The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-11

SVs 1S1O, lShOWS that there are -Io0 public service companies under the 1u- risdietion of and reporting to the com mission.
 Four thousand, six hundred and forty two accidents have been report ed to the commission, as occurring among the several public service com paniea under its jurisdiction. One hundred and sixty were fatalities, 4s316 were accidents of a more or less serious character, and 165 accidents did not involve any personal injury. or this total number 188 have been the subject of special investi igation; and forty-one suggeSti ons have been made relative to operating and other conditions of the companies involved, as possible means whereby similar ac- eidents may be. avoided in the future Of those accidents sinvestigated, liz occurred upon steam railroads, fifty two in connection with the operation were among the other classes of com panies
 Tne annual examination of steam railroads was made in September and October, 1914, and that of the street railways in May and June, 1915. Both the railroads and street railways were found to be in good general condi- ton and suggested improvements. fol- lowing the previous exarninationss were carried out. Special and care- full examination was made relative to the grade crossings on the steam rail- roads. Following out suggestions made by the commission, the Railroad companies have improved and are im- proving the lines of sight at grade crossings by the trimming of trees and removal of bushes, embankme mentsl etc. Special attention was given to a similarity of some. of the station names. where liability of confusion in reading train orders existed, were changed by the railroad companies on a general recommendation of the commission.
 The connrni rassion has secured and presented in it's report certain infor melton relative to the protection af- fcraed watersheds from which the several water companies obtain their supplies for domestic purposes, the method in use in maintaining the wa ter supply at proper standard of purity and other details incident to the various privately owned water supplies throughout the state.
 EIectrfc Companies.
 There are twenty-five companies engaged solely in the sale of electrical current for heat, ght and power, of which four are non-operating compa- nzes The amount invested by all $15sSo6. .1s5.81. representing an in. crease for the year of $Se4ss %. 96. The capital stock of all com panies has been increased $116, ,365 There has been an increase in funded debA of $500. The total revenue of com panies engaged solely in the sale of electrical current. manufactured or bought, was $3,522,397.86, xAn increase over the previous year of $22O.935.62. The totAl expenses for such companies was of $307, 326.45- The total amount of dividends paid by electric companies decreased $31, ,358. Eleven operating companies did not declare dividends The total amount paid was $618.148-
 Express Companies.
 The Adams Express Company and the American Express Company are the only public service companies ;op- erating an express business, reporting net loss from the operations of the Adams Express Company of $316, 99T.- 66- The company pays to the New York, New Haven 6 Hartford Rail road Company AS per cent of it's gross receipts on merch handise, and this, for the year under consideration amount ed to $2,465,702-5O. The company paid to the state of Conneeticut dur ing the year, taxes to the amount of $1s,626-40 and paid in dividends 45S,- 7SO. The amount of dividends paid the previous year was $907,560. The American Express Company showed a net gain from operations. for the year, of $58S,812-3S. paid taxes to the state of Connecticut to the amount of $2so56.73. and also paid fn dividends $699s56a, a decrease from that of the previous year of s7O1.240- For it's ex- press privileges the company pays to the Central Vermont Railway Com pany 40 per cent. of it's gross receipts, which for the year amounted to $74,- 56829 It handles no business to
 
 New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad The line is only used for through business from New Y ork to Springfield, and Worcester and points beyond in either direction
 Gas Companies
 There are twelve companies engag- ed solely in the manufacture and sale of gas for illumination and heat Two companies furnish acetyIene gas and ten coal and water gas. The total amount invested in plant and equip mentg was $14s747. .203.06- The net in crease for the year was S381, ,676.92. The total amount of capital stock is- an increase for the year of $646s $50. The total amount oS funded debt of all companies was $2,270, GOO, an in-l crease of $2,o0o for the year. This increase results from additions made by the Wallingford Gas Light Com pany to it's issue of 5 per cent first mortgage bonds due May I, 1924. The total amount of deposits made by cus-# toners to insure payment of periodic bills was $20, ,29s.8s. Under an order of this commission issued June 30 1915 the companies are required to pay interest thereon at the rate of per cent per annum payable annually or upon the return of the deposit, for the time such deposit was held by the utility and the customer was served, unless such period of time be less than three months.
 The total operating revenue of such companies was ,589.253s10. an fn-l crease of $65,S97.5 53 for the year. The total operating expense was $2.397i- sos. 62 a decrease of $22, 2,3s6.79 from that reported year ago. The total amount paid in dividends by gas com panies was $945. .3s0. exceeding the dividends paid the previous year by