Woodruff County news., 1902-09-11
Railroad Commission Report.

couraglng progress has been made III Che construction and extension of railroads running into practically new and undeveloped sections of the state. The White River railroad, branch of the Missouri Pacific sys- tenn, is being built from a point north of Batesville up White river in the direction of the zinc fields of northeast Arkansas.
 The St. Louis and North Arkan- sas railroad has been extended from Eureka Springs to Harrison, a distance of some forty-fve miles, and the construction is being push ed, with Marshall as the present ob- jective point.
 The Ozark and Cherokee Central railway, the, Fort Smith Western railroad, the Arkansas and Choctaw and the South Missouri and Arkan- sas, have also made considerable progress in construction.
 Upon the whole, the conditions seem to have been reasonably favor able to railroad building, and great and costly improvements are con- stantly being made in the tracks and equipments of the long lines.
 Rates-Prior to the publication of the first annual report, the standard freight distance tariff had been adopted and put in force on the long line roads. While this tar if may, in some respects be imper- feet and inadequate to meet all pos sible exigencies, time has proven it a vast improvement on the roads prior to its adoption. Hence, it has been deemed best to allow it to remain undisturbed in its essential features. Tariffs have also been promulgated and put in force upon number of short-line roads of the state.
 Litigation.-In the suits institut- ed against the commission, the same are now pending and are being dili- gently pressed for final adjudica- ton.
 Recommendations have seen no good reason to recede from the position taken in the first annual report, with reference to additional legislation needed to make the com mission more efficient agent in producing the benefcent results for which it was created. With this end in view, appropriate bills were drafted and introduced in both houses on the last legislature, but failed of passage. We feel that no useful purpose would be subserved by bringing these bills upon the rec ord at this time This, however, will be done in a subsequent report. Complaints.-Many complaints of inadequate transportation facili- ties have been filed by shippers, re- citing their inability to procure cars for the plompt transportation of freight. The causes of some of these complaints have been removed with reasonable promptness upon application to the proper railroad officials. Others have required more decisive action upon the part of the commission and several cita tions have been issued, hearing had, orders and opinions rendered. In one instance, suit has been ordered in state court with view to a final settlement of very important point in issue.
 Overcharges.-Our attention has been called to many instances of alleged overcharges in freight rates, demurrage, etc. Each case has been given thorough investigation and when just cause of complaint was found, the matter was brought to the notice of the proper railroad officials.
 In large majority of instances these claims were amicably settled, the amount of overcharge refunded to the shipper, or the demurrage re- mitted. Others have, however, re- quired hearings.
 Correspondence. - The core spondence of the office has been vo- luminous, but only such letters as are deemed of public interest, be- cause relating to the construction