The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-02

WASHINGTON, D. C.. Jan. 1.-The
annual report OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission was made public to-
day. 1t is very voluminous and
the abstract furnished the press
comprlses G.OOO words. After reviewing
at length the prosecutions for viola
uons OF the law. and recommending
certain amendments to the act, mainly
Of n technical character, the report pro-
cecds to detail hearings and investiga-
tions held during the year. The report
includes statistics Of railways In the
United States for the year ending June
30, 1884, which has already appeared
in the Associated Press dispatches.
a preliminary income account for the
year ending June 30, 1895, including the
returns from $50 roads. and covering
the operations OF 164, ,529.3S miles OF line.
ls also included in the report. The gross
earning OF these roads for this period
were 81 1908 02g.Sj3, or $6,O96 per mile. a
decrease Of $l3 per mile: operating ex-
penses were S677.GG7, ,63j, or A,ll9 per
mile, decrease Of IA per mile, and net
earnings were S325, ,355.2lS. as compared
with net earnings OF 1926, $40 for the
same roads in the previous year, an In
crease OF $3l per mile Passenger re-
ceipts fell on Sl77 per mile. while freight
receipts show q gain OF Sli9 per mile.
Total net earnings and income, includ-
ing income from other sources, were
$35S,412,46l. Fixed charges and other
deductions were 1886, ,35l, ,946. and divi-
dends were $50, ,l35, ,545, leaving deficit
from the operations OF the year OF $31.-
075,030. The amount OF dividends paid
by the same roads in the previous year
was S6l, 50I, ,7S5. Remlssness on the part
OK the railways in filing their reports
continues to cause serious delay in the
compilation Of these statistics.
Railway Accidents.
During the year ending June 30. 1894.
1898 railway employees were killed and
23,422 were injured. Compared with tho
previous year this shows decrease OF
9O4 In the number OF employees Killed
and S,307 in the number Of employees in
jured. One reason for this large de-
crease in casualty Is the reduction, to
the extent OF 1884. in the number Of
employees. No statistics covering the
year ending June 30. 1895, have as yet
been complied. 1t is known, however,
that the equipment OF cars with hand
holds and grab-irons has been rapidly
gcinS on that the majority Of all cars
are now so equipped, and that large
number OF cars and locomotives have
also been fitted with train brakes and
automatic couplers during the year. It
is believed. therefore, that the ratio of
accidents for the year ending June 80
1895, will show still further decrease.
For the year ending June so, 1924, the
number Of employees for each employe
killed was 42S. as compared with 900 In
-. NJ haR ~
trainmen employed for one Killed was
l56, as compared with lis In the previ-
Gus year. This is marked improvement
and is believed TO be due TO the use OF
better safety equipment.
The report considers at length the
subject OF pooling OF freights and di-
vision OF earnings, citing cases during
the year OF the prosecution Of viola
tlOns OF the law concerning these
things.
Ticket brokIng is strongly condemn
cd. The commission says: I'VE can
discover no legitimate field for the op-
eratlons Of the ticket broker. His occu-
patton Is essentially lGwless; his ae-
tivItles have no legal sanction and arc
entirely at variance with any defensible
principle upon which public transpor-
tation can be conducted Nevertheless,
the business has many followers and is
not without apelogists. II passengers
can be carried at profit, notwlth-
stand the losses which accrue from
these cut rate practices, 1t Is mani
testify Just and for the interest Of the
public that lower rates, instead OF be-
ing enjoyed only by those who patrons
ize the scalper, should be made availa-
BILE to all travellers alike" 1t Is rec
commended that Congress prohibit the
practice and enact a penal statute OF
proper scope and penalty.