Evening journal., 1901-02-15
OPPOSE INCREASE
TAX ON THR v. & N.
Superintendent MCCauSIand
Has Hearing BefOreHOuSe
Saws Company Pays It's Share Of Taxes
As 1t HAS Only Eleven Miles Of
Track in State

STAFF Correspondence Evening Journal
Dover. Feb. ia. G. McCausland,
stiperintendent Of the Wilmington and
Northern railroad, was before the
House yesterday afternoon, and ad-
, dressed the members on the pending
Z leg station to increase the yearly tax
on that railroad from S340 to $4,000.
Representative Hope, chairman OF
the Committee on Private Corpora
tions. presided. Mr.. McCausland based
s his arguments on the following letter:
wilmington, Del, Feb. u 1901.
I 10 the Chairman and Members Of the
Committee on Private Corpora
tons. House Of Representatives,
Dover, Delaware:
Gentlemen: In connection with the bill
now under consideration by your COM
mittee, which proposes a large increase
dn the annual payments bytheWilming-
ton and Northern railroad Company
in commutaIrOn of taxes under the
act of April 8, 1869, / beg to call your
attention to the following facts:
The Wilmington and Northern rail
road, originally the Wilmington and
Reading railroad, a corporation of the
State of Delaware was built by local
capital, largely subscribed by residents
of the city of Wilmington and New
Castle county, Delaware.
Z It has. exclusive of its terminals
only eleven miles of track in Della.
ware. and the largest single fare Il
charges, viz: from the city Of Will
mington to Granogue, the station
I, nearest to the Pennsylvania State line
and most distant from Wilmington
thirty-three cents, or for the rounc
trip forty-four cents
Outside OF its Interstate traffic
which is not taxable under the laws Of
the State of Delaware, it has nevel
paid its operating expenses in Della
ware, nor has it ever paid its operating
expenses in or out of the State.
The road has paid annually to the
State, in addition to the $3.50 commu
tation tax under the act of April 8
1869, from $500 to $500 under the ac
of August II, 1864.
Delaware's proportion of the net re
ceipts of the Wilmington and North
ern railroad, exclusive OF fxeC
charges. for the year ending Deem
ber 81, 1899, was S124S5,97. Deduct
ing the said fixed charges from saiC
net receipts for said year, ending De
cember 81 1899, there was a deficit o
s37, 7,722.20, for said year, in operatini
expenses. And such has been the cas-
in years preceding 1899 and 1900.
The company therefore submit o;
your honorable committee that the tai
at present paid by the road is fair
and, considering that the road is oper
ated at an annual loss. it would be un
Just to increase its rate of taxation. o
course you will take into considera
tiOn that It pays large taxes on its de
pots. workshops and other properties
Respectfully submitted,
A. G. M'CAUSLAND
Supt. W. & N. r. r. Co.
Representative Moore inquired tn,
total taxation for all purposes in tn,
State paid by the company. Superin,
tendent McCausland said that they ag
gregated between $4,000 and SO 600, al
told.
Representative HolcCmb inquired 4
in fixing rules over the w. q n. roat
there was any Discrimination in the
i freight rates from Wilmington to Ora
| nogue over those from Wilmington 4
points within the State. Superintend
ent McCausland said the Wilmington
and Northern carried very littl'
! freight from Wilmington, but th'
rates were the same correspondingly
and there Is no discrimination.
Representative Mocre said that In
railroad fight every man should b