Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-29
Steam Railroads.

Total. ...........................$ 4S9. 436 II
Steam Railroads.
The report next deals with each corpora
ton separately showing the method of as
sessment and giving the laws for the taxa
ton. The steam railroads are reported
upon first. They are taxed upon their real
estate holdings at the rate prescribed by
the general assessment law, viz, ~ per
centum per annum upon an assessed value
placed by the board of assistant assessors
of not less than two-thirds Of the true
value.
The next subject taken Is the street rail-
ways. By the act of Congress approved
July l, 1902, it is provided that street rail-
road companies shall continue to pay the 4
per centum on their gross receipts and
other taxes as provided by existing law"
This law is executed. and the personal tax
thus required Of these corporations is each
year based upon the gross receipts as
shown by the certified reports of the COM
panies to Congress. as required by law.
The amount of taxes paid by the street
railways of the District on their receipts
is as follows for the year 1907: >.
AnacosrIa and Potomac River
Railroad Company ss7i ' eassss s14sao41
Brghtwood Raifway Company 71.se7.si 2sT2. 81
Capital Traction. l ,695. OS9.j So ct S03 SO
City and Suburban Railway -s.--
of Washington. ........... $40, 412.2O Ii, GIG. 40
East Washington Heights
Traction talroad Com
Georgetown s N an and Tenleytown ''' o
Railway Company .... a, o6742 1902 70
Washington, Alexandria and
Mt. Vernon Railway Com
Washington Railway and
Electric Company 1870. ALAG 47.5ss.4s
Realty Holdings. ..
In addition to this tax upon their gross
receipts. the street railway companies are.
by law, required to pay taxes upon their
realty holdings. namely, lands and build
Inc he
upon an assessed valuation fixed by the
board of assistant assessors of not less
than two-thirds of the true value. These
amounts for the year ended June 80, 1907.
are as follows: 49,.
Anacostia and Potomac River -
D Raj Ralr road, Company sl9d,s2d sl.5se 90
City and Suburban Railway of
Georgetown and Teneytown 0''''1 A'''i'O'
Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company .............. 470.42 7.058. SO
Washington and Annapolis Rsil-
In touching upon the tracks Of these CONS
panies. which have called for considerable:
talk to the effect that they should be con-
sidered real estate, the board Of assessors
says:
I'm the enforcement Of this law of 1902,
the tracks of the street railways have not,
according to the records. been deemed real
estate"
The street railway companies do not. in
addition to the tax Of per cent upon their
gross receipts, pay a tax upon Office furni-
ture and other tangible personal property
vision of law that the per centum shall
be in lieu of all other assessments for per-
sonal property.
The line of herdics operated on 10th
street is assessed for S.. 1000. for horses, We
hicles and harness, the tax upon which Is
Gas Companies
BY section s OF the personal tax law, ap-
proved July 1, 1902, gas companies are re-
Quired to pay ) per cent per annum on
their gross earnings. and to make an an
nual sworn statement as to the amount
of said gross earnings. 1t is also provided
that these companies shall pay the usual
tax upon their real estate. In accordance
with this law. the Washington Gas Light
Company and the Georgetown Gas Light
Company have been. for the year 1907, as
sessed and taxed upon their personality
viz: gross earnings, as follows:
%sss,as,Sn Gas Gas Is sst Co.
The law quoted has also been executed in
regard to the land and buildings of these
companies, the board OF assistant assessors
having returned the same for each triennial
and annual assessment as other real es-
tate has been returned. Under the head OF
real estate" said board has also returned
the mains of the companies the assess
ments and taxes thus recorded against the
two companies for the fiscal year 1907 being
as follows:
Assessed value. Tax.
Land and buildings. 81. os7 1853 s15,sss. 80
Mains. 613,1U O.2O5.61
Georgetown Gas Light Co.
Land ana buildings. $59,72O $S0S, 80
Mains. ..-..-..:-. q, 5O4 322. SO
Discovery Made.
While reporting upon the gas companies
the board of assessors mentioned the dis
coyery Of the omission in taxation of GER
tain holdings of these companies. The
Commissioner was informed that these
holdings were Immediately assessed for
three years back. according to law These
reassessments were placed upon the ledgers
of the assessors Office as follows:
| Assessed value. Tax.
washington Gas Light Co.
1905. $1,000, 900 si5. 10000
! 1907. 100000 100000
19O9 ........-..... ~. 3V6 I,34O.94
6B,.S6 l..y4O .44
Under date of August Il. 1907. official
notification OF these assessments. and bills
! therefor, were sent to the respective conn