New-York tribune., 1896-01-09

BUSINESS IONE-CHANGES IN THE
RAILROAD LAW RECOMMENDED.
.,hanv Jan S.-The State Board OF Railroad
n.r,,ssloners submitted its repor, for the year
ss - the Legislature tonight. The Board states
~. ,be summary Of the last year affords much
".ar,s ~ for encouragement. The increase in freight
sImc has been general. The passenger traffic on
I'm roads has increased, and the conclusion
..ched from these facts is that, while business is
.,sr /, is not enough better TO warrant a return
y. normal conditions in travel The anticipation OF
continued improvement is warranted by the out
,ook.
oads IS for the year ended on June 3O 1895. The
,c,ease cf earnings for 1895 sl2E 039; decrease
IN operatng expenses. $102970 increase in
,ngs from operation. $l.9i40l0 The decrease in net
earnings for 1894 si.3547 while the decrea Sc
IN income from operation that year slo.399.5ll.
slowing that s60S5.34o of the loss made up by
. reduction in operating expenses. which have
,berefore been reduced nearly $1,000 OC0 since June
N 1893 CAPITAL stock shows decrease this year
m N2N26li cost of road and equipment. decrease.
ra s9 29: funded debt. decrease l2o402l unfunded
debt increase. N3.94l.65s The changes in capita.
stock funded debt and cost of road and equipment
are due 10 reorganZations. The percentage Of
dividends declared capital stock is 2.63. against
go in 1894 The decrease in number of passengers
carried during 1875 l,262 l15 and In the number
carried one mile. Ill .s6S.05S. This is in part.
oountsi for By the Worlds Fair traffic reported for
the year ending June 90 1894. Freight business.
On the other hand shows increase of l475 III Os9
In the number OF tons carried one mile.
A comparison OF the receipts ana expenditures.
sxcusive Of dividends. of the principal steam roads
operating in this State. and representing four-ffths
o, the total mileage. for the quarters ending on
September SO 1894 and 1895, shows a gratifying in
crease OF business in favor of 1885 The increase
in gross earnings from operation sS9N,95. and
l.t,p in aca
In net earnings from operation Of sl,775.2l7 The
total receipts and disbursements show an increase
Of sSsJ6275 in receipts and S2i66.032 in disburse-
mens making increase in net income to be
passed 10 the dividend paying account of NisO2i5.
IMPROVEMENTS IN EQUIPMENT.
The railroads of this State are constantly I'M
proving in the matter of permanent maintenance Of
way. and Notwithstanding the financial depression
many betterments were added upon all the main
lines during the year. looking 10 increased safety
in transportation. The tendency toward the use
Of heavier rails is noticeable all the principal
lines Eighty pound rails are not now considered
weight. Ninety and loo-pound rails are IN
use 10 a considerable extent and VIII probably IN
future be the standard weigh, on all passenger
tracks Of the trunk ines wnlcn operate ,aS 'raHs h
Board recommends their speedy removal and the
:Tss M OF f S SPpRt & Raroad Gr Sw o'"er
During the year s!xty-four persons were kilsi
s s4 fn in hn nInd nnmber d snd sen in the n
bsr Injured as compared with the preceding year.
The enactment of con, '-ehensive statute for the
gradual abolition OF ell grade crossings In the
State has been annually recommenied. The slight
difference OF opinion between the Railroad Commits
soners and the representatives of the various com
panes regarding the apportionment OF expense could
be easily and satisfactorily settled by the Legisla-
ture The Board has prepared bill embodying
It's views this question.
OF the 2i s44 freight cars owned in this state o
are now equipped with air brakes and ll6O94 with
automatic coupers of the most approved type.
The number of railroad casualties has been stead
N decreasing for several years. The number OF &C
clients fatal and otherwise. for the year ending
on June 80 1895 materially less than in lASl,
which year also showed decrease compared
with 1895 The totals for the three years are as fol-
lows
1898 1898
lnjnrei 2ss ls2l l.l25
Last year on street railroads operated by me
chanical fractions ftyfour persons were killed ana
"a injured while on street roads operated by ami
1ured In 1895 the roads carried l6l 'o2 pas
sengers the elevated roads "a. .l4S4s and the street
roads $50 400. 1876 In New-York City the e.evatei
roads carried ls16l4,9S5 passengers ana the sree'
roads 26 6s 1872 In Brooklyn the elevated roads car
red So PSI 922 passengers and the street roads lo3
52O.579
The prohibition OF the increase of capital stock by
railroad corporations. except upon the written APP
proval of the Board Of Railroad Commissioners, was
designed TO prevent stock watering. Without dc-
companyng restrictions regarding the Original capi-
taization of a company and the regula ton OF the
issue Of bonds II Is practically OF no avail The II"
should be changed that stop coud be put 10 the
practice of floating securities which at best, can
only have prospective value.
The Board has not yet seen ideal electric car
fender. The problem Of regulating and controlling
the speed OF trolley In cities is being consid-
cred.