ASSESSMENT OF RAILROAD PROPERTY. The total valuation placed by this board upon the tangible property of all railroads in the State amounts to $52,432,428. The valuation of each road separately will appear in the appendix. In addition to this valuation, the value of the franchises of these corporations is assessed for taxation by the franchise board. In the last annual report of the statistician to the Interstate Commerce Commission appears a most interesting table, showing the amount of taxes paid by the railroads in each State and terri tory for the year ending June 30, 1900. From this table it is shown that no injustice has been done the railroads of Kentucky in the matter of taxation. The table referred to is as follows: Summary showing taxes and assessments of the railways in the United States, by States and territories, for the year ending June 30, 1900:* SUMMARY Showing taxes and assessments of the railways in the United States, by States and Territories, for the year ending June 30, 1900:* *This summary does not include taxes paid to the United States Government under the recent internal revenue act, nor small amounts apportioned by States. The above summary relates exclusively to State and local taxes; it does not include the internal revenue tax. It is interesting chiefly on account of the widely varying amounts which States obtained from this source, a fact which appears more clearly in the statement of the amounts paid per mile of line than in the aggregate amounts paid. In South Dakota, for example, the amount of taxes paid per mile of line was $72.17; in Massachusetts, on the other hand, the amount paid in taxes per mile of line was $1,411.93. The facts presented in the above summary make it evident that there is as great diversity in the results of taxation in the several States and Territories as in the laws which provide for the levy and collection of taxes. EARNINGS OF RAILROADS. The total gross earnings of all railroads in Kentucky for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, amounted to $23,795,414. The total net earnings, $7,878,468. A table showing the earnings, valuations and other statistical matters appears elsewhere in this report. ACCIDENTS. The accidents upon each railroad within the State is shown in the statistical table, a summary of which shows that during the year the total casualties to employes was as follows: Number 1 THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. 11 killed, 35; number injured, 579; total passengers and persons other than employes killed, 109; injured, 180. NATIONAL AND SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COMMISSIONS. The matter of regulating interstate freight and passenger rates is of as great importance to shippers of the various States as is the regulation of intra-State rates. Therefore, the commissions of thirty States, together with the Interstate Commerce Commission, hold annual meetings in the endeavor by united effort to bring about a fair adjustment of interstate rates and an enactment of laws by the Congress, enabling the Interstate Commerce Commission to make just and reasonable rates. The object of the Southern Association of Railroad Commissions was fully explained in our last report. The last annual meeting was held at Asheville, September 10 and 11, 1901, and the full proceedings. of this convention appears in the appendix. NEW AND PROPOSED LINES. Since our last annual report articles of incorporation have been filed by a number of railroad companies. Some of these are constructing, and the arrangements for building the others are being made rapidly. Altogether the outlook for railroad extension is a very flattering one, and we may expect quite an era of development. December 17, 1900, the Middlesborough Mineral Company filed its articles of incorporation and propose to construct a line of railroad in Bell county, to several coal mines. January 30, 1901, the Louisville, Anchorage and Pewee Valley Electric Railway Company was incorporated. This is an electric line, which has been built and is in operation from Louisville to Anchorage, nine miles, while its track is laid as far as Pewee Valley, four miles; and it is proposed to extend it to Lagrange, Oldham county, eleven miles; also through the eastern part of Bullitt county into Nelson county, at Fairfield. This road is called the pioneer inter-urban electric line, and its builders have made wonderful progress with its construction. January 30, 1901, articles were filed by the Cincinnati, Covington & Erlanger Railway Company to be built from Covington to 1 Erlanger, in Kenton county, ten miles, and further if determined on. February 28, 1901, articles were filed by the Shelby County Electric Power & Railway Company, which proposes to build a line from Shelbyville to Eminence, through Shelby and Henry counties, twelve miles, with connections to be determined upon. March 11, 1901, articles were filed by the Cadiz Railroad Company, which was to build a line from Cadiz, in Trigg county, to Gracey, in Christian county. This road is nearing completion and will soon be in operation. It opens for development a fine · country not hitherto traversed by a railroad. July 31, 1901, articles were filed by the Cumberland & Ohio Valley Railroad Company from Newcastle, in Henry county, through Shelby, Spencer, Nelson, Washington, Marion, Taylor and Green counties, to Greensburg, a distance of about one hundred miles. August 1, 1901, articles were filed by the Georgetown & Lexington Traction Company, which has almost completed an electric road from Georgetown to Lexington, twelve miles. August 5, 1901, articles were filed by the Cumberland River & Nashville Railroad Company, which proposes to build a line from Corbin, Whitley county, through Laurel and Rockcastle counties to Burnside, in Pulaski county, a distance of thirty-five miles. Arrangements for the construction of this line are being so vigorously pushed that we feel warranted in stating that the road will be built at an early date, and that it will open for development a country, rich in iron ores, coal, oil and timber. November 14, 1901, articles were filed by the Kentucky Southern Railway Company, which propeses to build a line through Whitley, Laurel, Rockcastle and Pulaski counties, forty miles. November 14, 1901, articles were filled by the Paducah, Cairo & Northwestern Railroad Company, which proposes to build a line from Paducah, in McCracken county, through Ballard county to East Cairo, on the Ohio river, a distance of thirty-three miles. November 27, 1901, the charter of the Big Sandy & Cumberland Railroad Company was filed, and it proposes to extend a line from West Virginia into several counties in Eastern Kentucky, and open for development a country rich in timber and minerals. December 3, 1901, articles were filed by the Bluegrass Consolidated Traction Company, which proposes to build inter-urban electric roads from Lexington to Nicholasville, Versailles, Frank fort, Georgetown, Paris, Winchester, Mt. Sterling and Richmond, one hundred and forty miles in all. The franchises for operating along the roads in various counties have already been secured, and the construction will soon begin. December 11, 1901, articles were filed by the Danville Electric Power & Railway Company, which proposes to build an electric road from Danville to Junction City, in Boyle county, with spurs, a distance of eight miles. COMPLAINTS AND DECISIONS. R. F. PEAKE, AND OTHERS, VS. THE LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE AND CHESAPEAKE & OHIO R. R. Co.'s Plaintiffs, Defendants. OPINION AND FINDING OF THE COMMISSION. This controversy seems to have originated from an action instituted by the Commonwealth's attorney in the Shelby Circuit Court, under section 772 (a) of Kentucky Statutes, for the recovery of penalties against the Chesapeake & Ohio and Louisville & Nashville Railroad Companies for their failure to furnish adequate passenger accommodations to the local traveling public to and from Christiansburg and Shelbyville. Complainants produced and filed with the commission the record in this case and called its attention especially to the fact that in this action the following instruction was given to the jury: "The jury are instructed that the failure to stop trains at Christiansburg or sell tickets or transport passengers thereto and therefrom over said Shelby Cut-off is immaterial, as that failure can not be considered in this action, but is a matter within the control of the railroad commissioners of Kentucky." Thereupon a verdict was rendered for defendant. Immediately thereafter a written petition and complaint was |