The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

The total number of accidents to persons,
which have occurred upon the steam rail-
roads In this State during the Biennial term
ending June 80, 1900, 80 far as reported to
the Board by the railroad companies, or
ascertained, is IS follows: Fatal accidents,
al accidents not resulting fatally, %.
Twelve of the nineteen railroad compan-
les, which have made reports TO the board,
have paid dividends for the fiscal years
1898 and 1898.99, as follows:
Atlantic & St. Lawrence Qeased to the
Grand Trunk Railway Company 3 per
cent, semi-annually Bennington x Rut,
land, l per cent in 1898, and 2 per cent in
1899. Connecticut q Passumpsic Rivers
Qeased to the Boston & Maine Ralroad) 8
per cent semi-annually. Clarendon &
Pittstord, per cent. Fitchburg, per
cent semi-annually on preferred stock.
Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington, Q per cent.
Maine Central, II per cent quarterly. New
London Northern, 2& per cent quarterly.
Rensselaer, & Saratoga Oeased to the Della
ware & Hudson Company per cent quar-
terly. Rutland, per cent semi-annually
on preferred seock. Vermont Valley, per
cent semi-annually. Woodstock. Ii per
cent. semi-annualy.
The railroad companies which did not
pay dividend in the last fiscal year, but
whose income accounts each show d sur
plus from operation, are as follows: Barre
S14,2S0 36; Central Vermont, 1886, 103 II
(322, ,307 Is for ten months under receiver
ship, July 1st 1893 to April Both, 1899, and
3,795 90 for two months under the new
management, May 1st to June Both, 1899;
Hardwick & Woodbury., S66 "a; and Mont
pelier & Wells River, S32, ,319 21.
The railroad companies which did not
pay dividend and whose report show a
deficit from operation for the period named,
or as specified, are as follows: Bristol,
S50l 81 for six months ending June 3Oth
" Co -,
Canadian Pacific Railway Company $685.
593 45; and the St. Johnsbury q Lake
Champlsin, S73, ,904.80.
Passengers who, upon taking train may
not have had time to purchase their tickets
and go on their journey, or have inadvert-
emily omitted to provide themselves with
transportation before entering the cars, are
obliged to pay a penalty for their failure or
omission in such regard, although the &C
Commodations afforded and the service rem
dered them is just the same as if they had
purchased their tickets at the ticket Office
Passengers are certainly entitled to reason
able rates, and 1t is questionable il the reg
ular fares established are not exhorbit4nt
in some particular instances or between
certain points, and only become reasonable
after the reduction of ten cents is made.
The common experience is that there has
not been very friendly feeling entertain
ed spontaneously towards railroad COM
panies on the part of the public generally,
and the policy of railroad management
which arouses as little friction as possible
with the people is likely to be the most sue
cessful: A people feeling that they are op-
pressed in any way will rise up in their
might to free themselves.
Inasmuch as local passenger travel pays
the highest rate of fare, equipment as good
as can be reasonably furnished should be
placed at its service, rather than that cast
off elsewhere.
Thn 81, ILL
That all existing railroad laws of the
State be made to apply to street and cleo
trio railways, 80 far as the same can be
made applicable thereto
That Section 1894 Of Vermont Statutes be
amended so that the time for cutting and
destroying noxious weeds and thistles, shall
be between the first and fifteenth days Of
August, or during the month of August.
That the board be given authority to es-
tabllsh cattle passes under any railroad,
whenever, in its judgment, after due notice
and hearing the same may be necessary;
That the board be given authority to fix,
alter or change the location of any passen-
ger or freight depot, and the approaches
thereto, whenever, in its Judgment after
due notice and hearing, the public good
may require it;
That the general jurisdiction Of the board
be extended, and its powers be made more
specific and clearly defined.
That Section 1895 OF Vermont Statutes be
amended, so that the board shall not only,
'as far as is consistent with the laws Of
this State, conform to the laws Of the gem
eral government upon the subject of inter
state commerce and the recommendations
OF the National Board upon the subject of
transportation of passengers and freight"
but shall also cooperate with the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and the Railroad
Commissioners of the other States, as shall
be deemed best, to secure uniformity in
laws, accounting, safety appliances and
equipment, used in interstate traffic, and
official action pertaining to interstate rail
road matters. Exactly the same principle
is here involved as in railroad consolida-
tions, to secure more effective service.
Railroad companies combine or consolidate.
National and State boards of supervision
should cooperate;
That the term of Office of the Railroad
Commissioners shall be made 80 that not
more than two shall expire the same year,
thereby leaving at least one member on the
board, having experience, and full knowl-
edge OF the matters pending before the
board