The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-28
ENDEAvORING TO ESCAPE TAXATION

We said, few days ago, that we could
hardly believe that any of the railroad man
ayers of this state could be so short sighted
could pursue so suicidal policy, as 10 Sc
rousy contemplate the repeating Of tn,
law taxing the real estate of railroads
much less that they could have determined
to approach the next general assembly
with such project but it would seen
that we were mistaken. Evidence accu
mulates that such a project is on foot; tnst
there has been "stil hunt in This di e.
ii, n; that primaries were manipulated 10
this purp' Sc, aud tuat this combination
railroad managers believe shat they La {
eecuie sllicleit power ia the legis!a IL
to accomp i,h Their purpose, proVioed ID
the people oal be lullel into tauce
security.
In ord r 10 JUSTIFY, o. excuse, It's roqea
it will be urged hat no good results htN
followed the Ia y, tbat no dpp'ccltbe 1dol-
ton has been made TO the taxable prNpeit
of the state, and thai no such reduction q
taxation to the proper holders of the
state, as was predicted he's taken place
This may all be true; hut, if so, it IL easy
of explanation. The law has bcen in fore
only two years, and the first attempt to as
sess property Hereunder was made twI
years ago. Either because the law was not
generally understood, or from other causes.
the assessment was very loosely made
For one cause or another, railroad com
pauies have refused to pay their taxes-li
some cases, because it was assessed to the
wrong party in others on account OF
real Or pretended exemption. But little
money has, as yet, found its way into the
treasury, and it is argued from this that
but little ever will. This by no means
follows-the first taxes that could have
been levied upon such assessment, with any
knowledge of its probable amount, were
made during the present year, and whether
the amount realized be large or small, it is
too early to judge from experience exactly
what the effect will be.
1t SCENE evident enough, however, thai
tho ultimate result must be felt by all tax
payers. If the appraisal is honestly made
and the taxes honestly assessed ant
collected, it must result in gen
eral reduction of taxation. Look al
the figures. There are three hundred
and fifty miles of railroad in the state
which if appraised at the amount author
lied by the statute would make an assessed
valuation of seven hundred thousand do.
lars. Surprising that one hundred miles
thereof represents roads that have beer
built within ten years, and we have two
hundred aud fifty miles of railroad, valued
at half million dollars. To this is to b'
added the value of station houses, freigh
depots, engine house, machine shops, ETC.
ETC., a fair valuation of which would be a
much more, giving us at fair and homes
valuation, a present addition to our taxabl,
property of one million dollars, and to GU
grand list of ten thousand dollars, to be
nearly, If not quite, doubled within few
years.
Tho estimate is not excessive. Indeed
1t is very FAVORABLE to the railroads, as will
be seen by glance a. the situation of thu
Rutland railroad. The Rutland railroad
together with the Addison railroad, is only
some one hundred and thirty-six miles il
length, and yet the Central Vermont rail
road company pay an annual rental there
for of two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars-or about one quarter of the amour
Mt which VIC have placed the whole presen
valuation of railroad property 10 this state
And this two hundred and fifty ihousan'
dollars represents not the valuation OF th
property, but the interest on fair bushes
valuatioo, and On fifty per cent less ina
the va ia ion placed thereon by the kui
land abroad com. aly less than Nix year
ago.