ANNUAL REPORT. FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30th, 19:1 To His Excellency, Emmet O'Neal, Governor. SIR-As provided by law the Commission submits herewith a report of its acts for the year ending June 30, 1911. With no legislation, during the last legislative session, effecting our department of the State government, there has been but few questions, requiring the outlining of policies or the construction of laws, presented to the Commission during the preceding. The Commission has attended several sessions and hearings of the Interstate Commerce Commission, since its last report, in which rates and practices effecting the State were involved. In only one of these, however, was the Commission the complainant. The petition of the Alabama Commission in what is generally known as the Compressed case has been finally completed by hearing and argument before the Interstate Commerce Commission. No decision having been rendered. The Commission has had presented to it a petition in reference to Telephone Rates to subscribers of local exchanges, but the law not granting to it any authority to enforce its orders pertaining to such utilities, consideration of the reasonableness of the charges complained of was declined. The Telephone Exchange has grown to a necessity for almost every community and being of necessity monopolistic in its operation, the Commission should have control over their rates and practices, that cich community and the public generally may be protected from unjust rates and the stabil ity of investment secured, by a fixed uniform policy. In fact we believe it would be good policy to place under the control of the Commission the issuance of all sfocks and bonds to be issued by corporations within the State, if properly managed it would give confidence to investment, and promote in the development of the State. The traffic of the railroads during the last year as a whole, has been the largest in their history. Both passengers and freight have moved on a liberal scale. Their gross income from operation has exceeded that of any year heretofore. The total net income from all railroads in Alabama from operation amounted to $8,100,446.00 with a main line mileage of 4,532 miles, rendering average net earnings per mile of $1,788.00 against $1,948.00 for the year ending June 30th, 1910. COMPLAINTS. A large part of the Commission's time is taken up in the investigation of complaints that are adjusted without the formality of a hearing as this method is speedy and relief quickly administered. HEARINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS. The Commission has had formal hearing in forty (40) cases, of which thirteen (13) pertained to station buildings. These have all been disposed of by suitable orders, copies of which are attached hereto. CAR SERVICE. Little complaint reaches the Commission from failure of the railroads to furnish cars to shippers. During the rush of the harvest season, there occurs congestion for a few days at a time at some points, but this cannot be avoided by the carriers altogether. There has been no occurrence of this nature that would indicate that the railroads did not have sufficient rolling stock to care for the traffic offered them. ACCIDENTS. The number of passengers carried during the year amounted to 10,711,656 persons, of which 106 were injured and 2 killed in accidents. The number of employees engaged in transportation by the railroads amounted to 11,160, of which 45 were killed and 1,479 injured. 182 other persons have been injured, and 96 killed. STATISTICS. We The statistics accompanying this report are extracts from the full report filed with the Commission. only submit such as are of general interest. The main line trackage has increased thirty-six (36) miles. The main line mileage, including second tracks, amounts to 4,532 miles, siding and yard tracks 1,637 miles, making a total of 6,169 miles. RIVER TRAFFIC. The traffic on the rivers does not increase with that by rail. Navigation is so uncertain, by reason of the variable stages of the water flow, no strong companies |