secretary of the railway company, the attorneygeneral, railway commissioner, and secretary of state, must be filed in the office of the registrar of deeds under the laws of Michigan. In New Hampshire the railway commission reports to the supreme court on the public utility of the proposed road, and a map of the same, if constructed, must be filed within one year after the railway is opened; and the railway commissioner may authorize a change in the location and assess damages caused thereby. The New York railway commission has power to approve or disapprove railway projects; persons interested are given a hearing; and a map must be filed before construction begins. In North Carolina the charter must be filed within a reasonable time after construction. Petitions must be presented to the "statutory court" if the proposed route appears objectionable to the commissioners. To alter the route by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors, to deflect a route from a certain city by a two-thirds vote of the council, are the privileges enjoyed by railway companies chartered under the laws of North Dakota. In that state they are also required to file a map at any time within six months after definite location has been decided upon. The names of the termini and the counties through which the proposed railway runs must be filed, under the laws of Ohio. For good reasons a change in the route may be made, but the secretary of state must be notified thereof, and all subscribers and all persons who subscribed for the former route must be released from their obligations. In Wyoming the law simply declares that railway companies may exercise the right of eminent domain in locating or relocating lines. This was a common provision in early charters, under which railway companies were empowered to locate and to relocate the respective roads at their pleasure. Approximately one-half of the states have statutory provisions governing the location of railways; and only a few cause accurate surveys and maps to be made, so that the exact location of a road may be known before construction begins. Equipment. The subject of safety in railway transportation has been one of the most prolific sources of railway legislation in recent years. There are few topics about which so many different laws have been passed, and perhaps none in regard to which more separate acts have been approved by the various legislatures. A majority of these laws relate to mechanical appliances and the physical condition of the road, while numerous others have in view the improvement of cars and stations, in so far as these affect the comfort and health of passengers. Numerous police regulations also appear upon the statute books of recent years, relating chiefly to subjects like stealing rides on trains, shooting at trains or throwing missiles, destruction of railway property, interference with railway signals, destroying tracks, or other things affecting the safety of traffic. A movement is noticeable to encourage the abolition of grade crossings and to guard these more carefully in the many places where they still exist. Bringing trains to a stop at railway crossings, or permitting them to pass without stopping in case interlocking switches are used; the construction of switches and the use of keys for the same; the blocking of frogs, in order to prevent feet of workmen from being caught in them; and similar subjects, relating to safety in the construction of tracks, have called forth numerous recent laws. An old and ever-recurring subject for legislation is that of fences, cattle guards, bells, whistles, etc. The introduction of automatic couplers has been greatly promoted by the legislatures of a number of leading states, as well as the use of continuous train brakes. In a few laws the number of brakemen for every train, or for a certain number of cars, is also prescribed. Several laws regulate the question of precedence among trains. In almost all states laws have been passed regulating the speed of trains in cities, although these are usually limited by municipal ordinance, in crossing each other's tracks, and in crossing bridges. the Southern States the law commonly provides for separate coaches for white and colored persons; in others, the heating of cars and coaches is made compulsory. Fresh water must be supplied at stations and in coaches, and the necessary conveniences for personal comfort provided on trains and in railway stations. In a few cases the laws - In provide for the examination of employees and the licensing of engineers, and prohibit the employment of persons addicted to drink. The adequacy with which individual states deal with one or more of these topics will be illustrated by the summaries of the laws upon these points in several leading states. Alabama. -Speed of trains in cities regulated; fresh water supplied; separate coaches for white and colored persons; conductors may assign seats to colored persons; employees may be examined and licensed; the necessary lights shall be kept on switches. Arkansas. Separate coaches to be provided; officers assign seats to passengers; fresh water; railways responsible for baggage forty-eight hours after arrival; the rear of passenger cars to be kept clear. Connecticut. Crossings regulated and frogs locked in the manner prescribed by the commission; safety couplers, approved by railway commission, required; speed of trains regulated by the commission; number of brakemen varies with speed and equipment of trains; fresh water to be supplied, and engineers sworn to obey the law. New York. - Automatic couplers; automatic air brakes for every train, sufficient to control train; railroad commission supervises the construction of switches and signals; tunnels properly lighted and ventilated; when set-offs are used in cars, the commission may approve or disapprove; railway crossings according to law. Ohio. Automatic couplers, and interlocking switches at grade crossings, subject to the approval of the commission; commission to prescribe speed of trains over bridges; crossings constructed according to law; engineers addicted to drink not to be employed.1 In recent years the commission laws of different states have provided for the reporting of accidents to passengers and employees. These reports are frequently made to the commission in the forms prescribed by that body. In some cases it is made the duty of the commission to investigate railway accidents.2 Quality of Service. Legal provisions falling under this head are closely related to the topics discussed in the section immediately preceding. Under the head of equipment, however, physical conditions were chiefly considered in their bearing upon safety in travel. Although numerous laws on this subject have been enacted, on the whole the physical side of railway transportation has 1 In addition to those above mentioned the following states have fairly complete statutory provisions on these subjects: Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont. Other states, of which the laws are less complete or practically wanting, are: Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, New York. 2 Among the commissions that have power to investigate accidents are those of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia. |