New-York tribune., 1900-03-31
BROOKLYN COMPANIES TO PROTEST
GAS TRUST OF THE BOROUGH TO GO TO
COURTS II VALUATION Is NOT
DECREASED

vigorous fight viii be made by the corpora
tons Of Brooklyn against what they assert
cesstve franchise valuations OF their property
py the State Board OF Tax Commissioners. William
y. Dyknsn OF the hr-n Of Bergen & Dvkman who
are counsel FOR the Brooklyn Union Gas Company.
yesterday came out With statement that unless
the Tax Commissioners on April 10 Correct the
valuation OF that concern he would appeal 10 the
courts. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company does
not &c so far, but intimates that nothing viii be
iett unturned 10 have the special franchise tax
Us property reduced. resort 10 the courts will
possibly be made, but at present the transit com
pany intrenches itself behind the sta tement that
me Imposition OF the would put end 10
any further extension Of the system IN the suburbs,
thereny causing the city lose large amount OF
revenue through the increase Of property.
When reporter for The Tribune called yesterday
al me Offices of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
psnF In Montague-st, Brooklyn the following
Statement, prepared by Colonel T. s williams,
''ce-president OF the company. was handed 20 him:
IN, ne Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company has always
oono-.g sg 70 pay and desirous Of paying It's just
l, mas never resisted any assessment tax which
scus- $500 70 De tair and legal The valuation,
$500 xs," Wfch the State Board Of Tax Commits
a. is.s mas placed upon special franchise is,
We s5sT boa g[ossIy Unfair and very excessive and
rri,xs.e.. nope upon the hearing which the Com
rIassrs reIsc9s nave appointed 10 procure very large
We believe that corporations should pay COM
f'aoh Tor privileges Obtained from communities.
erscess -e com immunity 70 consider. If the sum
co1-s ea Ior taxes Is so great burden TO dis
nsTe toVerleIlts and extensions. the munich
than - 49, - -ose more drectIy ana indirectly,
hr-s... :. gains directly by the imposition of such
ssss.g OF paying such large taxes on our fran
So S. es are proposed by the State Tax Commits
none Of It's extensions into sparseiy settled
S0ss EoSs rs would have been made. and the result
l,s- H1Fe Deen that the city would have actually
soio.ttore tore money IN the shape Of increased taxes
possssile suburban Development than II could have
rail w.. 7
IN ". PANS last spring when the Franchise Tax
creased -.f .noef discussion 70 ascertain what in
rhss q Just one Of our extensions and ! found
as ~ taking the Increased valuations for a hlock
esvsS s Size Of the extension. the city had re-
6o1s- ~ increased taxes after the extension four
.eIs Tor every one winch the corrnaDy ba6 ~e
Ts-y e. as tie result Of operating the extension A
urbss Ie art OF Cur mileage is situated in sub
de- oeslit!es which are developing rapidly IN
influence Of cheap fares and frequent trans
fha service, and the interests of the CITY and
oepeIon-ssan ought 10 be common in promoting this
year iS S00m.psny .y is paying upward OF 800 900
proys-,e ne result is likely 10 be 10 ratard i'm
10 the e ~nch Pill be Of great benefit not only
comes m n the way Of increased revenue which
'h municipal development.
B-no.t assessors assessed the property Of the
~. Rapid Transit Company at s7eeooo
p,ss,o.. franchise valuation is $50 7ss 10
IN. rsn.-.0sl1er N0ssl1er was asked yesterday by a Trib
sus : .ef what policy the company would pur-
with the assessment He renIied.
cindes statement S made by Colonel WILLIAMS T.,
sessns--4 Wish to say on the suhiact TIE az a..
hsEe Il rss = ooscidedly excessive We win seek 70
onsei' sheehan & Collin. ~ INC ha'ioS
Dsr~ asessrnerr Of the BROOKLYN rr,,or Ca. Cow,
WIZ. ass been hsised from q sg om - s ,sss"n
said. AaAn OF counsel for the company
he gas cornnsht II excessive TO the last degraa
tAans In 80 las about eight hundred ra1Iss ~
ss are assess.5t @1909 This then neans yyha9 40
=, ,.a,n little To so., go for the right OF way or
assessed :, ing II signifies fasf tbe c,r % %
sy.aples in the pr syery square foot OF space II
As.efs let in Eraeg;sis This is more than the
aA 1ass6 - xaa A. shAu appear besar. NOR ss:
ASs0 An1 ksk il to eorrse. tn tns