West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-10-28
TAXATION ON RAILROADS.
The Beard OF Public Works Reduces
The Assessed Valuation.

From the Charleston Gazette
The report OF the assessment of
railroad property IN the State for
purpose OF taxation made by the
board of public works recently,
shows very large decrease in the
assessed value OF this class Of prop
erty over that Of former years, and
It gives rise TO the suspicion that
the railroads are not bearing AN
equitable share or the expenses OF
the State government. Without
going through the entire list Of
railroads in tho State assessed for
taxation, tho assessments OF few
Of them will be sufficient to show
how the valuation of railroad prop.
er.y has been steadily decreasing
for several years. For example
take the assessments OF the leading
trunk lines, the Baltimore & Ohio,
the Chesapeake & Ohio, tho Nor
folk & Western, the OHIO River,
the Kauawha & Michigan, the
West Virginia Central, and the
West Virginia & Pittsburg for the
past five years. In 1898 the asses-
mcnt Of all these roads was in
creased-the Baltimore & Ohio.
S65, 295. 05; the Chesapeake &
Ohio, $l4d, ,921.42; the Norfolk &
Western, S779. .744.s6; the Ohio
River, $50, ,997. 20; the Kauawha
" Michigan, S1S, ,43l 90; tho West
Virginia Central, $299, ,514.52, and
the Wost Virginia & Pttsburg.
1888, 109.99. Again in 1891, the
assessments OF all the roads was in.
creased except that of She Balti-
more & Ohio, which was decreased
$303, 067.00. Ia 1895, the assess
ment Of tho Chesapeake & Ohio,
he Norfolk & Western, and the
Kanawha e. Michigan were in
creased, while those Of the Bal
timore & Ohio, the Ohio River, the
West Virginia Central, and the
West Virginia & Pittsburg were all
decreased, the increases amounting
to S227,7l9.00, and the decreases to
1919, 055.5S. In 1896 tho assess -
Inents OF all these roads were de-
creased. except those Of the Chcsa.
peake Il Ohio and tho Northfolk e.
Western, which were slightly in
creased. The increase for that
year amounting tc 1854, BAL 80.
This year the assessment Of only
one Of these seven main railroads
OF the State was increased that Of
the Baltimore & Ohio, which was
increased $54. .019.5G. The assess
meuts of the Ohio River and the
West Virginia & Plttsburg were
allowed to reman the same as that
Of 1896, while the assessments Of
the other four were all decreased,
the decreases aggregating &4OG,-
3G4.90.
All Of these railroads have in
creased in value within the last five
years. Some of the companies
have tracked their lines for
long distances, and all Of them have
added to their sidings and spur
lines. They have constructed new
and costlier depots and station
houses and increased their rolling
stock. Since the assessed value Of
these railroads has been reduced in
the face Of the increase OF their
value, it would seem that they
would bo moved to reduce freight
and passenger rates, but this does
not appear to have been done.
The old prices generally prevail.
The board Of public works has
wronged The citizens Of the State
by lifting the burden Of taxation
from the railroad corporations and
permitting IL 20 fall with Increasing
weight upon the other taxpaycrs.
Real estate is taxed beyond what it
IS able 20 bear. Good farms can
be bought anywhere ia the State
for less than their assessed yalua.
lion. Those who aro Justly en-
titled to relief from burdensome
taxation in this State aro the farm.
ers, and yet they will probably be
the last class Of taxpayers to secure
reIfof