The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-05
FACTS IRON GERMANY.
The Pay of workmen anti soldiers-Berlin's
Clean Streets.

Clean Streets.
Interview with Hermann Raster
When one comes to the pay of aborers,
mechanics etc. that is very low, compared
conductor, for example, receives but 3%
francs, or trifie less day than at Berlin,
where he gets marks day-about rs cents.
Policemen get about $3.50 to $500 year in
Berlin, and salaries of officials are all cor
respondingly low. The drainage system in
Berlin is excellent. Five minutes after a
heavy rain the streets are again dry. Not n
single telephone or telegraph wire is to be
seen in the streets or along the houses or
roofs in Berlin. They are all under
ground. The cleanliness of the streets
is uniform all over the large city.
Even i'll the poorest quarters, where bad
odors would issue from the doors in
passing, the streets themselves would be
scrupulously clean and neat. With all the
immense change and Improvements that
have been made in Berlin during the past
decade, the city is only $30,000,000 in debt,
and the annual expense of its government
foots up to a total of S. 500 900. The police
force there is by all odds the finest in the
world Mounted policemen are stationed at
the corners OF all the principal thorough
fares to be on hand in case of accidents They
are all tail, muscular, well-drilled, gentle
manly and polite, and it is pleasure to see
them on the streets. The public schools of
Berlin are up 10 the marx III every require
ment and among them also supported by
public funds, are several colleges Gym
nasienG
The population of Berlin is about 1, $50 900
now The census is taken and published by
the newspapers every week The official
census. which is taken on the evening of Dec.
81, is gotten up by number of men who
consider the honor of doing this work suffi-
cient pay. A good many such honorary
offices, which do not require all the time of
those engaged in them, exist in Berlin. But
speaking of salaries, the soldiers are Just
about the poorest paid of them all. While
in Marienbad l had long conversation with
an Austrian army officer, colonel OF the
Staff, who gave me the following figures: A
private soldier in the Austrian army re-
ceives in all IS to 81 kreutzer per day or 5
forms rs kreutzer per month, say $40 in
American money. Out of that he is ex-
pected to pay for his food, for his amuse-
ments, and all articles of luxury, like beer,
wine, tobacco, etc. If he be very
hungry man he must get a doctors certif-
cate to that effect, and then he receives an
extra ration of course, dark bread A corporal
receives 80 kreutzers; a sergeant 30; SER
geant-major, so kreutzers per day, and has to
feed himself off that. A lieutenant receives
so forms, or about $40 per month, and a SER
want furnished him gratis, or else forms to
hire the services of some one. His lodgings
are furnished him free of cost, but they are
generally SO uncomfortable that number
of them chip i'll together and hire rooms for
themselves. A first lieutenant gets 60 forms
per month; a captain rs; captain of the
first class, 100; major 14O; lieutenant
colonel, It's; colonel 200 a majorgeneral,
300; Northumberland 500 and general
commanding an entire army corps of 10000
men, 900 forms a month, or $1,000 a year,
which is about $4,000 For the German
officers the pay is similarly. low The curl
Gus portion of it is this, that not only are
the officers satisfied with their small salaries,
but the men are, too, and all feel proud of
their positions.