STATE OF INDIANA SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Railroad Commission OF INDIANA 1907 TO THE GOVERNOR INDIANAPOLIS: WM. B. BURFORD, CONTRACTOR FOR STATE PRINTING AND BINDING. THE STATE OF INDIANA, Received by the Governor, examined and referred to the Auditor of State for verification of the financial statement. The within report, so far as the same relates to moneys drawn from the State Treasury, has been examined and found correct. Returned by the Auditor of State, with above certificate, and transmitted to Secretary of State for publication, upon the order of the Board of Commissioners of Public Printing and Binding. FRED L GEMMER, Secretary to the Governor. Filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana, January 13, 1908. FRED A. SIMS, Secretary of State. Received the within report and delivered to the printer January 13, 1908. HARRY SLOUGH, Clerk Printing Bureau (2) H. O. GARMAN, Purdue University, Consulting Engineer. D. E. MATTHEWS, Inspector. CHAS. M. PREBLE, Inspector. Office, Room 84 State House. Public Hearing Room, 85 State House. SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Railroad Commission of Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Jan. 1, 1908. To the HONORABLE J. FRANK HANLY, Governor of Indiana: We respectfully submit the Second Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of Indiana. The act of 1905 required, chiefly, a report of the proceedings of the Commission. The act of 1907 requires of the Commission to report to the Governor, not only its transactions, but "such statements, facts and explanations as will disclose the actual working of the system of railroad transportation and its bearing upon the business and prosperity of the State." Obviously such a duty points to a comprehensive review of railroad affairs, and the proceedings of the Commission. The law demands that we shall supervise all freight and passenger tariffs and requires the carriers to file them for that purpose. We are required to keep informed as to the condition of railroads and the manner in which they are operated with reference to the security and accommodation of the public; and we may appoint inspectors and engineers to aid us in discharging these duties. These. powers are comprehensive and varied and require the best thought and action of which we are capable and all our time and experience to properly exercise them. In commenting upon the actual working of railroad transportation with reference to the business and prosperity of the State, our attention is naturally directed to the position of the Railroad Commission and its influence upon transportation conditions within the State. The work performed and the actual results accomplished warrant the conclusion that railroad regulation in Indiana has been successful, and if this can be said concerning less than three years |