Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-01
ROADS MUST REVEAL SECRETS
Unusual Demand for information Made
by Commerce Commission.


Chicago, Aug 2s.-All the railroads
engaged i'm interstate commerce have
received from the interstate commerce
commission outlines of the annual re-
ports that they are required to make
up for the year ended June 30 last. The
blanks have been delayed In printing
and have not yet been distributed, but
the preliminary or skeleton" reports
include all of the questions to be
answered, and the accounting depart
ments are now compiling the mass of
data required.
No announcement has been made
as to whether these reports, after be-
ing filed with the commission. will be
open for public inspection in all their
details, but judging from the frequent
ly expressed ideas of the commission
it is considered probable that they
will.
The principal parts of the reports
will include mass of statistics of lit
tie interest to any but railroad ac-
countants and financiers, but the COM
mission requires this year several items
of interesting information which have
not been asked for in previous reports.
anu WHICH, GllllO liCy Oh III iilstAAy
cases a matter of commonly accepted
knowledge will possess additional in
terest when publicly acknowledged.
Pointed Questions Are Asked.
A few of the questions which the
railroads are required to answer, in
dicating the thoroughness with which
the commission seeks to prepare itself
to handle the important questions in
yolved in it's duties, are as follows:
Names of the ten largest holders of
voting securities, whether these are
trustees, and for whom.
Names Of roads controlled, thru stock
ownership or otherwise. and condi-
lions of control.
Under what government is the COM
pany organized?
Names and mileage of all roads
whose operations are included III in
come account.
Details of outside operations.
Securities issued during the year.
for what purpose, and cash realized
therefor.
Railroad and other stocks and bonds
owned, either directly or indirectly.
All important changes that have TAX
en- place during the year, extensions,
leases, consultations, or reorganiza-
tons.
Employees and their salaries, from
general officers down.
Tonnage and average rates per mile.
All accidents and their results.
In addition to the blank forms elab-
crate instructions are furnished for the
filling in Of each schedule. Besides
the above these, of course, call for the
usual information regarding earnings,
expenses, capitalization, etc.
Work en- Long Span Bridge.
The Chicago and Northwestern rail-
way expects to complete by the last
of next month what is said to be one
of the longest single span bascule
bridges in the country. over the north
branch of the Chicago river. The
bridge was required because of the
proposed widening of the channel of
the river by the government. The
clear span of the bridge is 172 feet
and 800 tons OF steel have been used
in it's construction.
The first step toward building the
proposed railroad from Winnipeg to
Hudson's oay was made this week,
when two location parties started out
from this CITY, The road is to be built
and equipped by the Canadian gov
eminent and is expected to be com
pleted in two years.