have powers conferred upon them regulating these roads, and during the session of the General Assembly in 1899, prepared and caused to be introduced an act granting the power, but were unable even to have the bill favorably reported upon by the committee to which it was referred. Mr. Crandall was informed that as the suburban road was a common carrier, there might be a remedy at law. OFFICIAL INSPECTION OF THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY. Chairman Flory and Commissioner McCully left the MissouriIowa State line on December 5, 1899, on special train, for the purpose of inspecting above line to Kansas City. We found this line, both as regards physical condition and equipment, in first-class condition; road-bed well surfaced and well ditched (with exception of a few cuts), and it is well ballasted in its entirety with gravel, burned gumbo, and crushed rock. Ties average about three thousand to the mile, and are in good condition. Track is laid throughout with seventy-five pound steel, and is in good order; alignment good, and curves appear perfectly adjusted. Cattle guards in good condition; stock pens are (generally speaking) in first-class order, with good accommodations. Depots are a credit to the line, commodious, well lighted and heated. Many wooden trestles have been filled, and a great number of wooden bridges have (and are being) replaced with first-class steel structures, securely supported by stone abutments. Fencing in fair condition. In fact, we regard this road as being in first-class order, and apparent conditions reflect much credit upon the management. JOS. FLORY, W. E. McCULLY, Commissioners. INSPECTION REPORT OF THE KANSAS CITY, FORT SCOTT & MEMPHIS RAILWAY BY COMMISSIONERS HENNES SEY AND MCCULLY, JUNE 11, 1900. Commissioners Hennessey and McCully left Arcadia on special train Monday, June 11th, for an inspection of the Missouri lines owned and controlled by the above company. From Arcadia to Thayer we find road-bed in good condition, generally speaking, and with very few exceptions well surfaced and drained, the greater part of it ballasted with "Joplin gravel,” in a first-class manner. Rails used vary from 67 pounds to 75 pounds, the latter being the adopted standard, some thirty odd miles of which are now being put in their track. Alignment is first-class, and road-bed well tied. The principal bridges are steel structures, supported by stone abutments; a great many wooden trestles have been "filled" since last inspection, and many others in process of filling now. Entire line is fenced, most of which is in reasonably good condition, several fence gangs being noted rebuilding same at various points. CURRENT RIVER RAILROAD. Inspected by Commissioners Hennessey and McCully, leaving Grandin 8 a. m., June 12th. This line is laid with 56 pound rail, but same was found in generally good condition; only a small portion of this track is ballasted, but surface of road-bed is in reasonably good order. Bridges and trestles, excepting three, which are steel trusses, are wooden structures, but in good repair. Road only partly fenced. KANSAS CITY, CLINTON & SPRINGFIELD RAILROAD. Inspected Tuesday, June 12, 1900, by Commissioners Hennessey and McCully. Road-bed in reasonably good condition, comparatively well surfaced, but only partially ballasted. It is laid with 56 pound rails, good alignment and well tied. Bridges and trestles are mostly wooden, but in apparent good order. Cattle guards are generally of the old wooden "pit" variety, but are being replaced as fast as they are rebuilt, with surface guards. The fencing of this line is in bad order, but several extra gangs were noted rebuilding the same. SUMMARY. The principal depots and other buildings, including stock pens on the lines operated by this company in Missouri, were found to be in good, serviceable condition, and the many extra steel-bridge and fence gangs noted at different points during our inspection, indicated a commendable ambition on the part of the management, and when the work now under way shall have been completed, the main line from Arcadia to Thayer may justly be termed as in first class condition. T. J. HENNESSEY, WM. E. McCULLY, Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners. MISSISSIPPI RIVER & BONNE TERRE RAILWAY. Inspection made by Commissioners Hennessey and McCully, beginning at Riverside, Missouri, June 25, 1900. Some thirty miles of this track is laid with 56 pound rails, and the remainder with 75 pound, which latter weight has been adopted as the standard and will be rapidly substituted for the lighter rail. They are but little worn, and the alignment is very fair. Road-bed is in reasonably good condition, except in some cuts which evidence ditches having been filled by recent heavy rains, impeding drainage. Road-bed is practically all ballasted, and the larger part of it being the most complete work of the kind ever viewed, not only the roadbed being thoroughly covered with "chat," but all heavy dumps being entirely covered with the ballast from top to bottom. All principal bridges are practically speaking of steel trusses, and girders on stone abutments, class "A" structures, and in firstclass condition, and the policy of the management has been to install these as rapidly as possible until all wooden trestles and bridges shall have been removed. Very little stock business done on this line, hence stock-pens are scarce and rarely in evidence, but entire line is well equipped with neat, modern station houses, which are in themselves a credit to the managers. At the Steinecke Crossing of Joaquin river, two streams of water have been diverted from their channels and merged into one, and this water from a shed of some 6,000 acres, is carried under the railway through a gap supported and protected by superb wing dams and masonry. The long, high trestle that has heretofore existed at this place has been filled, riprapped and ballasted from top to bottom, making in all a most admirable piece of workmanship. We note with pleasure the many evidences of physical improvements in this line since our last inspection, and most heartily commend the efforts of the management in this respect, as well as concurring in the further improvements now under way, and those contemplated for the near future. T. J. HENNESSEY, WM. E. MCCULLY, Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners. |