The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-10
7 ak WITH
MIR. AXTELL
He Says the Prospective Re-
moval of the c. and O. Offices
is Not a New Matter.
PRESIDENT STEVENS is AWAY
No Authoritative Statement on
the Subject Expected Until
His Return.
PRESIDENT STEVENS is AWAY

While there Is stil keen public interest
In the matter Of tho contemplated removal
of the Chesapeake and Ohio general Of
fees from this city to Clifton Forge or
Cincinnati. there Is no new information
on the subject and no determination yet
reached In the matter. 30 far ne known
In this city. President George w. Ste
vens Is still absent from tho city. and
has been away for ten days. according to
Vice-President Decatur Axtel to re-
porter for The .Times-Dispatch yesterday.
president Stevens Is still away" said
Mr.. Axtel land no statement on the sub
ject can be given until his return. This
matter Is not now, but has been hanging
in tho balances for a long time. 1t is
purely question of business, which the
directors have considered from time to
time without action"
CLIFTON FORGE ACTIVE.
Information from Clifton Forge through
Mir. G. d. Wall. the real estate repre-
sentative Of the Chesapeake and Ohio. is
to the effect that Clifton Forge Is very
active in tho effort to secure the removal
OF the offices to that city. On the strength
OF the prospect OF getting the offices,
real estate In the mountain railway town
is jumping upwards and another boom
Is Imminent. Efforts and promises are
being made to secure further reduction
Of taxation as an inducement To the rail-
way to remove Its Offices thther. With
normal tax rate OF one dollar, the poo
pie Of Clifton Forge now talk OF reduc-
ing this for the railway property more
than fifty per cent. The people OF the
town are sangune OF securing the loca-
Tim nf ia nv mn OF ~
uous efforts to convert hope into GER
tainty.
In this connection 1t may be stated
with substantial authority that however
willing the Clifton Forge people may be
to offer inducements In the way OF fur
Their tax reduction. the law effectually
estops them from discrimination in favor
OF the Chesap eake and Ohio Railway. Not
only does the statute law. forbid discrim-
ination in taxation, but the Constitution
itself is unalterably against such action.
Taxation shall DO uniform. II the rate
be reduced on Chesapeake and Ohio prop
erty, 1t must be reduced on all other prop
erty, real and personal, in the town. To
do that would neutralize the benefits &C.
cruing to the location OF the offices there.
Any citizen might invoke the intcrposi-
tion Of the courts to prevent dlscrimina-
ton, and this will almost surely be done
II efforts are made to offer inducements
in the matter Of tax reduction.
Cincinnati. according to the newspapers
OF that city, has entered the lists as a
| competitor for the location Of the offices
| In that city, and has suggested the avail
ability Of the Ingalls, office building for
| the general offices Of the railway COM
pany. The city is now the western ter
minus OF the line while Clifton Forge Is
nearly midway between the eastern and
western termini.
THE CITY's POSITION.
The city OF Richmond is in position
where 1t can do little but await the
decision Of the directors In the matter.
The Con stitution and the laws expressly
and specifically forbid any discrimination
in tho ma tier OF tax reduction as means
OF retaining the railway Offices here. The
only thing that could be done would be
for the city to agree to make sum
annually to help the railway meet It's
taxation expense. That Is wholly imprac-
| tIcable.
AS far back as 1897, when the railway
owed the city as much as s26O00O In nc
cumulated taxes and interest, the city
was Induced to accept less than $4,000
| In full settlement of the claim. At that
time resolution was adopted fixing the
| annual figure for taxation at little more
than the round sum OF $4,000. While this
! resolution would not have stood the test
of the courts, no contest was made. the
city thereby releasing large sum in
| taxation. A resolution Is now pending
in the Council repeating this old resolu'
ton. and leasing the railroad liable for
taxation on the basis fixed by the State
Corporation Commission. The Constitu-
ton specifically provides for the taxation
! of all real and personal property OF rail-
| roads, and no matter at what point the
| offices of the company may be located,
| the road cannot escape taxation. Inc
only benefit the road might derive from
! removal to Clifton Forge would be that
its Office building and the land on which
| 1t stands would probably not be assess
able at such a high rate. real property
In this city being more valuable than IN
n. & w. EARNINGS.
The Norfolk and Western Railways
earnings for the fourth week In October
| and tor the month and the fiscal year
thus far. as estimated by the comptroller.
are thus stated: Earnings for last week OF
| October $675, eo2; for Same week last year.
s577, 7O3; Increase, 1888. Total estimated
earnings for October, a,s6S. IA; for Octo-
Der last year. 1851 .657; Increase for the
month this year. S25,&7 From July LIST
to November lst this year. s7S, - os = Iet
| same period OF previous year, $b,osols;
| increase for the current year, $1,Ol3,20O,
Mr.. w. o. warthen, district passenger
| agent of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way, Is expected back to-day from Hot
Springs, where he has been for a week
for recreation and recuperatto He VIII
leave soon for an extended trip West,
His friends will be pleased to know that
he has been much benefited by his rest,
The Atlantic Coast Line Railway will
carry the Richmond and many OF the Vir-
gInia deiega tions from this city to Char
lesion. s. c., to the tenth annual con-
yentlon. of the United DAUGHTERS Of the
sos A. NJ. and the remainder this eve
! ming at 7:25
! The Norfolk and Western expects to
carry large trainload Of University Of
Virginia men and football enthusiasts
from this city to Norfolk and return on
Saturday, November 2lst, by special train
run to the battle-ground Of the Virginia
/ Carlisle football game. Many University
of Virginia alumni Will 80 down 70 see
| the game
Tho Delaware. Lackawanna and Vest
ern Railway has Just established an east.
1 ~ Nal