Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-01
RAILROAD AVIATION IN GEORGIA


tanned suggestions for in the system of taxa
ton prevails present in the southern states But it
interesting and valuable of ALL perhaps by OF
the facts forth which show the neny of the state toward
railroads corporations Georgia He able
array of facts and figures which eecuay senced
loose and unfounded which recently appeared
in of the magazines of the country.
This through of its staff correspondents had
made the that Georgia had the railroads
square DEAL part evidence declared that 1907
the physical value the railroads had been increased for taxa
ton from ninety millions to hundred and twenty
three millions
will be gathered
from the fact by Mr. Gambler that the hundred and
tenyhree millions represented not the value of railroads alone
but of all the public utility corporations in the state
Such fragrant misstatements easily prepare for the
of the article in question which Mr. Gambler
pished ectualy He points out in the first place. that
prior there practically railroads all
in Georgs that until 1889 that the counties of the
authorized railroad property and not until
1902 that there under which the franchises of these
railroad companies could be reached.
that while there earnings
of million thousand dollars during the year
ending with June 1907 there increase during that
of three million hundred thousand dollars in the
ngs and the operating expenses to 1869 about
per cent the average normal percentage.
He adds significantly that earnings nothing unless
the bookkeeping is vouched for"
Georgia today twenty-five million dollars
worth of railroad property entirely exempt from taxation under
their fact of which should lose sight when
discussing the Hardship which the railroads have to
endure in Georgia.
Under the first year of franchise taxation aggregate
value of railroad property taxed sxtyone million nine
hundred thousand dollars six thousand miles of track The
Coast Line franchise for instance taxed three thousand
four hundred dollars mile And yet the year before had
executed general all its properties valuation
of twenty dollars mile taking its valuation
of tangible property for that year and deducng find
left franchise valuation of than eight thousand dollars
mile
taxable all railroad property placed
at nnety-one million hundred fyve dollars
eight hundred miles of track in which
included for franchises fifteen million hundred and seventy
dollars of taxation five mills The
franchise Atlantic valuation
of five thousand hundred and ninety dollars mile when
according its figures it worth not less than eight
thousand dollars mile four years before
The taxable value of the railroads in Georgia not
sxyone thousand nine hundred dollars in 1903
hundred and twenyhree mons-hich latter figure
really represented the value of all the public utility corporations
the statebut to nnetyone million six hundred and ftve
dollars and in addition be borne mind that
mileage had increased from six thousand to six thousand
eight hundred miles and the tax rate reduced from $50 mills to
five mills.
These are rather important undertakes
discuss the hardship which has been imposed railroads in
Georgia
In 1902 Georgia only
million hundred thousand dollars when the
property that date they had mortgage bonds amounting to
nineteen million thousand dollars year
entire valuation for taxation OF all the street railroads the
only twelve million hundred thousand dollars
while railroad has outstanding mortgage bonds
exceeding the returns for all these companies including
its
Let few comparisons how the railroads
taxed in Georgia compared with other states We find that
total including state county and municipal paid
railroad property in this state 1907 hundred
and sxysx dollars while the per mile for the United
three hundred and sxtsven dollars and the states
Immediately surrounding the amounts Alabama, two
hundred eighteen Florida hundred and six;
Carolina hundred and South Carolina
hundred and sevenx and In other southern states ranged
hundred and eighteen Louisiana three hundred and
seventy-six in Virginia
Georga's seveny-sx dollars per
mile for state county and municipal taxation record for
lghtness and lenency
further shows figures
the bureau that the of assessed value of
railroad property compared with its commercial value 4O30
per Georgia whereas is 6150 North Carolina
1850 in Tennessee $3.50 Illinois
lucky $3.50 New Jersey 70 in Vermont and la
neceut
Georga's 4030 does be unfair by comparison
addition to all the foregoing that individual
property Georgia has been permitted voluntarily