Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-17
PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD REPORT
State Commission Reviews Its Work of the Yearcoopera- ion by Companies in Suggestions for Bettesment of service-AntiMsrger Law Proposed in 1912 is Again Recommended.
Recommended.

The third annual report or the Pup- lie Utilities Commission has been sub rnitted to the governor. The commits sion states that the continued frank and friendly cooperation of all pub lie service connpanies and the prompt acceptance of suggestions made by the commission as well as the compliance with orderH for the bstterment of service or safety of operation is re- sulting in an increased efficiency that is highly gratifying to the commits sion
 Attention is again called to the rec concentrations made In the report for 1912 that there should be enacted "a merger or consolidation of public ser vice companies without first obtaining ve approval of the Public Utilities Con1nission.''
 Suspended Grade Crossing Deorees,
 On March IT, 1914, the commission issued an order temporarily suspend ing the operation of 31 decrees pertaiIl- ing to the elimination of grade cross ings, until further order. in response to a petition of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company on the ground that the financial con- dition of the company was such as to make it impossible to comply with such O1QSIS 1Id Hill lIiS St<lNukOlJ RION4T sions pertaining to the elimination of crossings. From the annual inspec- ton of steam railroads and electric street railways it was found that the railroads and railways were generally kept in suitable repair.
 The commission reviews the work of the year and submits a detailed state ment of the financial condition and re- suits of operation of the several pub lie service companies based on their reports.
 19o Public Service Corporations.
 There are 19O public service com panies under the Jurisdiction of the commission, 29 electric, express, 13 gas, IT gas and electric, railroad, 22 street railway, 3 telegraph. 10 tel ephcne and S6 water companies.
 4456 Accidents Reported.
 During the year ending June 30, 1914 there were 4456 accidents reported by the several classes of public service companies, 232 of which were fatalities and 463S were accidents of a more or less serious character and 191 were accidents :n which no personal in juries were sustained. Of these report ed accidents 256 were made the sub ject of special investigation on the part of the commission with a view to de- terTnining the cause and for the pur- pose Of making to the companies iIl- voIved such suggestions. if possible as would avoid similar accidents in the future. Fifty eight suck suggestions were made. Of these investigated ac- cidents Isl were Tn connection witf railroads, 69 in connection with street railways and 26 were among other companies. There were 405 accidents reported during this year than report- ed 8 year ago. The total number ot fatalities was F less.
 Protection of Watershsds. The commission has collected from information relative to the general character of supervision exercised by such Seompa1lieS over watersheds and sources of supply, the extent to which supply for domestic purposes is mechanically or chemically treated be- fore use and the care taken that all water supply is maintained at a prop CT standard of purity and the infor- nation obtained is of interest.
 It appears that the method in use for the protection of watersheds and water supply from contamination by the operating companies is as follows; by posting notice 1, cement reservoir l, not allowing any structures on the property 1, constant supervision l., by fencing in property ,, by cleaning land and removing debris therefrom 3. by protecting wells, reservoirs or springs NY NOfCAS OA AOOA6 q, 0y ONtlELSlllp VI control of property 5, by patrol, in- spectfon or watehmen 27. not stated 37. no watershed. water 5being pur- chased or pumped from artesian wells 3. One company reports that no su- pervisien was necessary, Six com inc gas, liquid chlorine, 2 employ the Continental Jewell filtration sys- tenn. 1 has a slow sand filter and sand and chlorine gas,
 Electric Companies.
 There are g companies classed as electric companies reporting to this commission, seven of which are non- operating companies. The amount iIi- vested in plant and equipment by such companies on June 50, 1914 was $14.- 811,7S4z5, an increase of S4,566, S53. 8 over that reported a year ago. There has been an increase in capital stock Of $5T2.So0.D0 and an increase in bond ed indebtedness of S1,I00. 900.
 The total operating revenue of all companies was $3,324,554.29, an in- crease of $7f9, ,776.24 over that report ed year ago. The total operating expense was $2,i51, ,61s.33. an increase Of $499, 9,1l5.65. The results of opera ton contrasted with those of the pre- vlous year show an increase in net company sustained an operating loss A%-f4bC~2 SSHtPGHtSo 0P6F6S9 4S IoS9 Two express companies report tc this commission. The Adams Express company sustained an operating loss of $761642.90 and also sustained a loss from it's outside operations of S64, Sg0.62. The American Express conn paaay sustained an operating loss o1 sze3,43L76.
 Gas Companies Prosperous, Thirteen companies engaged solely in the manufacture and sale of gas re- port to this commission All companies but one showed an operating profit This company maintains a small acety-
 lene gas plant and derives its sup.
 port from a very few customers. Gas and Electric Companies. There are seventeen companies ir
 khis classification which ara engaged
 In the manufacture and sale of both gas and electrical current A sum. many Of the fixed capital of all such companies at lure 30, 1914 shows ar l investment o2 s12, z,I11.75.
 The total operating revenue from the sale of both gas and electrical cur. 1 rent was $s.S40, 7Ss .32, a decrease oi $46A, ,5SS.63 from that reported a veal ago Tae total operating expense iT- eidenk to the Taanufaeture and dis. trtbution Of both EaA and electrica. current was s2.229, ,8ss.o9 resulting ir an operating profit of Sl.1l1,539. .l5, a decrease of ss2. 17e.s2 fgr the year. The total sales a9 electrical current