also suggests that the advisabity of placing rail
ings on the fronts of al platforms of elevated rail-
The report further says: The subject Of rapid
attention of the local authorities. the Rapid Transit
Commission, the officials of the railroad companies
much perplexty The Legislature created the Rapid
Transit Commission to specially deal with ms ms
operation of the elevated railroads and the ac-
b fbr sysa Great best
is made through the public press however OF the
that no s[ Complaints have been received by this
Board in regard TO the same When attempts are
rsbts IN order to provide increased facilities they
are met with serious opposition on the part of prop
erty-owners and what the fna outcome will be
II is impossible to state. 1t is hoped that as the
surface roads improve their facilities the pressure
on the elevated roads will be lessened. but so far
the Increase in the number of passengers has been
more than the companies could, with their in
creased facilities provide for In the busy hours.
In the Assembly tonight a communication was
received from the Commission, asking legislative
permission award the $4,000 prize offered by the
Metropolitan Traction Company for the best work
ing system of street-railway motive power
substitute for the trolley system. The communica-
ton was referred TO the Railroad Committee.