Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-01

VI uuuioipht SttoEhLhUAts Aho NtA mNA
capital has nearly or quite the population
Of New York; it would be safe to estimate
Its present population ct 1850, 900 and 1t
may reach l,5G0,0U0. It is located in o
monotonou ly level district, where the
problems of efficient drainage and sewer
age must have presented great difficulties.
But whatever these difficulties, they hala
been 80 thoroughly mastered that visitors
are not reminded by anything, except the
ompipresent levelness, OF their existence.
He never sees the magnificent concrete
streets in the heart of Berlin, o. the
beautifully paved stone streets that con-
meet with them, being torn up for the
putting down of sewer, water or gas
pipes. EVERY EVENING printed yesterday
q little item stating how the concrete
streets Of London and Paris are con-
struoted. The concrete streets of
Berlin impress the visitor even
more favorably than those Of London.
It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for
one who has not seen them to understand
to what high perfection street paving csn
be brought. They are faultlessly smooth
and are kept scrupulously clean; so clean
that the average passer-by almost invol-
UNFAIRLY looks around to see If any one is
observing him before he ventures to fur
lively throw away cigar stump. II
makes him feel like lawbreaker-as
perhaps he may be--to sully even in this
small degree the almost oppress clean
illness Of the streets.
It is the same with the public squares
scattered through the city. The grass
Of no gentleman's lawn in this country is
iept more carefully shesred than the
grass in them, and the beautiful flower
lots with which they are adorned are
ended with equal care. The walks,
paved generally in small stones OF
varying colors laid in mosaic patterns arc
carefully swept and the leaves that drop
from the trees are gathered almost as fast
as they fall. Cleanliness and neatness
pfedominate everywhere.
As az illustration of the efficiency of
the police system, Lee Merriweather re-.
latss that, on coming to Berlin, he
wished to look up an acquaintance whom
he had reason to think had recently
visited the city and might still be stop
ping there. He applied for information
at the police headquarters, giving the
name of his friend. 1t was the work OF
only few minutes to learn that his
friend had arrived in Berlin on certain
date, had put up at No. so.and-so on
such-and such street, had remained
there SO many days and then changed his
lodgings to given number on another
street, had spent SO many days OF the
second named place and had then left fol
Dresden, Saxony, where he took lodgings
at given street and number. "a letter
addressed to No. -, -- street, Ores
den, will be likely to reach your friend, =
said the Officials aud it did. Surveil
lance such as this is o little too str ct iol
American ideas; but it serves to SHOW
the remarkable completeness of the sys.
tenn.
Then the educational institutions, thu
public museums, art galleries ant
libraries of Berlin; they must be seen ii
be appreciated. As the visitor aaunter
through these latter, and inspects tn
groups in marble and bronze whicl
adorn the public squares, the parks, tht
Inter den Linden and some OF the cit,
bridges, he cannot help wonderin
whence the money comes to pay for thes
attractions, these streets, this wonderful
police system, this scrupnlons cleanliness
that he sees everywhere. 1t Is hard t
realize how all these things can be OF
tanned and kept up under the modsrat
system of taxation that the Post CORE
spondent details. They are marvelou
monument TO perfection of wise ad
ministration of municipal government, 9
which dwellerE in American cities Ga
hardly form conception.
At the bottom of this efficiency OF ad
ministration lies the fact that in Berli
the municipal governmant is under IL
direction of It's best citizens. Statesme
and scholars take their part in the admin
istration OF city Affairs. They cauu1
shirk this duty even il they wished, VIII
out incurring tia penalty Of a heavy tint
The basis OF the local administration il
municipal assembly Of l9G of the ma
intelligent and responsible citizens, WI
are chosen for terms Of six years. III
assembly chooses an upper branch OF ii
city government, composed OF the Ia4yC
and the board of aldermen. Tne maya
is chosen for ~ years and raeeiyss
salary OF AZ 500. Great care Is taken
secure for this position man OF y
highest qualifications tor executive az
general business ELI .isnoy, and the ind
vidual honored by this choics-tor ii
mayoralty Of Berlin is regarded as
position OF high honor-has gene,
direction of the board Of aldermen,
almost absolute within his sphere OF acG
and can generally be sure OF re eleci
at the expiration of his term, unless
prefers to retire on a liberal pensio
The policy is to secure the very best {
tainRble head for the CITY govsrnue
and to keep him there as long a. he "
Be7ve. The boavd Of aldermen numb,
so members, Is Of whom are paid 20
salaries while the remaining II are be
oEary and unsaiaried. Like the may
the 10 salaried members are chosen I
terms OF IL yssrs Rld with especial
gard to their ftlssa for the departmei
over which they are to ruls; and th
pay and duties are snah az to make I
positions attractive to men who have /