STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. To the Legislature : The Board of Railroad Commissioners respectfully submits its forty-third annual report, it being the fourth under the act of 1883. Its purpose is to comply with the law and furnish facts in regard to the railroads of New Hampshire and the work of the railroad commission. IN GENERAL. This can fairly be said of the railroads of New Hampshire Their value, which depends upon their capacity to earn dividends, and is represented by the market value of their securities, is greater than ever before. Their physical condition is better than ever before. Their rolling stock has been greatly increased, and is more serviceable. They are doing more business, and are operated with greater regularity, speed, and safety, and with more regard to the convenience of the public. NOTE. The returns of railroad corporations and the comments thereon are for the year ending September 30, 1886. A change in the chairmanship of the Board occurred October 1. The record of complaints and decisions having been brought, in the report for 1886, published in September last, down to May 17 of that year, that which appears in this volume covers but ten months. Most of the railroad histories begun in previous reports have been rewritten in order to make necessary additions and corrections, and it is hoped they will now be found so complete and reliable that they may hereafter be omitted. |