The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,; vol. LXXII, June, 1911, ASCE 1190Riggs, Henry Earle
General
The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,; vol. LXXII, June, 1911, ASCE 1190
"Different methods of estimating the value of property may properly
be employed when it is valued for different purposes. When a
valuation is placed on property which has become affected by a
public use, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the maximum rate
of compensation fixed by law for its use is reasonable or otherwise,
it is obvious that the income derived therefrom by the owner before
it was subjected to legislative control cannot always be accepted as
a proper test of value because the compensation which the owner
charged for its use may have been excessive and unreasonable. Again,
when property has been capitalized by issuing stock, neither the
market value nor the par value of the stock can be accepted in all
cases as a proper criterion of value, because the stock may not
represent the money actually invested, and furthermore because the
property may have been capitalized mainly with reference to its
income producing capacity, on the assumption that it is ordinary
private property which the owner may use as he thinks proper without
being subject to legislative control. On the other hand, however,
when property is valued for the purpose last stated, it is clear
that the owner thereof is entitled to the benefit of any
appreciation in value above the original cost and the cost of
improvements, which is due to what may be termed natural causes. If
improvements made in the vicinity of the property, the growth of
city or town where it is located, the building of railroads, the
development of the surrounding country and other like causes, give
property an increased value, the owner cannot be deprived of such
income by legislative action which prevents him from realizing an
income commensurate with the enhanced value of his property."
The language of the late Judge Brewer, sitting as one of the circuit
judges in the case of National Water-Works Company _vs._ Kansas City (62
Fed., 853), is definite as to the necessity of taking into account some
elements of intangible value, and is here quoted as giving the views of
this eminent jurist:
"The difficult question, however, still remains; and that is, what
is the 'fair and equitable value,' which by the statute and
ordinance the city is to pay for the water-works? * * * We are not
satisfied that either method, by itself, will show that which under
all the circumstances can be adjudged the 'fair and equitable
value.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account