FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 162 OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1878. STATE OF IOWA. DES MOINES: R. P. CLARKSON, STATE printer. 1878. COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. STATE OF IOWA, OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, HON. JOHN H. GEAR, Governor of Iowa: SIR: In accordance with the requirements of the Statute we have the honor to submit herewith the First Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, showing the general traffic, earnings, operating expenses and condition of the railroad companies doing business in this State, for the year ending June 30, 1878, together with the returns of the several companies to this office, and tabulated statements therefrom. On the 4th day of April, 1878, the members of the Board of Commissioners convened at the Capitol in Des Moines; present, James W. McDill, Peter A. Dey and C. C. Carpenter, who, after being duly qualified, elected J. S. Cameron Secretary, in accordance with section 6 of the act above mentioned. On the 31st of August, 1878, C. C. Carpenter resigned his membership of the Board of Commissioners, and M. C. Woodruff was appointed to fill the vacancy by the Governor, his commission dating from September 1, 1878. Entering upon the discharge of their duties as set forth in chapter 77, of the acts of the Seventeenth General Assembly, the Commissioners felt a natural embarrassment and hesitation arising from several causes which may be briefly mentioned here. They fully understood that by the enactment of chapter 77 a new policy of railroad treatment had been adopted; one which had many earnest and sanguine friends, as well as many determined opponents, while a third and larger class were waiting and watching for practical results before approval or condemnation. The Commissioners felt that the very large number of citizens of Iowa who had favored and still favor what is popularly known as the "Granger Law," comprised many pure and able men who were not, from the very nature of their |