Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-08

ELECTRIC RAILWAY TAXES.
10 the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
Dear Sir The attention of the IN.
dersigned has been called to the cards
| which have appeared in the issues Of
your paper within the last few DAYS,
relating to the assessment of the roll.
ing stock of the Washington, Alexan.
dr;a and Mount Vernon Railway Com.
pany for purposes of taxation, and
te cling that the cards referred to were
written under misrepresentation OF the
facts, and unintentionally, without an
explanation of the facts, will create an
unjust impression against the com.
pany, feel called upon to explain the
circumstances connected with the As.
sessment referred to.
Under the provisions of the State
law, the board of public works OF the
State lay the assessment on the proper.
ty Of all railways and other transports.
ton companies, and certify the same TO
the commissioners of revenue of the
various cities and counties of the
State; and it is the custom of the board
to notify these companies to appear be-
fore the board upon day fixed in the
ootice to consider matters relating to
the assessment of the property of such
corporations. Some days prior to the
first day of July, the board gave notice
to the Washington, Alexandra and
Mount Vernon Railway Company that
it would proceed TO assess its property
on the first day of July, at II O'Clock
N. The company selected Mr.. Swartz,
It's treasurer, and myself, as lis attor.
ney, to appear before the board to an.
swer such questions as might be pro-
pounded in relation to the matter, and
70 confer with the board in relation to
the amount of the assessment to be
levied. During the interview the
board inquired of the location of the
power plant and the car barn of the
company, and the place for the storage
OF its cars or rolling stock. II
was stated to the board, that prior to last year
the car barns were located at New AleXsn.
dria, Fairfax county, Virginia, and the roll
ing stock of the company was stored there,
although the principal office of the company
was located in Alexandra, and that the City
Council had assessed the rolling stock IN
Alexandria, that being the principal office Of
the company, to which the company had no
objection but, that since the construction Of
the Washington division new barns had been
built at Four Mile run, Alexandria county,
and that the rolling stock was now stored
there instead of Fairfax county. The board
advised the representatives of the company
that the rolling stock Of railroad corporations
was properly assessable in the counties or
cities where the same @as stored, and that
the assessment of the rolling stock OF the
company would be made in Alexandria coun-
ty where the car barns were located and The
Filling stuck stored There was no spplica-
ton whatever TO the board to change the
place of the assessment of the rolling stock OF
the company, and such was not the object OF
the visit OF the representatives Of The company
to Richmond. The company is perfectly will
ing to pay the taxes upon its property, but il
could not be reasonably demanded that it
should pay taxes upon the same property both
in the city of Alexandria and IN the county
of Alexandria. The law requires that The
property Of all persons aud corporations shsl.
be assessed where the same is located
Respectfully,
JAMES 3. CATION.