Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-29
TAXATION OF RAILROADS.

Meeting of the 70
Make Assessments interesting
Facts.
We learn from the Banner that the
three commissioners appointed by Gov
ernor Porter under the act of March "a,
1875, to assess the railroad property Of
the State met on the 9th instant, at
Nashville, and entered upon their impor-
tant duties.
As yet only the Mississippi and Ten
nessee, Louisville and Nashville, New
Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago, and the
Paducah and Memphis roads have fled
schedules, as heretofore stated.
The New Orleans, St. Louis and Chi
cago line claims to have ll6 10 100 miles
in Tennessee, 1903 locomotives and 1900
cars on their entire line. 1t also claims
that this rolling stock runs into New Or
leans, at which place it could only be
taxed if at all.
The management Of the Louisville
and Nashville road claim hat if taxable
only hat portion lying between NASH
vile and the Kentucky State Line, a dis
lance of As 42-lO0 miles, would be sub.
ject to taxation, and that the Tennessee
and Alabama, Memphis, Clarksville and
Louisville, and Memphis and Ohio roads
are entirely exempt from taxation.
The gross earnings of the Louisville
and Nashville and Great Southern road
last year amounted to s4,653, oil %;
whole amount of road, owned and leased,
679 miles; capital stock. SO, 984,6Ol 10.
There are 80 64-lOO miles of the Lou.
isville and Nashville road in Sumner
county; in Davidson, II 8.lOO; Gallatin,
u; Edgeield, $500; Nashville, Is 100.
They report the valuation Of the Edge
field property to be $27, 900; Nashville,
So 200 Gallatin, $500.
The number of locomotives on the
whole line is l54; cars of all sorts, 2752.
The committee have determined upon
sending out the following circular letter
to the management of each railroad in
the State.
The undersigned beg leave to submit
to you the following Undergraduates,
which are called for by virtue Of our an.
pointment as Railroad Tax Assessors
under the act Of March 20, 1875:
/. Do the railroads under FOUL man.
agement and control claim an exemp-
ton from taxation? If so, by charter
or otherwise2
2. II your roads do not claim exemp.
ton from taxation, do you propose to
be taxed under the first section of March
20, 1875, or under section II of said act2
3. Ii you propose to be taxed under
the 18th section Of said act, what steps
have you taken, if any, toward accept
ing the provisions of said act?
4. II you propose to be taxed under
the first section of said act, please fur.
nish US a certified copy Of the amount Of
stock owned in each county through
which your road runs.
An early reply to these questions will
oblige US, and will facilitate u labors.
The committee believe the Legislature
intended to tax all railroads alike under
the law. Should any road refuse to ac-
cept the amendment taxing it one and a
half per cent. on its gross earnings, then
the committee will proceed to assess
them in accordance with the provisions
of the act. In the event a road fails to
accept the one and a half per cent. pro-.
vision or any other provision Of the
law, assessments will be made and the
roads allowed to fght the matter out in
the courts.
A very important question will in all
probability be sprung by the various
counties through which railroads pass.
Indeed, it is much discussed. They will
claim a pro rata apportionment of the
taxes on gross earnings paid over to the
Comptroller, This question can only be
decided in the courts.
Count Won Arnim is at Carlsbad. His
health's bad, too.