THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. 1876. MADISON, WIS.: E. R. BOLENS, STATE PRINTER, 1876. REPORT. OFFICE OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONER, MADISON, January 15, 1877. TO HIS EXCELLENCY, HARRISON LUDINGTON, Governor of Wisconsin: The duty of making a report to either the Executive or the Legislature is not imposed upon me by law. The statute by which the present Commission was created made important changes in the legislation affecting railway corporations. It has been in force nine months, and its effect upon the railroads and upon the business of the people has been to a considerable extent developed. I have therefore felt it to be my duty to submit the results of its operations, so far as they have come to my knowledge from observation and from the reports of the companies, to the Executive for such disposition as he may think their importance demands. Section 2, of chapter 57, of the general laws of 1876, makes it the duty of the Commissioner "to inquire into any neglect or violation of the laws of the State by any railroad corporation doing business therein or by the officers, agents or employes thereof, and shall also from time to time carefully examine and inspect the condition of each railroad in the State, and of its equipment and the manner of its conduct and management with relation to the public safety and convenience. He shall also examine and ascertain the pecuniary condition and the manner of financial management of each and every railroad corporation doing business in this State." In discharge of these duties in the month of September last I transmitted to the proper officer of each railroad corporation doing business in the State, blank forms for the returns such officers were required by law to make, with the following note: |