The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-22
SOME ROADS ARE roo Low.
Controller Asks Them to Send in
Higher Valuations.

Higher Valuations.
The property returns of all tho railroads
in Georgia for the year. according 10 The
Atlanta Constitution, will show an increase
in value over last year of between 81 10000
and 81, 0000 The railroad returns are re-
quired by law to be in the hands of Con-
cept in few instances where good ex-
cuses have been offered for the delay, this
rule has been complied with.
The unusual increase in Valuation during
the year will be looked upon in business
circles as significant, and, in fact, remark
able for the reason that very few eXten-
sions to any of the lines have been made
or the physical properties added to 10 any
appreciable extent. An aggregate in
crease of s., 10000, which Controller Cen
eral Wright confidently believes will be
realized, can only mean, therefore, that
railroad values in Georgia are going up
and this is always taken as a sure sign Of
prosperity in business.
The Southern Railway shows the largest
increase of any of the roads in the state
| and this increase is little over $780, 00
showing that no one line has contributed
great deal 10 the total and that the in
crease is general all over the state.
The railroad mileage in the state under
the last report of the Railroad Commission
is 5,374.S2, and returns for taxation on Il
of this have been forwarded to the Capitol
The returns of a number of roads have
been sent back to the companies that pre-
pared them for revision, as in a number
of cases the Controller General Of the state
and the companies differ as to the Vaiua-
ton.
The Central has been asked to revise it's
return on the property between Macon
aud Savannah, which was valued by the
company this year at $4,000 a mile. This
valuation is exclusive of bridges and tres
ties and is made alone on the tracks and
roadbed. The assessment of $4,000 a mile
on this part of the road was made in
1896, just at the time 1t was undergoing
reorganization, and since then its value
has appreciably increased to the point
where 1t should be returned at higher
figure. The return on the Central proper
ty between Atlanta and Macon of $4,000
a mile is regarded as satisfactory. The
valuation made on the Georgia Southern
and Florida for This year, made on an old
| assessment at $500 a MILE has also been
returned in the hope that the officers of
the road will increase the valuation for
taxation. The returns of the Savannah,
Florida and Western and of the Bruins
wick and Western, the first of which were
fixed at $500 mile, are both returned
for readjustment.
1t is possible that arbitration will be
necessary before the state or the rail-
roads mentioned will yield, but arbitra-
| ton is not at all probable. 81 think end
believe" said Controller General Wright,
that all the roads 1 have called on this
year for an increase will agree to make
it, as it is nothing but right"
Every branch of the Southern was sub
jected to arbitration in 1896. and the re-
turns made by that line are looked on rs
| satisfactory. The roads that have not been
arbtrated In recent years are the ones
whose property has been returned, accord
ing TO state officials, at a figure below
| their value. AS the physical condition and
earning capacity of the road improves ana
increases, as in the case of all the lines
whose returns have been sent back, it
is expected that the valuation shall also
increase.
In this connection the returns at the
capitol for this year show that the high
est return made by any road in the state
has been forwarded by the Atlanta and
West Point. return of $4,000 a mile : he
net earning of the Atlanta and West
Point is put down at $2,762.50 a mile.