ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONERS: I. A. SPALDING, Chairman, MORGANFIELD. JOHN F. HAGER, ASHLAND. W. B. FLEMING, LOUISVILLE. SECRETARY: W. R. GRIFFITH, OWENSBORO. COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. To His Excellency, S. B. BUCKNER, Governor of the State of Kentucky: The Railroad Commission, in submitting their Ninth Annual Report, note with pleasure the progress made during the past year, both in the construction and earnings of the railroads in the State. The Commissioners, in common with their predecessors, have found it very difficult to ascertain accurately the mileage of the roads from the reports made by the companies. Some of these reports vary from year to year, while others give a mileage for the State greater or less than the aggregate length reported for the several counties through which the roads pass. Correcting the errors appearing in the last annual report, the mileage for the year ending December 1st, 1887, was, in round numbers 2,286 miles, instead of 2,341.60 miles as reported. From the best information at command, the Commissioners feel authorized to state the mileage in Kentucky on the 1st of December, 1888, at 2,601.32 miles, an increase of 315 miles over the preceding year. The accompanying tables will show the names and mileage of the several railroads in the State at this date, and for the years from 1885 to 1888, inclusive: TABLE No. 1. Showing Mileage of Railroads in the State of Kentucky at the Close of the Year 1888. TABLE NO. 2. Showing Mileage of Railroads in Kentucky from 1835 to 1888, Inclusive. The increase above set forth results from the construction of roads during 1888, and from excess of mileage given in the last report to some of the roads constructed prior to 1887. The new roads constructed during the year ending December 1st, 1888, aggregate more than 300 miles in length. It is proper, however, to state that two of the longest of these roads are at this time in actual operation over only a portion of their lines. Unless unforeseen obstacles intervene, both roads will be opened for traffic by the 1st of January, 1889. The railroads constructed in the United States (and Territories) during the current year, are estimated in Poor's Manual to approximate 5,500 miles, or an average of about 125 miles to each State and Territory of the Union. It is gratifying to realize that Kentucky's increase is more than double the average of the States and Territories. Indeed, it appears from Table No. 2 that our State has, of late years, been making a steady and creditable advance in the construction of lines of transportation. It is believed that this progressive advance will be maintained during the ensuing year. There are now under construction in the State over two hundred miles of railroad. Besides these, there are between 400 and 500 miles more of projected roads. Several long lines of these projected enterprises are being pushed with great energy. Considerable local aid has been secured, and much more promised to assist in their construction. The spirit of progress, now fully awakened, is pressing forward in the development of the mineral and timber resources of the State, and as a necessary agency in this great work, railroads are being projected and built into the mining and lumber regions. Nor are the agricultural districts indifferent to the great benefit of securing additional transportation facilities for their products. Everywhere the spirit of improvement prompts the people to extend liberal aid to these enterprises. The reduced cost of building and equipping railroads now, as compared with thirty years ago, conduces greatly to the encouragement of their construction. The annexed tables, showing the cost of railroads and equipment in the State, and the cost of roads per mile, not only exhibit the vast amount of money invested in these properties, viz.: $97,370,711, but demonstrate that, of late years, the cost per mile of building and equipping railroads in Kentucky has very greatly decreased. TABLE No. 3. Showing Cost of Railroads and Equipment in the State. |