Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-01-24
sayeTs MesssaRe. Contlnued from pare


the number OF miles valued by the
commission was SgSf53. exclusive %
yard tracks and sidlngs-End that the
rate per eentum OF net earnings upon
the roads so valued was for that year
I.sS per cent on the total amount OF
stock and bonds: 7ts per cent on the
commission valuation % physical prop
critics: and itA per cent on their
value A. assessed for TAXATION.
In the report Of the railroad com
mission we find the total taxation for
ls9s-including counties cities and
towns-upon every character OF prop
erty. In this state. owned and used for
railway purposes by the companies. TO
b. $3.50 .2022s.
The corporations paying this tax
held and operated s239.57 miles OF first
or main traek-cther tracks not being
listed. From the tax stated should be
deducted that due on one hundred
miles Of railroad In the Indian Terri
tory. and belonging 10 the Gulf Colo
RADIO a Santa 70 Railway company.
and 3iSgS miles In Louisiana and be.
longing 10 the Texas & Pacific Railway
company. ~ no part of the tax upon
these particular properties has ever
been paid 20 the state or 10 any OF It's
subdivisions This extra territorial tar
and mileage, however. Is embraced IN
the two amounts first given. respec-
lively
The international & Great Northern
railway-i9s 30 miles-is not included
being non-taNable. With this eNplana-
don Il may be said A. unquestiOnably
true that the entire cost OF taxation
state. county and municipal ey-
cry character OF property In this state
belonging 10 the railways and by them
used for railway purposes did not In
1885 average the rate OF one hundred
dollars for every mile Of first or main
trackagc-the total tax for the support
OF tho state government and the public
schools being i3i97 per mile as shown
BY the comptroller's report for that
year.
During the same period Maine col
lected through taxation Sl7q 952 80 on
l.Tis95 miles OF railway. or si02 OS per
mile. Massachusetts, on 4.336.5i total
miles OF first. second third and fourth
tracks exclusive OF local taxes. 81
S93.2SG.33. or S32i29 per mile: Con-
Eectlcut on iO0S2j miles S9iO13750. or
s90269 per miles New Hampshire on
i.l42 miles. exclusive OF local taxes.
Sl35.6l940. or SliS75 per mile. Ohio
on l303365 total miles OF first. Sec
ond third and fourth tracks. yard
tracks and sidings. S2Gltl3705. or
S2005G per mile Illinois on lO.6iG3l
miles A.75e. 1881. or Si47.05 per mile:
Indiana on 6.2g29G miles OF main
track 3Oi miles OF second track and
20sGs7 miles ~ sidetrack. making o.
total mileage OF S.cS3.S3 miles. an as
sessment OF Sl53.692 SOC. or Sl7G9s per
milc-the average tax rate being $50
on each one hundred dollars: and New
Jersey under an assessment on 2R13.-
526 miles OF first track. s27gl miles %
second track. 1876 .35s miles OF third and
fourth tracks. and 1850 299 miles Of
sidings-aggregating 4.7istOi miles
n,5l2.6S545. or S3iS5S per mile for
state and local purposes
Here only the main or first track Is
listed. there all kinds of tracks are
valued and counted In the mileage.
To illustrate the great inequality Of
assessment by the railway companies
the railway commission for 1895 sub
miis the following observations.
THE Houston a Texas Central Is
one Of tho best paying roads In Texas.
and the aggregate value thereof as
made by the commission. Is S95Ss hO3
IS. while the San Antonio & Aransas
Pass railway IS comparatively a poor
paying property. and the commission
valued II al SSC77 G9S.37. and yet the
San Antonio q Aransas Pass road Is
assessed az S5.29liiG00 while the
Houston a Texas Central road is as
sessod at only 1897 $4,000. or S3i3.-
$4,000 less than the San Antonio a.
Arkansas Pass railway. The disparity
OF values Is still greater when We SEQ
that the income from operation 81 the
San Antonio a Arkansas Pass railway
for the past year was only S5l2.7l297.
net, while that Of the Houston a Texas
Central railroad was Sl.Ois.329O %. net.
being nearly double that ~ the San
Antonio & Arkansas Pass railway.
Last year the Galveston. Houston
a Henderson Railroad company had
earnings sufficient 10 pay all operating
expenses aud taxes and interest on
100000 ~ bonds 10 the mile ~ lts
road. aud 20 put $40 2S2 30 IN permn-
nent improvements. and 20 still have
4 surplus left out Of the years earn
lngs Of i3309l33 While the gross
earnings OF the Southern Kansas rail.
way of Texas were insufficient by SO
l54.22 10 defray even its operating cv-
penses, and yet II Is assessed Tor taxes
az sl26.2l per mile more than the
splendid property Of the Galveston.
Houston q Henderson railroad
THE Texas Central railroad runs
from Ross 20 Albany and last year
Il paid q dividend Of three per cent ON
its preferred stock interest on bombs
and operating expenses. out OF %. net
earnings for the year. and had S2i-
SS22l left The Tyler Southeastern
railway. valued by the commission ~
f3o2i0i less than the Texas Ceutrs
railway, is, owing 10 lts uufavorab'e
.ocatiun. almost worthless. and Is as
sessed AZ $3.50 2S per mile more thar
the Texas Central railroad Is assfssa!
These references ore sufficient o.
'all attention tu the great iueGuHi.fa.
n the taxation under thc present .rs.
fem Or rather want Uf system
Fully as UhIe.fIIrHrI have been fHr
rend.t.ous hv tfr railway c0mHar.
FOR the wear ending August CO. rsH.
Tho summary no table number 81 u.
the comptroller report which 'a Won
worthy o. most careful and fhH-.r
'ram.ra'.Ul ...". fH.. fH. .E.r.rr