Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03

The Baltimore & Philadelphia rail-
road, through its attorney, Levi @.
Bird, Friday presented to the Board
OF Revision, assessment and Appeals,
q protest against the additional ASSESS
ment OF s527, 500 against the company.
As has already been shown in The
Gazette, the additional amount is
assessment ON track, bridges, poles and
wires. OF this, 1886, 800 is assessed in
the northern district and $50, 700 in
the southern district. The company
claims that the assessment is without
authority of law, and will probably
carry the matter into court eventually.
Ii already pays a State tax of s25, 600.
Meanwhile, the company makes the
further claim that the figures of the
assessment are too high, even were it
proper to assess the property in ques-
ton. The board, comprising Chairman
Kane OF the finance committee, Presi-
dent of Council Alexander and Build
ing Inspector Cassidy, gave hearing
to the oompany's representatives. They
were not sworn, but they we're directed
to make their statements as under
oath,
Charles Selden, superintendent Of
telegraph of the Baltimore & Ohio,
| stnted that the road owns none Of the
| poles, all of them being owned by the
Western Union company. The rail-
road, however, owns about 11A miles
OF iron wire and seven miles Of copper
wire; Mr.. Selden placed the present
value OF the iron wire at 81 mile and
| OF the copper wire, ct $40 mile. The
/ company gets no revenue from the tele-
graph wires, using them solely in its
own business. By Mr.. Selden's figures
the assessment of about $4,000 for
poles, wires and so forth should be cut
to SLIT.
4 George r. Townsend. real estate
agent, told the board, that he did not
beiieve.the real estate of the company
would sell for oue-half the assessment.
lie and j. jackson PIERCE we're asked
to prepare list of figures showing the
assessment and the valuations as they
rate them.
1 The company IS assessed 5000, 900 fol
the fridge over the Brandywine and
$780, 600 for that over the Christiana.
Il j. T.. Griner, engineer of bridges an6
q buildings, stated that the cost of the
4 Brandywine bridge was SIS, 967. 10 fol
the substructure, and to duplicate tn,
superstructure now, would cost, h'
estimated, sS5, DOS, total Of sl60,
972. TO-, Taking into consideration th'
life Of ouch structures he placed tn,
present value at about 100000. Tn,
bridge across the Christiana was prao
tioally made new last year, at a cos
of S12, $50; 1t Is assessed at $50, 900.
Chairman Kane of the finance com
mittee, remarked that it was nervy II
the company, after having paid no ia.
on its BIandywine bridge for 20 years
to come aud kick when it was assessed
n j. F. Cassell, division engineer. o
/ maintenance of way OF the Philadel
phia division, stated that the value O
, the main line through this city wa
about 90, 800 mile, and it cost VI, 30
originally The branches he valued a
%, 344 . mile now, as against 4,48
|, when built. The company has abou
eight miles of track in Wilmington
10 include grading and all expense,
! mile Of track would cost in the neigh
: borhood of s22, 900.
!. Nj. Kane remarked that II the CON
= pany would pay the tax material ie
duction might be expected. Mr.. Bir
could not speak for what the compan
might do. s
II Frederick J. Griffith, tax agent {
the failioad, showed that the compan
Is assessed at from $1,000 and 81, &c
for single track per mile, to S25, 000. fe
i double per mile, the latter figure
a being through the tunnel in Baltimor,
In West Virginia, it pays sl3, 500
Y mile but pays no other tax. 1t pay
a s12, 800 in Cecil county, and the san
y rate In Washington. He thought tn,
4 sl3, 600 annie might be fair figui
+ for the double track and S5, 600 for Il
7 single track here. The assessment Q
q the company's track here is $3.50, ON
y or s35, 900 mile.
q Mr.. bird said the board Of reyisie
" could have an engine and car if
y desired to inspect the company
u property, hut the members OF Il
:. board were satisfied that they kne
u the road we'll enough.
p Charles M. Curtis presented II
2, protest Of the Wilmington & Northe
~ Railroad Co., which is assessed T
e173. 400.
q Friday evening Peter ]. Ford held
'p conference with the Eoard of revisi,
& on the assessment Of the Wilmingt'
City Electric Co. and the Wilmingt,
City Railway Co, He is to flo stat