24.452 mo REPORT. STATE OF MISSOURI, RAILROAD AND WAREHOUSE DEPARTMENT, Hon. LON. V. STEPHENS, Governor of Missouri: Sir-As required by law, the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners herewith submit their report for the year ending June 30, 1899, it being the Twenty-fourth annual report of the Commission. It seems impossible for the railroad companies operating in this State to comply with the law, requiring that annual statements be filed with this Board, not later than September 1 of each year, the statements being for the year ending June 30 preceding. The Commissioners of other states as well as the Interstate Commerce Commission have the same difficulty as regards the prompt filing of annual statements by railroad companies. It is probably true that delays in this settlement of all transactions for the fiscal year, render it impossible for the returns to be made sooner than they are, and that they cannot be filed within the time specified by law. A majority of the more important companies file their statements not later than November 1; some, however, do not forward statements until after December 1. Several companies of minor importance are very remiss in this regard, and statements from them are obtained after repeated demands; some companies fail entirely to report. As stated in previous reports of the Board it is impossible to show earnings, and expenses of railroads or details of operation for Missouri alone, as several of the most important companies, having a heavy volume of traffic within the State, do not separate the item referred to, and any statistics given for Missouri alone regarding these items must be made on averages and consequently incomplete and inaccurate. The following named companies operating railroads within this State June 30, 1899, failed to file statements, as required by law: Cassville & Western. H.6271 |