Evening journal., 1900-04-12
MONOPOLIES
MUST PAY
The City Will Derive Over
100000 From Their
Franchises.
HERETOFORE PAID NOTHING

PANIES AND TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES MUST
PAY HEAVIER TAXES.
When the corporations which have
been enjoying city franchises free Of
cost for many years come to pay their
1900 taxes in July they will find that
the city hereafter proposes to make
them pay for the privileges they enjoy.
On the books of the city assessors to-
day these corporations properties show
an increased assessment value Of over
$4,000. 900, en- which amount the city
will derive over $4,000 in additional
taxes. This excess amount of money
will lift the city out of the financial
rut in which it has been for several
years, and will further tend TO a reduc-
tion in the city tax rate, which cannot
come until next year, however, as the
city at present needs much money TO
pay bonds which are due and payable
this year.
The corporations whose properties
show an increased assessed valuation
on the 1900 tax books are the p, w.
& B. Railroad Company, Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company Wilmington
and Northern Railroad Company, Will
mington City Passenger Railway Com
many. Wilmington Coal Gas Company
Wilmington City Electric Company,
Western Union Telegraph Company,
Postal Telegraph Company, Delaware
and Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone
Company and the Delmarvia Telephone
Company.
Perhaps the greatest increase in the
assessed valuation of property has
been made On that OF the B. & o. Rail-
road Company. The books Of the
Northern district of the city alone show
an increase Of $336,000 over last years
figures. This increase represents the
tax on roadbed and poles of the COM
pany on its line north of Sixth street.
Heretofore the company has never paid
tax on its roadbed and poles, but it will
do so hereafter, and thereby contribute
mere substantially to the reduction of
the city tax rate.
Property of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company has been assessed at
over s3O4.0 600 above the last assessment
figures, and that of the Wilmington
and Northern Company about $4,000.
These figures are those taken from the
books OF the Northern district alone,
and, like those OF the p, w. q b. Rall-
road Company, represent the increased
value the city assessors have placed on
the roadbeds and poles of the respec-
tive companies.
SCAIE INTERESTING FIGURES.
The figures which the assessors have
placed on their books opposite the
building owned and the franchises en-
loved by the Wilmington City Railway
Company are perhaps more interesting.
Al the last assessment the roadDed OF
the company was not entered upon the
books for taxation, but this year S
hooks show an entry for every mile OF
street bed the company operates over,
and a tax on every pole which carries
wire used in the operation Of that road.
In the Northern district this assess
ment represents SCI 500. The Southern
district figures increase the assessment
on the companys franchises to some
thing like 100000, so this street car
monopoly must hereafter pay Tor the
exclusive rights to the city streets
which it enjoys.
Property of the Wilmington Coal Gas
Company in both the Northern and
oSuthern districts. has been increased
over 5000 900 in value. This enormous
increase is made ON the pipes of the
company. which are in the bed Of every
street in the city, put there with little
expense TO the company and for which
franchise the city has never received
one cent
The Wilmington City Electric Com
Dany's property and the privileges d
also enjoys will cost a pretty penny
The books of the assessors show al
increase of almost 100000 in the as
sessment Of their properties.
The telegraph and the telephon
companies, which have also been call
ed upon to contribute a larger shar
of the city taxes, heretofore paid moth
ing on the poles which are to be fOuni
on every street, lane and alley of tn
city. But this year the Western Uniol
Telegraph Company will pay taxes ol
$4,000 worth of property and franchis
rights; the Postal Telegraph Company
$1,000; Delmarvia Telephone Company
$225,000, and the Delaware and Allan
tic Telegraph and Telephone Compan,
100000.
This increased taxation Collector
Lewis and Sayers propose to collec
The books of the assessors have bee
open to the public for several weeks
and as the corporations named hav
made no appeal from the entries mad
opposite them, it is taken for granite
by The collectors that the corporation
will pay the increased tax withot
questioning the right of the city /
make them pay for the sweeping priv
leges they have to the present time er
joyed free of charge. When this
done the taxpayer will have gained
point against the monopolies whic
hold the city of Wilmington in the
grasp.