Summary of Recommendations to the Legislature. In conclusion the Board submits the following summary of recommendations to the Legislature:

An amendment to section 59 of the Railroad Law relative to the application of street surface railroads for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, empowering the Board to certify to the whole or a part of the route proposed by a new corporation, or to compel an existing corporation to build such additional lines as are deemed to be required by public convenience and necessity.

An amendment to section 90 of the Railroad Law, subjecting extensions to the provisions of section 59.

An amendment to the Stock Corporation Law further restricting the issue of stock and bonds by railroad corporations.

An amendment to the Railroad Law prohibiting grade crossings and providing for the abolition of those already established.

An amendment to the Railroad Law compelling all passenger and drawing room or sleeping cars on steam surface railroads, and all passenger cars on elevated railroads to be lighted by gas or electricity.

An amendment to the Railroad Law compelling the blocking of guard rails and frogs with some suitable device.

An amendment to the Railroad Law more clearly defining the character of fences to be erected by railroad companies between railroad and private property.

An amendment to the Railroad Law compelling the use of fenders on street surface cable or electric cars, and generally regulating the operation of such roads as to speed, use of air or power brakes and other safety appliances. (See report of Board of Railroad Commissioners for 1894, page xxxv.)

An amendment to the Railroad Law prescribing a penalty for failure to file quarterly reports within a specified time.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

SAMUEL A. BEARDSLEY,

MICHAEL RICKARD,

ALFRED C. CHAPIN,

Commissioners.

Ten Year Comparisons.

The following series of comparative tables, the figures of which are taken from the annual reports made by this Board for the years 1886 to 1895 inclusive, show at a glance the progress of steam railroad enterprise in this State during the past ten years. The appar rently abnormal increase in the figures of 1892 and 1893 was caused by the inclusion of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, then operating lines in this State, and which was required to report the operations of its entire system. For the years 1894 and 1895 the figures of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad are eliminated.

TABLE SHOWING LOCOMOTIVE AND CAR EQUIPMENT.

This year shows a loss in locomotive equipment of 22, and all other equipment of 5,570, indicating that, owing to the business depression, old and worn-out cars have not been replaced by new ones or existing equipment increased, as in previous years. The figures for 1892 and 1893, it must be remembered, in cluded the Reading system entire, part of which is eliminated. for the years 1894 and 1895.

TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYES.

The extent to which employes have contributed to the reduction in operating expenses in the past two years is indicated by this table;