The capitalization of the roads in this state, and representing the mileage of such road within Nebraska, has been increased $31,345,880.80, while the mileage in the state has been increased 931.50 miles during the same period.

COST.

The proportionate cost of the mileage in Nebraska, as given by the several companies, or as computed by the Board upon a mileage basis, for the two years, is as follows: This also includes cost of equipment: For year ending June 30, 1887......

$166,199,094.31 45,973,013.81

The figures for the year ending June 30, 1886, only include a portion of the roads operated in the state at that time.

GROSS EARNINGS.

: The gross earnings for the roads in Nebraska, as reported by the several companies, are as follows:

For the year ending June 30, 1887....

$17,232,895.44

15,720,747.49

Increase.....

$1,512,147.49

The earnings from passenger trains per mile are as follows:

Sioux City & Pacific, $1.9476; Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley, $1.525; Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, $0.996; Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska, $0.4538; St. Joseph & Grand Island, $0.7848; Union Pacific, $2.39; Omaha & Republican Valley, $0.88; Missouri Pacific, $0.958, and B. & M. R. R., $1.407.

The earnings from freight trains per train mile are as given below:

S. C. & P., $2.3727; F., E. & M. V. R. R., $1.6419; C., St. P., M. & O., $1.776; C., K. & N., $0.3084; St. Jo. & G. I, $1.4452; U. P. R'y, $2.39; O. & R. V. R. R., $1.89; Mo. Pac., $1.95, and B. & M. R. R., $3.107.

OPERATING EXPENSES.

The total operating expenses for Nebraska, as reported to the Board, are as follows:

The difference between operating expenses and earnings for the year is $7,466,662.95.

PER CENT OF NET EARNINGS TO CAPITAL STOCK AND DEBT.

The per cent of net earnings of the various systems in this state, to their capital stock and debt, is as follows:

S. C. & P., 3.82 per cent; F., E. & M. V., 3.54 per cent; C., St. P., M. & O., 3.11 per cent; C., K. & N., .06 per cent; St. Jo. & G. I., 3.34 per cent; U. P. R'y, 5.63 per cent; O. & R. V., 2.58 per cent; Mo. Pac., 5.28 per cent; and B. & M. R. R., 8.87 per

cent.

PER CENT OF NET EARNINGS TO COST OF ROAD AND EQUIPMENT.

The per cent of net earnings of these roads, to their cost of road and equipment, as reported by the several companies, is as given below:

S. C. & P., 5.09 per cent; F., E. & M. V., 3.66 per cent; C., St. P., M. & O., 3.27 per cent; C., K. & N., .06 per cent; St. Jo. & G. I., 3.34 per cent; U. P. R'y, 6.67 per cent; O. & R. V., 2.43 per cent; Mo. Pac., 4.26 per cent; and B. &. M. R. R., 9.06 per

cent.

TAXES PAID IN NEBRASKA BY THE RAILROADS FOR THE YEAR.

The total amount of taxes paid in this state by the various lines of railway, is $689,412.32, an increase as compared with the previous year of $42,211.22.

This amount is equal to over nine per cent of the net earnings for this state of these systems.

TRACK IN NEBRASKA.

The total mileage in Nebraska, June 30, 1887, was 3,983.16 miles, an increase in one year of 931.50 miles.

As the same time, the number of miles of track laid with steel rails was 2,789.98, an increase for the year of 1,156.93 miles. Seventy per cent of the total trackage in the state is laid with steel rails, which fact speaks volumes concerning the condition of the roads in Nebraska, and as to the manner in which they are maintained.

EMPLOYES IN NEBRASKA.

The number of employes of railroads June 30, 1886, was 12,190, and June 30, 1887, 12,616, an increase of the number of employes in this state of 426.

For the year ending June 30, 1886, the employes in Nebraska of these railroads received as compensation, the sum of $6,745,451.25, an average to each employe of $553.36. For the year ending June 30, 1887, they received as compensation the aggregate sum of $8,012,886.77, an average to each employe of $635.13.

STATIONS.

The companies report five hundred and thirteen stations in this state, an increase over the previous year of one hundred and three. The average distance between stations is seven and seven-tenths miles.

ACCIDENTS TO PERSONS.

The following table gives statistics as to accidents for the two years ending June 30, 1886 and 1887:

It is gratifying to note a large decrease in the number of accidents, but we note the fact that while there is a large decrease in the number

of casualties resulting from falling from trains, etc., the accidents caused by "coupling cars" have largely increased, and we believe that the time has come when the railroad companies should be required to adopt some coupling device which would do away with the necessity of train men going between the cars to couple or uncouple them.