Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1910-05-05
RAILROAD COMMISSION
Is MAKING GOOD.

Although considerably handicapped
detrimental law creating 1t, the State
Railroad Commission of Colorado,
since it came into the hands of the
Democratic party, has made a record
realized and appreciated by but
small minority of citizens. Because
OF generally conceded ineffficiencies
in uhe lay, which was approved
March %, 1907, many people were
disposed to be unjustly critical with
reference to the body, although it
must be admitted that there has been
but little criticism of late. However,
the powers vested in the state raid
road commission are sufficient to
permit the Strengthening out Of any
tangles, and the present oody has
made The best OF its limited oppor-
tunities.
The railroad commission is still in
its infancy, yet its present men,
bers have demonstrated that there
are many features of the law that
can be used in the interest Of human
ity and justice. Moreover. the statis-
tics gathered and preserved are and
will be of great value in many ways.
The present members of the COM
| lhiSoAoA PioNehSoi1y i6aAALSu eiiS
body and It's work, as little or
nothing was done by the three men
who fell into the positions through
the grace of the late lamented Gov
ernor Ruchtel. One of the first acts
of the new members was to introduce
systematic methods in the conduct
of their office and in keeping their
records. A form for report on acct
dents was prepared, and copies sent
to every railroad in the state with
instructions to fill out md return i'm
mediately after an accident. At first
some of the officials, under the i'm
preston that the State Railroad Com
mission was to continue more or less
of a joke, paid no attention to this
order, but later they began to realize
the present commission meant bust
ness. Now all of them report prompt
| ly, and a complete record is kept OF
all railroad accidents in which train
men, passengers and others are kill
ed OF injured. The record for the
year ending December 81, 1909, shows
total of 113 killed and 116 injured.
This, of course, includes the disast-
rous Rio Grande wreck at Hustled. 1t
is a noteworthy fact that during the
past eight or ten months, since rail
way officials have become convinced
that the members of The commission
are really alive and, determined, The
records show but few accidents. Rail-
roads have complied with many Sug-
gestions of the commission, notwith-
standing the law does not confer the
power of enforcement in all cases.
Safeguards are being provided for
employees and passengers because of
activity of the State Railroad Com
mission, and doubtless many lives
have been spared.
| Within The past month two impor-
tant cases involving freigh. rates
have been decided. The rates on coal
from the northern district to Denver
are so cents per ton en- lump, 70
cents on mine run and 60 cents on
slack. After careful investigation
the commission held that srlch rates
May 10th no railroad shall be permit
ted to charge more than 90 ceLts on
lump, so cents on mine run and As
cents on slack. In similar case
rates on coal from Louisville to Lit
| Teton were reduced from S1.SO to
$1.O5; $1.70 to 95; and from SLIGO 70
| So, on lump, mine run and slack res
pectively.
More Than 60 Informal complaints
have been satisfactorily adjusted By
the commission without The slightest
fr3ct.CcI between shipper and carrier,
and in a number of instances the
matters complained of involved con-
siderable money, which the railroads
promptly paid. Twenty-Five formal
hearings have been held in which tes-
timony was taken, upon which was
based the rulings and orders. Many
towns of the state have secured sta
tions, platforms, agents, etc., through
the commission, in several cases the
railroads having compiled with the
suggestions with formal hearings.
The commission has granted over
275 authorities to the various rail-
roads, permitting them to put into
effect on less than the statutory 80
days notice rates beneficial to ship
pers. Largely through persistent eff
forts of the State Railroad Commits
sion, fruit growers of Colorado were
enabled to move their heavy crop last
fall with less loss and inconvenience
than in any previous bountiful sea-
| son.
| Each common carrier Of Colorado
| Is now required to file an annual re-
port with the commission, containing
a concise record Of every department.
All roads have complied with this
order, AMI the data so gathered will
be of great value in various ways,
more especially to state boards of
equalization as a means Of determin-
ing valuations. These reports are
bound, and kept on file for conven-
fence of the public in the office of
the commission.
While the present members OF this