The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-24
COST OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

COST OF CITY GOVERNMENT
Projects for municipal reform are
usually SO vague in their details and
purposes that the average citizen has
come to consider them as largely Chi
merical. But it is a generally recog-
nicipal expenditures in this country do
not produce the same results as they do
in other countries and that as whole
the larger our cities are the more waste
fully and extravagantly are they man
aged.
Few, however, are aware of the SEEM
ingly impossible differences in cost of
municipal services here and abroad,
until they carefully compare the actual
figures.
A few statistics carefully prepared by
Joseph Chamberlain, relating to the
cost of governing the two cities of Bos-
ton and Birmingham, are instructive as
well as astonishing. The population of
the two cities is approximately the same.
Boston had 44S,00O in 1890, and Biim-
ingham 430, 600 in 1891. In both cities
the public works have been carried
to high state of efficiency
Parks, public buildings. well paved
and well lighted streets, excel
lent drainage and pure water systems
are common to both. IL there is any
difference in the development of mu-
nicipal government its more perfect
form is undoubtedly to be found in the
English city. Yet with comparatively
the same service to perform the city
officials of Boston spend over five times
the amount of money annually that is
used by the city officials OF Biriming-
ham. Public works cost is as follows ::
In birmingham. ......" ................. s7o5,00O
In Boston 3VJt OOO
The public works of Birmingham in
cludes the cost not only of what we
should understand by the term. but as
| the gas works and street-car service are
owned and operated by the city it also
includes the total cost of maintaining
these. 1t includes also an expense for
watering the streets, which Is done by
the city of Birmingham instead of by
private citizens as in Boston. 1t is
claimed that our labor is the more eff
cient as we'll as better paid, but leaving
out of consideration its superior eff
cheney and allowing that our wages are
100 per cent higher, the figures still
show that Boston pays more than twice
as much for the same and even less SER
vice than Birmingham pays.
Free Libraries, art galleries and schools
of art cost:
In birmingham. ......, $50 90,
In l62.OO'
In Birmingham the libraries and ART
galleries contain not only 100, 900 books
but very valuable collections of pictures
works of art, embroideries and anti
quities.
The police and fire depart ments Of tn,
two cities cost:
In Birmingham ...............,...... ssl2 30
Birmingham has somewhat smalle
police force about G0O) than Bostol
$50. but the fire departments are prac
t.caily the same. Moreover, it canno
be said to be greatly to the advantage O
Boston than It's police force should nee
TO be about 40 per cent larger than tina
? Of its foreign sister city.
The collection Of taxes in the -tw
cities and expenses incident to sue
: work costs:
IN Brulu4hAtnsss tSusV
In Boston tsssstsssstsssss. HjlV
g Parks, baths, recreation grounds cost
IN Elf m lnhhAii fnNsN
m In Boston. ohhV
y Of course these public grounds n
le not solarge in Birmingham as in Bostoi