BRIDGEPORT.

The Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company presented a petition on June 17, 1905, asking for a modification of a certain order issued by us on March 21, 1898, requiring said company on East Washington Avenue and Congress Street in the city of Bridgeport to have the conductors of all street cars of the street railway go ahead and see that the tracks of the steam railroad were clear, and that there was no danger, before the street cars crossed said railroad tracks. Since this order was passed the grade crossings of the main tracks of said railroad at both East Washington Avenue and Congress Street have been eliminated, and only a side track for switching purposes remains at the grade of the streets to be crossed by the street railway tracks. This track is so seldom used that the street railway company sought to be relieved from stopping each of its cars at said crossings. By an agreement with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, assuming the duty of policing such tracks when in use by it, the order was modified in a manner satisfactory to both companies, and at the same time safeguard the public.

SAUGATUCK BRIDGE.

The new four track steel bridge and lifting-draw of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company over the Saugatuck River in the town of Westport, with the safety appliances attached thereto, was inspected on December 28, 1905, and a certificate issued that it was in a suitable and safe condition for operation.

SEYMOUR.

A supplemental petition of the New York, New Haven & Hartford and the Naugatuck Railroad Companies, asking for modifications of a certain finding made by us on August 9, 1905, ordering certain changes to be made in Main Street in the town of Seymour, elsewhere referred to, was presented to us on September 30, 1905. The parties were heard on October 19, 1905, and the hearing continued from time to time until December 28, 1905, when we issued an order ratifying and approving certain changes in the Main Street crossing in said town, as agreed between said parties.

SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

Two important decisions have been made during the past year by the Supreme Court of the State, defining more clearly than heretofore the legal powers and duties of the railroad commissioners, one in the elimination of grade crossings, as announced in the opinion on the appeal from the order of the railroad commissioners eliminating the Main Street crossing, East Hartford, and the other on the appeal of the city of Waterbury from an order of the commissioners as to the location and grade of an extension of the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company in Oakville in said city, both of which will be very helpful in the future discharge of our duties. For the legal points determined in each case reference is made to the decisions published in the Appendix on pages 43-56.

SUNDAY TRAINS.

On the grounds of "public necessity and for the preservation of freight" permission has been granted to run certain passenger and freight trains regularly over the various lines in the State, as scheduled in the time-tables of such lines, and a limited number of special permits have been issued for particular reasons therein named. It must be admitted that the public demand for Sunday travel in and through the State is on the increase, both on steam and electric lines.

ANNUAL INSPECTION.

The steam railroads have been carefully inspected by the commissioners, as required by law, and the results of such inspection communicated to the various companies in writing. An unusual amount of expensive work has been done on the various lines of road in rebuilding and strengthening the bridge structures to meet the requirements of heavier equipment and traffic.

ACCIDENTS.

The casualties resulting from the operation of the steam roads within the State of Connecticut for the past year have been as follows:

R. R.-B

The number of passengers injured has been thirty-six, six less than last year, and none were killed, three less than for the previous year. Fourteen of these casualties occurred on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, five on the Central New England Railway, and seventeen on the New London Northern Railroad. Twenty-one were injured in collisions, two in falling from cars, five in jumping on or off same, one struck by train at station, and seven from other causes not specified.

EMPLOYEES.

The number of employees injured in Connecticut during the year covered by this report has been 550, compared with 408 for the previous year (which was then thought to be phenomenally large), an increase of about 35 per cent. The number of employees injured in the operation of practically the same number of miles of road in

There has been no material increase of the mileage operated within the time covered by the foregoing statement. The number of trains and employees have been increased, but during this time safety appliances have been brought into more general use, which it was thought would reduce and not increase the number of casualties incident to the operation of the railroads; on the contrary, not alone in Connecticut, but over the whole country they have largely increased, far out of proportion to the increase

of mileage or traffic. Of the number injured sixty-five were killed. Seventy-six were injured in falling from engines or trains; thirty-four in coupling or uncoupling engines or cars; thirty-nine by overhead obstructions, and 401 from causes not classified. Of the trainmen forty-one were killed and 303 injured. Twelve were killed and sixty-two injured in falling from trains, locomotives or cars; eight killed and fourteen. injured in being struck by trains, locomotives or cars; three killed and thirty-one injured coupling or uncoupling engines or cars; six killed and thirty-three injured in being struck by overhead obstructions; four killed and forty-two injured in collisions; four killed and thirty-three injured jumping on or off locomotives or cars; four killed and eighty-four injured by derailments, parting of trains, and cars backing down, and the balance from other causes not named. Twenty trackmen were injured, nine of whom were killed, and ten stationmen injured, two of whom were killed.

TRESPASSERS.

The number of trespassers injured in walking upon the track has been 168, eight less than the number so injured last year. Of this number 110 were killed, nine more than the previous year. As usual, the number of fatalities resulting from this practice exceeds those arising from all other causes combined.

INJURED AT GRADE CROSSINGS.

The number of persons injured at grade crossings of highways was twelve, nineteen less than last year; only one of this number was killed, seven less than the previous year. The number of grade crossings in the State is 968, one less than reported

last year.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION AND OPERATIONS OF THE STEAM RAILROADS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1905.

CAPITAL STOCK.

The total capital stock issued by the companies reporting to us on the date named above was $128,771,118.38, there

having been no increase during the year. The capital stock per mile of road owned is $84,234.04.

FUNDED DEBT.

The total funded debt of the companies is $50,363,000.00, an increase during the year of $4,671,000.00, occasioned by an increase of $1,306,000.00 in the debt of the Naugatuck Railroad Company, $1,000,000.00 of the New England Railroad Company, and $2,365,000.00 of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. The funded debt per mile of road is $32,944.33.

The current liabilities of the companies amount to $29,294,306.09, a gross increase of $21,543,521.27 during the year, accounted for by an increase of $65,298.67 in the liabilities of the Central New England Railway Company, $255,546.05 in the Danbury & Norwalk Railroad Company, $3,300.00 in the Hartford & Connecticut Western Railroad Company, $32,308.50 in the New Haven & Derby Railroad Company, $1,401.35 in the South Manchester Railroad Company, $3,373.34 in the New London Northern Railroad Company, and $21,182,293.36 in the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. The Naugatuck Railroad Company has diminished its liabilities $345,843.96, the New England Railroad $52,585.73, the Norwich & Worcester Railroad $90.00, and the Rockville Railroad $2,643.12, making a total decrease of $401,162.81, which deducted from the foregoing increase of $21,543,521.27 leaves a net increase of $21,142,358.46; which added to the liabilities of the previous year, $8,151,947.63, gives the total liabilities on June 30, 1905, to be as heretofore stated, $29,294,306.09.

GROSS EARNINGS.

The gross earnings of the railroads for the year have been $52,057,903.49, a gain of $1,868,918.62 over those of the previous year. The earnings from passengers were $24,661,805.72, from freight $26,861,404.09, and the balance from other sources. The gross earnings per mile of road operated were $21,788.48, and per mile run $2.11100.