APPENDIX. Decisions and recommendations: Executive and legislative references. Complaints of cities, towns, associations, individuals, etc. Accidents. Accident inquiries. Crossings at grade. Report upon tests of automatic car-couplers. Length of railroads. Inspections. Report to Board, on heating and ventilation of cars. Minutes of the Board. New companies formed in 1886. Companies reorganized in 1886. Companies consolidated in 1886. Extension of routes during 1886. Enactments of the year 1886. Alphabetical list of all companies formed under laws of this State. General Railroad Law, and all laws (classified) relating to the rail roads of this State. DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REFERENCES. I. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS ON THE STOPPAGE OF CARS ON THE DRY DOCK, EAST BROADWAY AND BATTERY RAILROAD, THE INFORMATION OF WHICH WAS REFERRED TO IT BY THE GOVERNOR MARCH 2, 1886. STATE OF NEW YORK. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, March 2, 1886.} The Governor is informed by Andrew D. Best, of New York city, that the cars of the Dry Dock, East Broadway, and Battery railroad are not running on any of its four lines. This information is respectfully referred to the Board of Railroad Commissioners with the request that such consideration be given as may be deemed proper. WILLIAM G. RICE, Private Secretary. STATE OF NEW YORK: ALBANY, March 4, 1886. On March 2, 1886, there was referred by the Board to Commissioner Kernan the following communication, which was on that day received from the Governor, to-wit STATE OF NEW YORK : The Governor is informed by Andrew D. Best, of New York city, that the cars of the Dry Dock, East Broadway and Battery railroad are not running on any of its four lines. This information is respectfully referred to the Board of Railroad Commissioners, with the request that such consideration be given as may be deemed proper. WILLIAM G. RICE, Private Secretary. Commissioner Kernan immediately proceeded to New York and held a hearing at the Hoffman House, at which Joseph O'Donnell, Esq., chairman, and Andrew D. Best, Esq., secretary of the Empire Protective Association, and others, representatives of said association, and a number of the car conductors and car drivers of the road, were present; also William Richardson, a director, and F. F. White, Esq., superintendent on the part of the road. At midnight the hearing was adjourned until March 3, 10 A. M., at the office of the company, where the same parties being present, as well as many others on the part of the employees, the hearing was continued and closed. It appeared that at 4 A. M. of March 2, 1886, the cars ceased to run on any of the four lines of the company, for reasons hereinafter stated, and that such suspension had continued throughout the day, and further continued until the afternoon of March 3, after the close of the hearing, when the road attempted under police protection to start its cars. This effort to open its road to public travel was prosecuted so far as possible in the face of the opposition of those congregated upon the streets. At 5 P. M. of March 3, the following was received from the road, to-wit: NEW YORK, March 3, 1886. At a meeting of the directors of the Dry Dock, East Broadway and Battery Railroad Company, held this day, the following resolutions were passed: Resolved, That the superintendent be authorized and directed to employ all competent men that he can obtain to operate the cars of this company, as conductors and drivers, at the rate of $2.00 per day for twelve hours' work, including not less than thirty minutes for dinner; it being understood that all men who prove themselves competent and faithful, shall, while they discharge their duty, be retained in the employ of the company. Resolved, That the executive committee and superintendent be authorized and directed to spare no outlay which may be necessary to insure the running of the cars of this company on its various routes to the extent necessary to comply with and fulfil the obligations of the company to the public. Resolved, That the mayor and police authorities of the city be and they are hereby requested to afford all necessary protection to our employees, cars and other property, from any molestation or unlawful interference. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions, attested by the president and secretary, be sent to the Governor of the State, Attorney-General, Railroad Com missioners, mayor of the city, and the police department of this city. WM. WHITE, President, The road is used, when in operation, by about 50,000 people per day, and these are therefore seriously incommoded in going to and from their daily avocations while the operation of the road is suspended. On March 2d and 3d, the road made no effort to run its cars, except as stated, and except to endeavor to arrange existing difficulties with its striking employees so that through them it might resume. The cause of the suspension of operation was that at 4 A. M. on March 2d the employees of the road struck in a body and refused to work unless certain demands made by them and presented by them through the Empire Protective Association, were yielded by the road. It not being the desire of either party to the controversy to have the Board determine upon the merits of the differences between the road and its employees, the Commissioner confined his hearing officially to ascertaining |