Commissioners. JOHN M. BRYAN, Commissioner; J. L. NEELEY, JR., Secretary. R. H. M. DAVIDSON, Chairman, Commissioner; \ July 1, 1897, to January 3 1899. HENRY E. DAY, Chairman, Commissioner; January 3, JOHN M. BRYAN, Commissioner; JOHN L. MORGAN, Commissioner; J. L. NEELEY, JR., Secretary. *HENRY E. Day, Chairman, Commissioner; JOHN L. MORGAN, Commissioner; JOHN L. MORGAN, Chairman, Commissioner; R. HUDSON BURR, Commissioner; ROYAL C. DUNN, Secretary. R. HUDSON BURR, Commissioner; JEFFERSON B. BROWNE, Chairman, Commissioner JOHN L. MORGAN, Commissioner; ROYAL C. DUNN, Secretary. JEFFERSON B. BROWNE, Chairman, Commissioner) R. HUDSON BURR, Commissioner; JOHN L. MORGAN, Commissioner; ROYAL C. DUNN, Secretary. *Henry E. Day, resigned October 1, 1902, and was succeeded by R. Hudson Burr. At the same time John L. Morgan was elected Chairman for the rest of the term. Resigned October 1st, 1901, and Royal C. Dunn was elected as his successor. STANPA mission. Report of the Railroad Commission. OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, To His Excellency, N. B. BROWARD, STATE OF FLORIDA, Governor of Florida. Sir: In compliance with the law creating the Railroad Commission of Florida, we have the honor to hand you herewith our Ninth Annual Report for the year ending March 1st, 1906. The past year has been a most prosperous one along all lines of industry in Florida, and the railroads have shared therein. The State has largely recovered from the effects of the disastrous freezes of 1895 and 1899, and the inereased production of fruits and vegetables, the phosphate industry and the phenominal increase in the manufacture of forest products, has greatly augmented the tonnage of the railroads. They have in most instances had all the business they were able to handle, and in some cases they have actually had more freight offered than they had equipment to transport promptly. The Annual Reports of the railroads, which are appended hereto, show that with few exceptions their gross earnings have been largely increased over previous years. The failure of the management of the railroads of the State to make adequate preparation for their increased traffic has been the cause of the greater number of the complaints made to the Commissioners during the year. There have been complaints of inadequate depot facilities, and the necessity for agencies at many stations. The roads have not had a sufficient number of cars to move the traffic promptly when offered. There have been many complaints of delayed freights in transit. Perishables have been damaged, because of delay in transportation. There have been complaints of the great congestion of traffic at the terminals in Jacksonville. |