LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, Columbia, S. C., January 1, 1918. To His Excellency, Richard I. Manning, Governor of South Sir: We have the honor to transmit the thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina for the year ending December 31st, 1917. PART I. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. To the General Assembly of South Carolina: This, the thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina is herewith respectfully submitted for your consideration. PHYSICAL CONDITION OF RAILROADS. The physical condition of the railroads of South Carolina has been steadily improved since our last report to your body. Efficiency and safety has been the double standard mapped out by the Commission for railroad operation within the State, and we are glad to be able to report that we have had the hearty co-operation of the management of the various lines in making effective the Commission's rules and regulations. The Commission has given great care and diligence to the inspection of railroad properties as required by law, and especially so as to the roadbeds, crossties, bridges and rolling stock. Decided improvements are to be noted in all of these, especially with the main line roads. While improvement has been made by practically all of the short line roads, scarcity of labor and the attendant increased scale of wages and the high cost of all kinds of material have made it practically impossible for some of them to make the permanent improvements required by the Commission, and that the comfort and safety of travel demand. Since our last report one road, namely, the Greenville and Western Railway, has been placed in the hands of a receiver, and two or three others are operating under great difficulties. Despite the great demands made upon the railroads by the War Department, which demands have taxed the roads to their utmost capacity, and despite the scarcity of labor, increased wages and the high cost of material, physical improvements, as stated above, have been great and of a permanent and substantial nature. Roadbeds are being ballasted with stone, clinkers and other substantial material, defective timbers in roadbeds and bridges are being replaced by new, and in most cases ballast-deck trestles of creosoted timbers are being erected, and whenever practicable concrete and steel are being substituted for wood in the erection of culverts and trestles. The Commission realizes fully its great responsibility to the public in this particular line of duty, and, as in the past, shall insist that the physical condition of our railroads be steadily improved, and that all improvements be of a substantial and permanent nature. The Commission feels sure that this policy is not only in the interest of the railroads themselves, but is the only policy that will insure the comfort and safety of the traveling public; and no matter what the stress of circumstances, the Commission will not be diverted from this its established policy. During the year 1917 90.29 miles of new 85-pound rail have been put down on main lines, replacing lighter rail; also 76.90 miles of relay rail, replacing lighter rail, have been put down on branch lines. Approximately 280,000 cubic yards of stone and gravel ballast have been put in, roadbed drainage has been greatly improved by placing of concrete and iron pipes in culverts or waterways, and the renewal of crossties has been up to the average. It appears to be the policy of the large trunk lines to improve their roadbed up to the highest and most modern standard. ROLLING STOCK. The replacement of wooden passenger cars with modern steel frame passenger cars, larger and better locomotives, an increase of and better freight cars now being put into service by the railroads greatly facilitates the service of transportation, and it seems to be the policy of the railroads to carry out the Commission's orders in this respect. Owing to conditions brought about by the war the railroad companies have found it very difficult to secure equipment contracted for on account of the scarcity of material due to the demands of the National Government. SCHEDULES AND TRAIN SERVICE. There has been a great increase in passenger travel during the past year, and while the Commission has had urgent appeals from the railroads for the discontinuance of trains for conserva tion purposes, the Commission has insisted that local demands must be supplied as far as possible. A few trains have been discontinued on the main lines when this service was a practical duplication, and on several of the short lines when it was conclusively shown that the trains did not pay and their operation was endangering the very life of the roads themselves; but we think that an investigation will show that the South Carolina Commission has allowed fewer trains to be discontinued than any other Southern State. Schedules have been greatly disturbed, due largely to the demands made upon the railroads by the National Government in the transportation of troops and troop supplies, and on account of the transportation of material for the building of military camps. The Commission has been earnest in its efforts for the maintenance of all schedules and for the prevention of congestion of lines and terminals, and in its efforts has had the hearty co-operation of the railroads themselves. The Commission feels. sure that the citizens of the State realize the difficulties under which all transportation companies are operating on account of abnormal conditions, and also the difficulty which the Commission encounters when it attempts to enforce its orders as to train service and schedules, but that our people will be patriotic under the circumstances and until conditions are more nearly restored to normal. BRIDGES AND TRESTLES. Commission's order No. 156, of March 6th, 1911, requiring the substitution of steel and concrete for wooden trestles, or that trestles be filled in with earth, is being carried out by the various railroads, and the Commission feels assured that in a reasonably short time all wooden bridges or trestles will have been removed and either steel, concrete, ballasted decked, creosoted structures or earth will have been substituted. The railroads, however, have been very much handicapped in this respect for the past year owing to the scarcity of material and labor. DEPOTS AND OTHER BUILDINGS. During the year depots and other buildings at the following places were constructed, extensively repaired, or are under construction: |