LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, Columbia, S. C., January 1st, 1914. To His Excellency, Cole. L. Blease, Governor of South Carolina. Sir: We have the honor to transmit the thirty-fifth Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina for the year ending December 31st, 1913. THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Railroad Commission OF South Carolina For the Year Ending December 31st, 1913 PART I. General Report of the Commission. р ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RAILROAD COM MISSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. To the General Assembly of South Carolina: We respectfully submit for your consideration this, the thirtyfifth, Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina: PHYSICAL CONDITION OF RAILROADS. The Commission has been untiring in its efforts to have the railroads operating in this State bring their properties up to a standard that would insure the greatest possible degree of safety and comfort to their patrons, and, while there is still much to be done, it is with pleasure that we report very decided improvements since our last Annual Report to your Honorable Body. The greatest improvements that have been made are by the main trunk lines and their branches, but while this is true, the improvements have been steady and general, even reaching the small roads in the State. All over the State there are evidences of progress. New and heavier rails have been put down, new timbers have been inserted, greater efforts have been put forth to maintain safe roadbeds by the installation of rock, cinder and pebble ballast, and through a more thorough system of drainage. The promotion of the safety and comfort of the traveling public is, as we conceive it, one of the chief functions of the Railroad Commission, and imposes a great responsibility. Therefore, upon our various inspections the Commission has been painstaking and careful in its investigations, and has insisted upon steady and permanent improvement all along the lines above mentioned. During the year 1913, 173 miles of 85-pound rail, replacing lighter rail, has been laid, and approximately 200,000 yards of stone ballast. The drainage of roadbeds has been greatly improved by the placing of iron pipe and concrete culverts. ROLLING STOCK. During the year several of the railroads have added new rolling stock to their equipment in the way of locomotives and passenger coaches, which greatly facilitates travel, and adds materially to |