New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-13
VALUAT|ON0F PROPERTIES
A BURDEN, SAY ROADS
Strong Protest Filed in Wash
ington Over Expense OF
Federal Boards Order.
WOULD COST s5,oOO,oo0
Carriers Contend Commission S
Demand for Maps Instead OF
Blueprints Will Mean Elk
penditure of $40 Mile.

Asserting that the government mas
asked them to eXpend unnecessari'
something like 100000 in the coming
valuation Of railroads. representatives o.
all the carriers Of the country have nleo
strong protest with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. at Washington
against the carrying out of its order rel
alive to the supplying Of maps by the
carriers for use in the valuation work
In this order the railroads are asked 10
supply tracings-not blueprints-ol the
right of way, together with lot OF da'a
TO be placed on these tracings. and the
representatives of the railroads IN theii
protest assert that II Is unfair 10 ASH
tho carriers TO go to the expense when
It can be supplied just as easily without
expending so much money. They also
assert that IT will be practically useless
II prepared according to the order
The representatives OF the railroaus
say that to comply with this order OF the
commission the carriers Will have 10
spend $50 a mile in the preparation OF
these maps, and as there are about 2eV'-
600 miles Of railroads In this country
the EXPENSE would be enormous. Ihey
also assert that the time necessary 10 pre-
pare the information required VIII De 80
long as TO seriously interfere Win the
actual work OF valuation.
The protest of the railroad represent
atives is the first sign Of friction De-
,veen tho carriers and the Interstate
Commission over the approaching valua-
tion OF the railroad property. The rail-
roads say that they are Willing TO CO.
onerate in every way with the commis-
sion I'm the work. but they contend the
order is so unfair that they are com
PEELED to protest. There are no oolec'
tions 20 supplying the information de-
sired, they say-the objection Is 10 the
manner in which the commission wants
II submitted. The railroads say they
are willing 10 furnish blueprints or
blackurints OF their way, which they as
sert will answer the purpose OF the com
mission. These are easily prepared oy
! A sort of Photographic process. To sup
ply tracings. however. will require the
| service OF hundreds Of craftsmen.
The order was the subject OF a confer
cuce between the Interstate Commerce
| Commission and the representatives o.
| the railroads last week. and will be taker
I'd at another conference early mex
| month.
, The carriers should not be burdeneC
with the excessive and unnecessary cos
Of compliance with said tentative draf
OF specifications, which would. for th'
tracings alone. amount to at least so
! mile over and above the cost Of furnish
| ing prints from existing tracings now II
the possession OF the carrier, the protes
says.
| The protest OF the railroad representa-
| tves also says that the matter OF COS
is beyond question. and II advantage
equal to such cost were attained, there
would be ground for debate, but there
being no gain in results It seems un
necessary TO incur, say. many times th'
cost of the equally useful prints"
| a number OF other reasons are als'
advanced by the carriers against carry
| ing out the order OF the commission
among them that IN case OF error new
tracing must be made. thus entallrng ad
| OluOudl Gust
| In addition the railroads also object 4
any requirement being put upon them t
| furnish the boundaries OF or information
concerning adjacent lands or the names
OF the owners. The carriers have NJ
right to enter upon the lands OF other
for the purpose Of making surveys 4
obtain boundaries. and the names of IN
owners particularly in the cities are nu
merous and difficult 10 obtain. and whel
| obtained would be Of no value whei
placed on n map because OF the constant
| ~ changing ownership.
The outcome OF the controversy I
awaited with considerable interest. as |
IS believed that II will have a direct bear
ing on the entire conduct OF the worl
| OF valuation