The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-12
R. R, ASSESSMENT
ABOUT THE SAME
State Board Finds Little
Change Necessary
0r @D&o ae1no@
SEVERAL ROADS REDUCED
Insurance Commissioner Issues Report
Showing That Sixty-one Companies
Entered the Field During the
Year 1eo1-Figures Given.

Montgomery, April 11.-(special.) 1.-The
property of the railroads of Alabama has
been assessed for taxation the current
year, but there is little change from the
total of last year.
The state board of assessment was in
session today, and it is understood that
the railroad assessment was completed,
though the figures were not published.
The secretary of the board will probably
complete the table of figures by tomor-
row From unofficial sources it Is learned
that the total assessed valuation will be
increased about s30O,000 over last year The
Southern Railway secures a reduction in
assessment of about S5S0,000, and the Mo-
mile and Ohio also secured a reduction
of about $1,000 on rolling stock. The
other reductions were of minor lmpor-
lance. The Alabama Midland division of
the Plant System was raised $500 per mile,
a total of about $4,000.
The following is a list of the more i'm
portant changes:
The Changes.
The Alabama Great Southern was re-
duced $3.50 per mile.
The Alabama Midland was Increased $500
per mile.
The Carrollton Short Line was increased
$500 per mile.
The Chattanooga Southern was de-
creased $500 per mile.
The Bessemer branch of the Kansas
City, Memphis and Birmingham was de-
creased $3.50 per mile.
The Tuskegee Railroad Company was
decreased $1,000 per mile.
The Central OF Georgia Railroad (An-
dalusia branch) was decreased $3.50 mile
The Southern Alabama (branch Of
Louisville and Nashville increased $500
q mile.
The Georgia Pacific division of the
Southern Railway was decreased $3.50 a
mile.
The Memphis division of the Southern
Railway was decreased $500 a mile
The Meridian subdivision Of the South
ern Railway was decreased $1,000 a mile.
The Mobile and Birmingham division of
he Southern Railway was decreased $500
a mile
r. The Ensley Southern Railroad was add
ed to the assessment list by the board
and was fixed at $4,000 mile.
The Parkersville branch of the Mobile
and Bay Shore Railroad was added at
$500 a mile.
The Warrior and BIocton branch of the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad was added at
$4,000 mile.
The tabulated report issued by the
insurance department, which is just from
the printers. ulscloses some very inter-
esting facts relative to fire insurance in
Alabama. Sixty-one companies entered
the Alabama field during 1901 writing
risks to the amount Of s109, 436 1872. They
collected premiums to the amount of ST.
696 4S9 and incurred losses amounting to
$946,0S This shows a ratio of losses to
receipts of 55.S per cent, leaving ball
ance of Az per cent to defray operating
expenses The average rate for three years
Is shown to have been 1.55. The average
rate for five years is shown to have been
/ So, and the ratio of losses to premium
receipts during the past five years was
54.5.
The report of the insurance commits
sioner indicates that the insurance COM
panies reaped handsome profits in Ala
bama during the year. Insurance COM
panies generally estimate operating ex-
penses at 80 per cent and taking this as
a basis for 1yU1, the companies made
clear earnings of o per cent of I.696, 4S9,
or a clear profit of $3.50, GAS. This is very
pretty profit, when 1t is considered that
1t was not necessary to make an invest
ment of a single dollar-the capital of the
companies being invested In other in
terests-bearing securities.