OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF ALABAMA. MONTGOMERY, ALA., October 10, 1900. To His Excellency, JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON, Governor of Alabama. SIR: As provided by Section 3503 of the Civil Code of Alabama, I have the honor to respectfully submit to you the 20th Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of Alabama. Respectfully, JAMES CROOK, President Ala. R. R. Com'n. TO HIS EXCELLENCY, JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON, GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA. SIR: Section 3503 of the Civil Code of Alabama provides that the Railroad Commissioners, through their President, shall make to the Governor, to be transmitted to the General Assembly, a report of their acts and doings for the year ending June 30th, next preceeding, setting forth such facts as will disclose the actual working of the railroad system of this State as to them may seem appropriate, and submit such recommendations for further legislation upon the subject of railroads as they may deem necessary and advisable for the interest of the State, in compliance with which, we, the Railroad Commissioners of Alabama, make this our annual report for the year ending June 30, 1900. RAILROAD TRAFFIC. Railroad Traffic in Alabama for the last fiscal year has been greater, and shows larger returns to the different Railroad Companies, than at any time since the creation of the Railroad Commission. The increased demand for the various articles of consumption that contribute to the commerce of the country, the resulting inflation of values accompanied with better prices to the great producing class as the reasonable reward for labor, has stimulated shipments in, through, and out of, the State to almost phenominal proportions. The unusual demand for the removal of freight offered at the stations along the several lines of railway has been sometimes in excess of the ability of the companies to supply cars, causing a temporary stagnation in shipments, which has been fruitful of complaints to the Railroad Commission, asking relief. Our appeals to the railroads have been promptly answered, and through extraordinary efforts these delays in shipments have been of short duration. While the gross earnings of the railroads have shown such gratifying increase, it may be proper to state that the enhanced cost of |