The record-union., 1897-07-30
RAILROADS AND TAXATION.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY
TO BE HEARD TO-DAY.
The State Board of Equalization
Will Be Busy the Rest of
the Session.

1t was expected that representatives
of the Southern Pacific Company and
OF the Atlantic and Pacific Company
would have been before the State
Board Of Equalization yesterday, but
they failed to put in an appearance.
r. B. Ryan, representing the South
ern Pacific Company, arrived in the
city last evening, and will appear be-
fore the board to-day and answer any
questions propounded, or give any in
formation desired.
The statement recently made by the
company in relation to it's property
subject to taxation in the State, owned
by it for the year ending on the first
Monday in March, 1897, and of all
property used in operating its railway
during the year, shows the following
!. figures: Miles of main track, / ,543. ga !;
miles of second track, II; miles of sid
ings and spurs, 1885. Total number
of miles, l ,932.31
The statement further shows the
number OF locomotives owned by the
company and operated on the road in
the State to be 200, and the number of
cars of all descriptions, 4,521. The en-
tire amount of rolling stock is valued at
So. IT, 500.
The statement shows the earnings of
the road for the year ending December
81, 1896, to have been $685., ,S4S SO,
While the expenses for the same period
amounted to 81, OPS, ,424 92, thus show
ing the net earnings to have been s., =
S32, ,423 II.
Other receipts, including interest and
dividends, bring the total revenue of
the year up to s., S34, 9SS 80. The pay
ments made by the company, however,
make a very decided difference in the
above statement They were as fol-
lows: Interest, $1,000 .393 40: COM
pany's sinking fund, 100000; land ex-
penses, S6S, ,546 03, or a total of So, 16S,-
9}9 %, which amount compared with
the total of net earnings and receipts
(S2, S:34 ,9SS 3J) shows a deficit for the
year of 1888, 951 II.
Under the head Of operating expenses,
the statement shows the following out
lay: For maintenance of way and
structures, S1,411, 500 80; maintenance
of equipment, $943, 533 O3; conducting
transportation. $3,20S 1872 OS; general
expenses, $642, ,920 81, or a grand total
of Sc, POS. 455 o. Other incidental ex-
up to 81, 7,025, ,424 o.
The Board had really nothing to do
yesterday except to discuss informally
some of the problems with which they
expect to have to deal during the pres
emit session. Representatives from the
Atlantic and Pacific Road will proba-
bly, appear before the Board to-day and
the question of assessing the 272 81
miles of road between Mojave and the
Needles, belonging to the Southern Pa
cific Company and leased to the At
lantic and Pacific, will probably cause
ripple Of mild excitement.
In the past the road has been as
sessed to the Southern Pacific Compa-
N.Y. but in the statement made by the
latter company to the Board it has been
omitted and is contained in the state
ment of the Atlantic and Pacific.
The return of property of the Allan
tic and Pacific was made under pro-
test, insisting that it should be as
sessed for the entire property or none,
and that the roadbed and rolling stock
should be taxed together The Allan
tic and Pacific people base their con-
tention upon an act passed by the last
as follows:
IF any portion of any railroad less
than the whole is operated by soma
corporation or association of individ-
uals other than the owner of such rail
road, under lease or other contract,
and such portions SO operated runs in
more than one county, the value OF
such port or portion of such railroad
shall be assessed separate and apart
from the balance of said railroad, and
the board shall assess the roadway,
roadbed and rails of such portion of
said railroad, together with the rolling
stock used thereon by the corporation
or association of individuals operating
the same"
The opinion prevailed with the board
that Mr.. Ryan, who represents the
Southern Pacific Company, will be able
to straighten out the apparent tangle,
and give reasons for the course taken
by the two companies.