Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-06
OUR RAILROADS.
Report Of the Maine Commits
sioners for 1903.
Increase in Mileage, Gross Earnings
ard General Traffic.
No Passenger Killed for Year-F'sures
Of Value and Interest.

Ine annual Eeptfl VI khS SNNsN~
of railroad commissioners, which con-
sists of Hon. Joseph b. PEAKS o.
Dover. Hon. Benz. F. Chadbourne Oh
Hjddeford and Hon. Parker Spofford or
Eucksnort. was submitted to the gov
ernor and council at Fridays session.
TIE report covers the returns of 20
railroads operated by steam, and Il
street railways, all of which are
operated by electricity, except one,
which is operated by horse power.
During the past year there has been
constructed and put in operation the
following additional roads and mileage:
Rangor and AroostoOH Railroad (Fish
River Railroad from Ashland to Fort
KENT 81 miles; Bangor and Aroostook
spurs and changes, 4.97 miles; Mdorio
Railroad. from Madrid station on the
Philips & Rangeley Railroad to doi-
mans Mills, $40 miles: Maine Central
Railroad. Change at Nequassett' ~
mile: Rumford Falls and Ranseley
Lakes extension from Bemis u
Onuossoc, $50 miles. This Y: iles a
gain of 71.16 miles.
This increase in mileage makes the
total mileage i'll Maine 2,tIi.ol !nlies.
The mileage of the narrow gauge rail-
ways is 1S0.57 miles. The report says
in part:
The gross earnings properly belong
ing to Maine are made up of the earn
ings of railroads operated wholly III
Maine, which facts are given III thelr
reports and the gross earnings plo-
perly belonging to Maine of those roads
which are operated partly in Maine ana
partly in other states. Care is taken III
making this estimate conserVatiVely,
and the amounts given may De taken
as q reasonable statement OF the
amount of earnings in Maine which
come from the operation of railroads in
this state.
The pross earnings in Maine for the
wear ending June 80, 1868. were Sl2G3S,-
SsS.37. against Sl1 .763 G6S.Si in 1902, an
increase in earnings in Maine of $780,
1881.
The number of passengers carried in
Maine for the year ending June 80. 1903,
was G,99:;.Oi6. against 65.@s3, 600 in 1907, Il
gain in passengers carried of 1885.
The number of tons of freight hauled
for the past year was 9,54S.915 against
1853 1903 in 1902. a gain in tons Of freight
hauled of GSJ.Gl2.
The total passenger train mileage Tor
the past year was 4,19l,S2S against
1863. 300 in 1902, gain of 54o,4GS III
passenger train mileage.
The total freight train mileage fer
tho past year was 3.1l2.305 against
1885. $50 in 1862. 4 gain in freight train
mileage of 31930G miles.
The number Of passengers carried
one mile for the past year was l?29S5
1872, against 165. G93. 1914 in 1902. gain of
y 29O55S in passengers carried one
mile.
Tho number Of tons of freight hauled
one mile for the past year was ,l6, &c.,
4Gl against 6S1 .955.G1S in 1902, q gain of
G4,7i3. S43 in tons hauled one mile.
The total mixed train mileage for the
past year as 4S9.c 5S. making the total
revenue train mileage for the year
S.S9i.SS6. against ,,i.22,22l in 1902,
game in revenue train mileage OF
9121G2 miles.
The total non-revenue train mileage
was 1.5l5.336 aEains. 1881 il 1902. Il
gain in non-revenun train mileage of
1S3.i53 miles. the total train mileage of
all trains being o.909,122 miles.
The total mileage of steam railroads,
IN operation in Maine June 50, 1905,
was 2.C0lSl. of which 117.J7 was mar
row or two feet gauge. and three miles
not in operation.
The mileage Of the broad gauge rail-
roads was I.S242i miles. and the gross
earnings from operation was $l2,6aS.SiS
or S6,Gil. per mile operated. The oper-
ating expenses aggregated, $S,953,i2c, or
&.Y0g. per mile operated. leaving net
earnings of s2..05,12S or s2.031 per mile.
The total mileage OF the narrow or
two feet gauge roads was 1.i.5I miles
aud the gross earnings were $254, SJS. GO
or 81. 432.t4 per mile. The operating
expenses were S216.102 or S1.216 per
mile, leaving net earnings S3S,S53 or
$2lG per mile.
The gross income from operation
during the year was s7l.639, 5l2.6 SO
against Sc. $50 aSn.1S in 1902, an increase
OF S5.144. ES2.51 The operating expenses
were s5l.01S.S,3.15 against S45. ,3a. $50. 04
in 1907. Il gain OF S5.219041.11. The in
come from operation was S2G.Ge1. 1881
against $50. $50 94S.l4 in 1902, an increase
of $40. 40.
As compared with the crossings for
the year 1902 it shows an increase of
Is as compared with this year. This
crease in mileage, in fact there would
have been less highway crossings had
there been no increase in mileage. for
seven have been eliminated while 81
have been added upon rev roads.
Each year the board has referred to
the fact that very few accidents oc-
CURED at highway crossings, and such
has been the gratifying result. 1t has
this year to record an increase of ac-
cidents at grade crossings. There
We're two killed and five injured Of
those tresrassins and seven killed and
seven injured of those not trespassing.
against one killed and five injured of
those trespassing and three killed and
four injured of those not trespassng
in 1902.
While the policy of the board is and
has been to eliminate all grade cross
inss possible. and rot to permit grade
crossings either railroads crossing each
other Or highways crossing railroads
where it can reasonably be avoided
so far in this State. highway grade
crossings have not proved so alarm.