Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-05
STREET CARS TAXED.
Other Cities Find Traction Companies
q Source of Revenue.
ANSWERS TO MoRRow'S QUERIES,
Showing the Various Ways in Which the
Matter Is Disposed Of
PITTsBuRG AND BOSTON STILL OUT

Controller Morrow is in receipt of com.
muuications from the Controllers in Other
cities showing the manner in which street
railway companys are taxed. The letters
are in answer to circulars sent out contain
ing the following questions:
"Does Jour city receive any revenue
from electric, cable or horse car lines?"
'Ii so, is it from percentage of earn
ings?"
"Or, a license on cars?
"Or, a tax on capital?"
"How much, or at what rate respective
ly?"
"If convenient please give amount re-
ceived last year."
The answers have commenced to come in,
although many cities are yet to hear from.
Controller James r. Horner, of Baltimore,
writes that that city taxes street railways,
collecting percentage on gross receipts, a
license of IS each car per year, tax on all
real property of 81 80 per hundred and a
tax of 81 80 per hundred on shares Of stock
less the real estate. The rate is 9 per cent
on gross receipts. The city received last
year S147, ,074 36.
THE RECEIPTS IN CHICAGO.
Controller w. J. Onahau, of Chicago,
answered that Chicago taxes all cable and
horse cars license fee OF $50 per car per
year; this fee is computed on a basis OF '13
trips daily" The city received $38, 900 last
year.
In Cleveland. according to Controller
William j. Gleason, license of $40 per car
per year is collected. which brought in So, 290
last year. In addition to this each road is
taxed s.. 500 per mile for track and each car
at valuation from $3.50 to 5000. Under the
Ohio State law each road is compelled to
pay for the paving on all streets used, for
double track IL feet and for single track
seven feet They pave with the material
used in the balance the street.
d. L. D. Granger, City Treasurer of
Providence, r. l., writes that one company
having GO miles of track pays $4,000 per
year, and another having three miles pays
$500 per wear. These sums were fixed by
the City Councils.
st. Louis. according to Controller John
D. Stevenson, taxes ali lines S25 per car per
annum, and the regular tax on the value of
their property for State. school and city pur-
poses, about 50 90 per hundred. Some of the
roads pay u percentage on their earnings
and others fixed amount. Last year the
city received S26, ,472 SO from the franchises
and SIG, 81 80 from licenses.
BUFFALo's ANNUAL REVENUE.
Buffalo reports that it gets SO per cent on
about two miles Of track on Emwood ave-
nue., amounting last year to 81 ,639 rs. There
is no license.
In Milwaukee license of SIS per car per
year is collected, which brought in S3,735
last year.
Newark, N. j., places tax of 8 per cent
on earnings, the regular tax rate Of 2 per
cent and collects license OF $40 per car per
year. The amount of the collections is not
given.
Assistant Controller II. G. Skif, of Gin
cinnati, sent in reply to the circular the
copy of an ordinance OF that city. This
ordinance provides that on January an
nualfy the street car companies shall paw
for each car run 81 per linear foot, inside
measurement, as right to operate the road;
if not paid within 10 days the Mayor can
stop the cars. In addition, the companies
shall pay quarterly 2T per cent of the gross
earnings, to be used in cleaning and repair
ing the streets used by the company paying.
City Auditor James H. Dodge, of Boston,
writes that his city does not receive any rev.
enue from street railways.
A number of other answers are expected.
Controller Morrow has not said what he
means to do with this information when he
has it all in hand, nor has he indicated why
he sent for it.