New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FRANCHISE VALUES ASSESSMENT
Experience of Long Island RaiIroad-DiSs-,..
Bases in 1907 and 1903
/, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: As an instance OF the apparent arbi.rs-i-
in tine assessments of franchise values TO z5fn -
Tribune has called attention the experiences !, -
Long Island Railroad Company is sigpifear. -
1901 the lines of that company were assessed M
franchises to cross occupy public streets M.
the following valuations:
Long Island Railroad Company Borough q, Brook
Long Island Railroad conipay. town Of nthtouss g m
Ocean Electric Railway COMPANY. Borough q 'A0
New York Brooklyn & Manhattan Beach RAILWAY. s0e
Company. Borough OF Brooklyn --..--....- IA a.
Nassau Count Railway Company, town OF oyster 'ae
Glen cove Railroad company town o, oyster Bay 90
Babylon Railroad COMPANY town OF Babylon 1ss
Northport Traction company town Of Huntington M
Total --.,.-.,-.---,--,--------.,.--.....sssa sss
The taxes these valuations except TIA. :.
the Long Island Railroad proper were pron,,l.
paid but in 1903 the assessments for practica1 ~.
same property were fixed upon the following a..
caIy different basis. -
Long Island Railroad Company. Borough Of
Long island Railroad Company. Borough o. si@se
Long Island Railroad COMPANY town o; Hemp i'''e
Long island Railroad Company. town Of North SS
Long Island Railroad COMPANY town OF oyster ''S0
Long Island Railroad company town OF Babylon Il ~
Long Island Railroad Company. twon OF Hunt
Long Island Railroad company. Of BROOK
Long Island Railroad Company. town OF south ''Y
sIpton ,..;-...,-. iaoo
way Co[aPany. e 1fta t+ar Rs, 'So7e
New YORK ( Rockaway Beach Raiway. Borough
Nassau Tu7T Electric Raiload company ,Atlantic
ASs@qe} esroqg q F02s aygi:5 ., Queen; sigs
ocean Electric Railway COMPANY. Borough Of
Js S8.1Sas < south shore Railroad company
Nassau assam o. County Railroad company. town Of
c;i9g SCI Cove Rallroad Company. town Of oyster
ri Say Railroad cang.ar town of aa5ysa s sss
huntington Railroad Company town Of Hunt
,-n2fb mon Traction COMPANY town of Hunting
ton ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -
Total northumberland s0
careful analysis Of the amount Of railroad
track crossing streets or running within The limits
If streets for which the franchise tax was assessed
showed that the assessed valuation a11lountad TO
more than $50 600 a mile Of track Traction mes
occupying IongitudnalIy the full length or sJfess
we're assessed at about 10000 mile out- s'san
railroads which crossed public highways Une Hs
title 70 which In many instances was held % ne
railroad company either above or below grads =
AT grade were assessed in some cases upon a vs-
alton Of more than 100000 mile OF track
The Long Island Railroad. for the most part oc-
c,nies a private right Of way, and the FRANCHISES
ON which it is taxed are. generally only for cross
ing streets and roads Prior to 1903 no assessHlart
was made for a franchise of steam raroads cross
ing q public highway existing previous 70 the tins
OF its construction unless the highway vas tEo
hundred feet or more IN width. but the Lssislzurs
amended the law fin 1891 and compelled the payment
Of franchise tax on every highway crossing Vhiea
existed at the time the tracks were eonstructsa
raqar1Iess OF width. and as a result the tota1
assessment against the Long Island RsAiroso iof
1875 was more than $4,000"
The valuations made for the year 1873 upon u
,-onsr+v Of the Long Island Railroad exceed tnoss
for the year 1875 The company has said 70 re
state board that upon the assessment being p'@esa
mon some fair and reasonable valuation II vas
ready TO nav its taxes Immediately. OUT mai
--C,Id not be subjected 10 extortiou- In TACT ne
company has paid its franchise tax on seFstsl "a
ti,- lines where a reasonable basis FOR Vailsuoh
was made
Although the company has not FOR years 90
able 10 paw a dividend its stockholders, me 'ot4
taxes paid by the Ions Island system tor Pc
amounted 10 more than per cent Of the gross rev
er,,a of the company With the increase IN assess
mont and the increase in the tax rate IN sFea-sl
New York its taxes for 1893 viii amount 70 neals
r nor cent of the gross income and # the speclA
franchise tax is paid the valuation MADE D ING
state hoard the total taxes Will exceed 81 per cent
With such burdens placed upon IL ofhcerS Of ~
cor7panv claim that the public can nardy sNpsS'
rho Elimination OF grade crossings improved g
vice or reduced rates or fare ACCOLNlA-N4
New York. April 2, 1923