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highway crossing, all in good condition. The through lattice riveted bridge, with pile trestle, over the Normanskill creek, was found in good condition and in strong life; the piles were driven three years ago. The remaining structures (minor) were found in very good life. The adjustment of track is very good, and the tie life strong. Four "Wharton" switches were noted; the rest being of the split-point pattern. The warning signals were noted well painted and in conspicuous places; also in good life. The grass and weeds have been cut and removed, and the right of way has an orderly appearance. The cattle slats were also found well maintained. Considerable attention was noted given to the important item of ditching. age or accident, were found up at mileposts. well attended to, and low joints very scarce. in good repair, neat and clean.

Chenango Branch.

Rails, in case of breakThe ballast was found The stations were found

This road extends from Syracuse to Earlville, a distance of fortytwo miles, is single track, standard gauge, and laid with sixty and seventy-pound steel rails; four miles of the latter only. This branch is in much better physical condition than previously. Great improvement has been made since 1884. There are but three passenger and two freight trains each way daily. The highway grade warning signs were not found in general strong life or good condition; renewals are to be made with heavier material. Grass and brush have been cut and removed, though the track is somewhat overgrown between the rails. The property is strongly fenced in mostly with wire and posts, though some board fences were noted and all generally well maintained. The track is in good adjustment, and the sleeper life is good; few places were noted with unsound ties; they are close together and of fair cross section. Extra rails each mile were noted stored in case of accident. A few stub switches were noted, but these are fast being replaced with the safety pattern. More attention should be given to the cattle guards. Slats were noted missing too often. Not a little ditching is needed, though your inspector was assured by the division road master this work would soon be accomplished for the year. The passenger stations generally are in good condition, neat and clean. Cazenovia station was moved to a better location, and greatly repaired and remodeled last year. Websters station was burned down last spring. Some 15,000 cedar ties will be placed this year. Bridge No. 4 is ten-foot opening, stringers, pine, two, eight by sixteen inches, put in last year. No. 5 is eight feet over creek, two, eight by sixteen inches, pine; good floor. No. 6, eight-foot opening, needs new deck, stringers are two, eight by sixteen inches under each rail. No. 12 is over the Erie canal, though riveted and needs new floor; is 123-foot span; also needs paint. No. 14 is an eight-foot opening; should be renewed entirely. No. 15 should also be renewed; is four span. No. 16, wooden stringers, and all new recently. The masonry of not a few of the minor structures was noted composed of small stone needing renewal and repairs. The tunnel near Cazenovia is 1,606 feet long, is on a seventy-foot grade, has sixteen-foot head room, and, as far as could be seen, was in good, safe condition. Watchmen

The

are employed, and constant attention given it. Few of the wooden stringers are over five years old. No. 23 is an eight-foot span, with bran new stringers, two, eight by sixteen inches, under each rail. No. 26 is over Chittenango creek; deck riveted, sixty-seven-foot span, and has new floor just completed. Masonry was found in good condition. There are a large number of small openings, particularly upon the Earlville end. Darkness prevented as close an examination as was desired. Near Earlville, though many new floors were noted, and assurances were given by the officials that renewals and repairs had been recently made in stringers, lagging and masonry. The bridge seats should be kept clean and free from cinders and dirt, and sills should not be covered, particularly where moisture and dryness alternate. This branch will average well with the other roads in the State. An effort should be made to lessen the number of small openings in the roadbed.

MINUTES OF THE BOARD.

REPORTED IN PURSUANCE OF SECTION 166 OF THE RAILROAD LAW.

[For the treatment of complaints against corporations coming under the supervision of the Board, the following method of procedure has been adopted: Upon receipt of a complaint a copy of the letter of the complainant is at once forwarded to the officers of the corporation against which complaint is made, with the request to answer within ten days. Reply to the complaint is then transmitted to the complainant, and if the matter is not satisfactorily adjusted by correspondence, a public hearing is had before the Board and such order made as the evidence then adduced seems to warrant.]

ALBANY NOVEMBER 27, 1893,

The Board met pursuant to adjournment. All present
Minutes of last meeting read and approved.

Complaints.

Christina Woehr v. The West Shore and Wallkill Valley Railroad Companies, alleging obstruction to property in the city of Kingston. F. L. Westbrook appeared for the railroad companies, and there being no appearance on the part of the complainant, the hearing was ordered held open until three o'clock. At that hour, the complainant failing to appear, the complaint was ordered dismissed.

William H. Fish v. The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company alleging overcharge for freight on the Harlem division. A letter was received from Nathan Guilford, general traffic manager, stating if facts were as Mr. Fish represented, he had been overcharged, and upon presentation of proof the matter would be adjusted. Letter ordered transmitted to Mr. Fish.

Nickerson & Church v. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. A. D. Wales, representing the complainants, asked for subpoena and copies. Ordered, that same be sent with the information that subpoenas must be served at the expense of the complainant.

Stephen C. Van Wyck v. The Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad Company, alleging insufficient station accommodations at Fishkill Plains. J. K. O. Sherwood, receiver, answered that a new depot had been erected and was ready for use. Letter ordered transmitted to Mr. Van Wyck and case closed. Citizens of the towns of Mentz, Montezuma and Conquest, alleging dangerous highway crossing on the West Shore railroad. A report was made by Commissioner Rickard, who had inspected the alleged dangerous crossing, and in accordance therewith it was ordered, that the local authorities and the railroad company remove shrubbery and trees obstructing the view approaching the track, and that a long blast of the whistle be sounded by engineers going east when at High Bridge.

Orders.

In the matter of the application of the Ossining Street Railroad Company at Sing Sing, for permission to operate by electricity. Ordered, permission granted with the usual conditions.

In the matter of the application of the Albany Railway Company, for permission to abandon so much of its Pearl street line as lies north of Clinton avenue. Ordered, that the application be denied, with the recommendation that the company continue to give the public service equal at least to that now afforded.

In the matter of the application of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, to be relieved from "full stop and crossing on signal" over the tracks of the New York Central Railroad Company. Commissioner Rickard, who had inspected the crossing, reported in favor of locating home and distance signals and regulating the speed of trains at the point in question, and it was so ordered.

Miscellaneous.

Letter of D. W. Caldwell, president New York Central and St. Louis railroad, relative to inspection report. Ordered filed.

Letter of the New Hamburgh and Poughkeepsie Connecting Railroad Company, asking for copies of the proceedings under section 59 of the Railroad Law. Ordered, papers sent and statutory fees charged therefor.

Letter of A. D. Thompson, asking for copy of the report of the Board on bridge strains. Ordered filed.

Letter of William Allen, relative to trusts, monopolies and railroad agreements. Ordered filed and answer made by the Secretary.

Letter of Bernard C. Feeney, of Sing Sing, asking if there is a law forbidding the running of trolley cars without a conductor. Ordered, answer transmitted that while there is no law on the subject, the Board invariably imposes such a restriction in granting consents to operate by the trolley system as a condition precedent.

Resignations of William C. Hudson as Secretary, and of E. B. Hastings as accountant, were presented, to take effect January 1, 1894. Ordered filed.

At the request of the Chairman, Commissioner Chapin was called to the chair, Commissioner Rickard acting as Secretary.

Commissioner Beardsley moved that the resignation of William C. Hudson as Secretary, and E. B. Hastings as accountant, be accepted. The motion was adopted.

It was moved and seconded that John D. McMahon be appointed Secretary, to take effect January 1, 1894, and to serve during the pleasure of the Board. Adopted.

It was moved and seconded that Charles R. De Freest be appointed accountant, to take effect January 1, 1894, and to serve during the pleasure of the Board.

Adopted.

The Board then adjourned to December fourth, at 2 P. M.

ALBANY, DECEMBER 4, 1893.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment. All present.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Complaints.

Jonathan Head v. The Poughkee; sie and Eastern Railroad Company, relative to fences. N. H. Sheldon, general superintendent, replied that the fences had been rebuilt. Reply ordered transmitted to the complainant.

F. Friedelben v. The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, relative to a station at Washingtonville. H. W: Webb, third vice-president, replied that steps had been taken to erect a small station at Washingtonville. Reply ordered transmitted to the complainant.

Residents of the town of Mentz v. The West Shore Railroad Company. J. D. Layng, general manager of the West Shore, notified the Board that the company would comply with its recommendations relative to the highway crossing in the town of Mentz. Copy of letter ordered transmitted to the complainants.

William H. Fish, relative to overcharge for freight on the Harlem division of the New York Central and Hudson River railroad. Letter was received from Mr. Fish acknowledging receipt of amount of overcharge. Ordered

filed

Rudolph Kraft v. The Staten Island Rapid Transit Company. Reply received from J. F. Emmons, president. Ordered transmitted to the complainant.

Nickerson & Church v. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. A telegram was received from A. D. Wales, representing the complainants, asking for postponement of a hearing at Binghamton. Request granted, provided satisfactory arrangements are made with the company.

Residents of Fuller's Station and other stations on the West Shore railroad, complained relative to train service. Complaint ordered transmitted to the company.

Miscellaneous.

Application of the Ithaca Street Railroad Company for permission to increase capital stock from $175,000 to $250,000. Letter ordered written informing company of the requirements of the Board relative to increase of capital stock. Letter of M. T. Nyeboe, asking for copy of report on bridge strains. Placed on file.

Letter of Railroad Commissioners of the State of Michigan, inclosing reports on the Battle Creek and other railroad disasters in that State. Ordered acknowledged and filed.

Letter of W. A. K. Bogardus, asking information relative to reports of accidents. Secretary instructed to reply.

Notice to the Board of application to the Supreme Court by the New Hamburgh and Poughkeepsie Connecting railroad for an order directing the State Board of Railroad Commissioners to issue a certificate to said company under section 59 of the Railroad Law. Papers ordered transmitted to the AttorneyGeneral.

The Board adjourned to December eleventh, at 2 P. M.

ALBANY, DECEMBER 11, 1893.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment. All present.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Complaints.

J. H. Miller v. The Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad Company, relative to obstructions to highway crossings. Letter of the complainant stating that the cause of complaint had been removed.

F. W. Prentice v. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, relative to the employment of incompetent engineers. Answer of E. P. Wilbur, president, stating that the alleged incompetent men had been discharged. Ordered transmitted to the complainant.

Rudolph Kraft v. The Staten Island Rapid Transit Railroad Company, relative to accident resulting from alleged carelessness. Answer of J. F. Emmons, president, denying allegations. Ordered transmitted to the complainant. James H. Wright v. The Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad Company, relative to fences. Letter from Mr. Wright stating the fences had been repaired. Ordered filed.

A. L. Tompkins, attorney, transmitting petition of residents of New City, Rockland county, asking for additional train service on the New Jersey and New York Railroad Company. Complaint ordered transmitted to the company.

Orders.

In the matter of the petition of the Broadway Ferry and Metropolitan Avenue Railroad Company of Brooklyn for permission to operate such road by the trolley system. A letter was received from Thomas Moore, attorney, inclosing certificate of the consent and approval of the local authorities, whereupon it was ordered that the application be approved, subject to the usual restrictions and conditions.

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