Name of company. Tons of freight earning Average distance Av. amount re-Average rate per Av. revenue. traveled per ton -miles. ceived for each ton. number of ton per mile- freight cars in freight trains. cents. The companies named moved 91.7 per cent. of the entire number of passengers reported by 40 companies and earned 96.9 per cent. of entire passenger earnings. They moved 91.02 per cent. of the entire tonnage reported for 37 companies, and earned 96.17 per cent. of the freight revenue reported. They earned 96.7 per cent. of the entire passenger and freight earnings reported. Table No. 10 of Part 3 hereof, shows savings and expenses of railroads in Missouri, so far as reported, and as estimated for the year ending June 30, 1900. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RAILROADS IN MISSOURI YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1900. All main line tracks are in a satisfactory condition. The renewal of steel rails in track was extensive. A large amount of work in replacing trestle with embankments has been done. Steel structures are rapidly replacing those of wood, and a much larger proportion of new ties, than usual, were used in renewals and repairs. Equipments are excellent. Branch lines and class "C" roads all show improvement in condi tion since our last report. Reports of inspections will be found hereinafter. Every disposition to willingly and promptly comply with the requirements of the Board, has been shown by the managements of the several lines. The main tracks of railroads in Missouri are almost entirely laid with steel rails. 63,171 tons of steel rail were laid in Missouri during the year. About 80 per cent. of the main line tracks in Missouri are ballasted, either with brokeh stone, gravel, 'chats,' cinders or burnt clay Two hundred and eighty-four (284) miles of track were ballasted during the year. There were used in renewals and repairs of tracks in the State, 4,832,926 cross ties, averaging over 700 ties per mile of main line. There were, as reported June 30, 1900, on the railroads of the Nearly 80 per cent. of main line tracks in Missouri are fenced, generally with wire fencing. There are, as reported, including flag stations, 1,714 railway stations in Missouri, and 1,175 station houses, including Union Stations. As reported, there were in the service of the companies, operating railroads in this State June 30, 1900, 152,628 persons. This includes employes of every class, and shows the number for the entire mileage operated, being an average of 3.873 per mile. This average applied to Missouri mileage gives an aggregate of 26,631 railroad employes in this State. From reports so far as made of number of employes in the State, and careful investigation it is estimated, however, that the number of persons in railroad service, properly to be credited to Missouri, is 29,000. CASUALTIES. As far as reported for the year ending June 30, 1900, 274 persons were killed, and 728 injured on railroads in Missouri, a total of 1,002. Of those killed, 71 were employes, 17 were passengers, and 186 other than employes or passengers. Of those injured 500 were employes, 64 were passengers, and 164 other than employes or passenger. As reported for previous year, 206 persons were killed and 990 injured. Increase in number killed, 68; decrease in number injured, 262. Among the various questions arising regarding the operation of railroads in this State, that of highway crossings is becoming more frequent from year to year. It is a matter which will require legislation, both as regards new lines of road and lines already in operation. There are many crossings in the State which are dangerous, and when the ordinary precautions are insufficient to prevent acci |