The Van Buren press., 1902-09-06
arkansas STATE NEWS.
Wife of a Little Rock Machlnist
Cuts Throat of Her Two Chill
dreu and Suicides. i>.
EVENTS OF A WEEK BRIEFLY CHRoNIClED
superintendent Higgins Says State VIII MOI
Raise HALF Bale Of Cation to the Acre
-County Treasurer Alleged 10 DC
short.-Minsr Shot 1t spadrs"

Railroad Commission REPORT
The Arkansas railroad commission
has completed its second annua
report. The preface to the statistica
report is as follows:
Railroad Building-During the time
covered by this report, encouraging
progress has been made In the con
struction and extension Of railroads
running into practically new and un
developed sections of the state. Inc
White River railroad. branch OF the
Missouri Pacific system, is being bull
from a point north Of Batesville uI
White river In the direction OF the
zinc fields Of northeast Arkansas
The st. Louis and North Arkansas
railroad has been extended from Eu
reka Springs to Harrison, distance
Of some forty-fve miles, and the con
struction is being pushed, with Mar
shall as the present objective point
The Ozark and Cherokee Central
railway, the Fort Smith Western rail-
road the Arkansas and Choctaw, and
the South Missouri and Arkansas, have
also made considerable progress IN
construction.
Upon the whole, the conditions
seem to have been reasonably favora'
BILE to railroad building, and great
and costly improvements are constant
ly being made in the tracks and equip
ments Of the long lines.
,v Rates-Prior to the publication OF
the first annual report, the standard
freight distance tariff had been adopted
and nut In force on the Longtime roads
While this tariff may, in some respects
be imperfect and inadequate to meet
all possible exigencies, time has proven
1t a vast improvement on the irreg'
ular and unstable rates charged by the
It a vast improvement on the the
roads prior to its adoption Hence,
II has been deemed best TO allow 1t to
remain undisturbed in its essential
features. Tariffs have also been pro-
mulgated and put in force upon num-
Der Of shortline roads Of the state,
Litigation-In the suits Instituted
against the commission, the same are
now pending and are being diligently
pressed for final adjudication.
Recommendations-We have seen no
good reason to recede from the posi-
ton, taken in the first annual report,
with reference to additional legisla'
ton needed to make the commission a
more efficient agent in producing the
benefcent results for which 1t was
created With this end in view, ap-
propriate bills were drafted and in.
PRODUCED In both houses Of the last
Legislature, but failed Of passage. We
feel that no useful purpose would be
subserved by bringing these bills upon
the record at this time. This, however,
will be done In subsequent report,
COMPLIMENTARY complaints OF In,
adequate transportation facilities have
been filed by shippers, reciting their
inability to procure cars for the
prompt 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 sew
eral citations have been Issued, hear
ings had, orders and opinions rendered
In one instance. suit has been ordered
In a state court with a view to final
settlement Of very important point
in issue. Orders and opinions In
these cases are In the proper appendix
70 this report,
Oyercharges-Our attention has been
called to many instances OF alleged
oyercharges IN freight rates, demur
rage, etc. Each case has been given
a 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
tisesec laims were amicably settled, the
amount Of oyercharge refunded to the
shipper, or the demurrage RENTED
Others have, however, required hear.
ings,
Correspondcnce-The correspondence
- h. -. La A,.s