Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-08
ty and municipal taxes was approximate
DIVIDENDS.

The western RAILWAY Ol Aid pdiu dividend of per cent on it's common stock, the amount being s60000 The Tuskegee dividend of $3000 The Nash vile and Decatur railroad dividend of 6 per cent. The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railway a dividend of per- cent, the Alabama Great Southern rail- road dividend on preferred stock of $190, ,570.62, it being 5.63 per cent.
 MAINTENANCE OF WAY AND
 STRUCTURE.
 The cost of maintenance of way and structure as charged for the year was $2,274 215.59.
 PASSENGERS CARRIED AND PAS- SINGER REVENUE.
 The total number of passengers car- ried during the past year yielding rev enue to the companies was 1898, ,790, show ing an increase of 635,167 over the pre- ceding year. The passenger revenue re- ceived was $2,S54, 4,S0006, and the amount received per passenger per mile was 2.6 cents.
 FREIGHT CARRIED AND FREIGHT
 .t 'fs REVENUE.
 The total number of tons of freight car ried during the past year, yielding rev enue to the companies, was H. 455 443. The amount received was s9,37S. .916.23.
 ACCIDENTS TO EMPLOYES.
 The whole number of railroad employees in Alabama is 126S6 The injuries re- sulting in death to employees was thirty four, as against twenty-five the preced- ing year, and accidents not fatal were 697, as against 7O6 last year. From this 1t will appear that accidents to employees were the same both years. This, in fact, Is decrease in percentage of accidents when 1t is considered that the train mile- age has increased materially during the past year, which is generally attended ployes.
 The number classed as trespassers in- Jured was 157 as against 159 the previous year.
 The injuries to those persons neither passengers nor employees was considera- ply less than last year, being eighteen as against twenty-six.
 GENERAL CONDITIONS AND IM-
 PROVEMENTS.
 The railroad companies, in common with other business interests. have felt the depression which has existed gener- ally for the past few years, and their earnings reflect with accuracy the rise rise and fall in the tide of commercial prosperity. It is encouraging to note. however that the gross earnings of the rdllroads for the year ending June 30, 1896, show slight increase over the pre- ced1ng year. At the close of the year ending June 30 1894, ten corporation in Ala bama operating a mileage of FPS 99 miles were forced into bankruptcy The close of the year June 30, 1896, shows only
 
 ceivers. This disappearance of receiver ships, and as a result the reorganization of these insolvent roads, establishes the confidence that capitalists have in the ultimate success of our railroad proper ties and the future developments of our sta te's resources
 Disbursements to labor and material in maintaining the physical condition of railroad properties for the past year amounts to a fraction over IT per cent. of fhp earnings ic fuuot hat railroads are never completed. Our re- ports show the large amounts annually spent. in ballasting and improving the roadbeds, making fills in leu of trestles replacing defective ties and adding to their property in many ways.
 The erection of union passenger de- pot in the city of Montgomery is an im- provement which every one awaits with interest, and it is our information that @ contract has been awarded looking to the early completion of the same. The necessity for this building has long ex- isted, and we have earnestly advocated its erection, but the delay has been oc- casioned by local complications and financial conditions.
 FREIGHT RATES.
 At different times freight tariffs have been submitted to us in which an ad- vance in the rates was contemplated, but we have declined to approve these tariffs. as we were impressed that such uemanQS were 4unreaSOnd Die. We regret to report that we have in several cases ascertained that higher rates on some classes have been charged than those ap- proved by this board. We have in such cases directed that the approved rates be restored, and that no deviation from the rates on file in our office will be al- lowed if any advance is made. We be- lieve that corporations should share alike with individuals the burdens of the times In order that the ruling of the commissioners in this matter should be made known to all the carriers we have issued circulars of instruction to the freight department of all railroads and admonished them against future viola tions of law.
 ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PASsEN-
 GERS.
 Complaints have come to us that the law requiring separate accommodations for white and colored persons was not being properly respected. We issued cir culars and sent them to the railroad offi- cials setting forth the full meaning of the law with respect to the question of passenger facilities, and urged its strict enforcement If this statute requiring separate accommodations in the passen- ger cars for white and colored people is strictly obeyed, in the utmost good faith, it will be conducive to general satisfac- tion on the part of the travelling public; while on the other hand, partial com pliance with It's provisions, which prac- tically amounts to neglect. will tend to create displeasure. The only effective way to test the virtue and wisdom of a law is it's strict enforcement in every part and the tests so applied to this statute will, In our judgment, indicate the wisdom of its enactment. Deeming it of importance to railroad officials, em- ployes and the public, we have recently prepared and distributed extracts of the most important statutes pertaining to the duties of railway managers, employees and the public. and have ordered the same posted in conspicuous places at every passenger depot in Alabama. This meth cd of reminding managers, superintend- ents, agents. conductors, engineers and the travelling public of the duties re- uuired of them by law will secure more acceptable service on the part of rail- road companies.
 CONCLUSION.
 Many questions have been presented to us during the past year, records of which we have in our office, involving in- adequacy of depot facilities, freight ir- regularities. etc. We have been enabled to adjust many of these complaints with out sumfnoning parties to appear in