The following roads have made only partial reports, being operated by other companies, or not in operation:

Milwaukee & Northern.

Chippewa Falls & Northern.

Wisconsin & Michigan.

The Milwaukee & Northern was operated, under lease, by the Wisconsin Central during the whole period embraced in the report and until August 1, 1882, when the lease expired. Since that time it has been operated by the company owning it, and will be so reported in the future. The Prairie du Chien & McGregor, being the pontoon bridge with approaches, across the Mississippi between the places indicated in the name, was operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul jointly with the owners.

The Northern Pacific built about a year ago an extension of its line from Thompson, Minnesota, into Superior, Wisconsin, a distance of about 14 miles, in this state. No report has been made by it to this department for the reason that this portion of its road was not opened to public business until after the close of the railroad year. Construction trains, working on the line, carried to some extent freight and passengers, but no account thereof was kept in the company's office. The road was opened for traffic, and went into the hands of the operating department of the company, October 1, 1882, so that we may hereafter expect regular reports from that important organization.

The Chippewa Falls & Northern, Wisconsin & Michigan and Chippewa Valley & Superior did some work during the year in the same manner as the Northern Pacific, and for the same reasons no reports have been obtained of the results of such operations. The Chippewa Valley & Superior passed into the control and ownership

Cost of Road.

of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul immediately upon its being opened for public traffic, but after June 30.

As much of the Chippewa Falls & Northern as has been opened to the public has become a part of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha.

The Green Bay & Minnesota, which for some time has been in charge of a receiver, was reorganized October 14th, 1881, under the name of the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul Railway Co.; and from that time until June 30th, the operations of the road are reported by that company.

The Wisconsin & Michigan is still in process of construction, and no account of its operations during the year is given. When completed it will be operated by the Milwaukee & Northern.

The following lines run into states other than Wisconsin:

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.

Chicago & Northwestern.

Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha.

Prairie du Chien & McGregor.

COST OF ROAD.

The information obtained under this head is very unsatisfactory and cannot be said to be of sufficient accuracy to be of any practical value. The actual cost of many lines are not even approximately arrived at. The records of some of the older organizations are wholly lost, or are not at the disposal of the present officers. Other lines have passed through so many different stages of bankruptcy, receiverships, reorganizations and consolidations that the actual original cost of construction is no more ascertainable.

To show the enormous difference in the cost of road and equipment per mile in this State, as reported to this office for the past three years the following comparative table is submitted.

The total cost of all roads in the state was reported June 30, 1832, at $141,003,512.85, as to $129,628,918.87 the previous year. Expenditures for construction and equipment during the year are reported in Wisconsin at $10,571,862.15; whole line, $38,390,959.22.

The average cost per mile in Wisconsin, as reported, was, in 1881, $41,258.04, and on whole line, $39,006.66. In 1882, for Wisconsin, $41,713.06, and for whole line, $38,809.96, showing average increase in this state of cost per mile of $155.92, and decrease on whole line of $196.70. The cheapness of iron and steel during the last year has reduced the cost per mile of roads built during that period much below what it would have been had old prices prevailed, as well as affected the general average.

I agree with my predecessor, that "no satisfactory or valuable information as to the cost of the roads built many years ago can ever be given, short of an actual inspection of them by skilled engineers;" and the commissioner either ought to be relieved of the duty now imposed upon him of ascertaining and reporting their value, or additional facilities should be granted him to carry the law into effect.

Earnings and Operatiny Expenses.

TOTAL INCOME FROM ALL SOURCES.

The total income from all companies during the year, from all sources, was in Wisconsin, $19,669,927.70, as to $15,257,184.11 the previous year an increase of 28.9 per cent. Total receipts in 1882 were, on whole line, $51,083,799.68, as to $39,298,268.00 in 1881 — an increase of 29.9 per cent.

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS.

The total disbursements during the year for Wisconsin were $17,346,646.42, and for the whole line, $45,774,831.15; in Wisconsin 88+ and for the whole line 89 per cent. of the total income. The total income in 1881 on whole line, Wisconsin not being given separately, exceeded the total disbursements by $2,015,016,01; the latter being 94 + per cent. of the former.

EARNINGS AND OPERATING EXPENSES.

The total earnings from operations during the year were, on the whole line, $50,183,069.30, and in Wisconsin $18,769,197.32. The earnings were derived from the various sources in Wisconsin as follows:

Earnings per Mile.

The total operating expense was for the same period, on whole line, $26,900,945.83, or 53+ per cent. of earnings, and in Wisconsin $10,276,746.45, 54 + per cent. of earnings. On the different lines the per cent. of operating expenses to earnings was was as follows:

Green Bay & Minnesota and Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul..

.78

Three thousand three hundred and twenty-seven and seventy one-hundredths miles were reported as the average number of miles operated by the companies, and the average earnings per mile for Wisconsin were as follows: