The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-07
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.

OVhAtN VI OOAAO III V1ahNs
An Able and Interesting Paper
Read to the Social Science Club
by Hon. Geo. T. Barr.
How This Department of City
Should Be Run, and How Far
City Should Enter Into Bust
ness Enterprises.
The fourth evening which the Social
Science club has devoted to the study
of municipal questions was last
evening given to the department of
public works, and Mr.. Geo. T. Barr
read an interesting paper upon that
subject, embracing the various topics
which would naturally come under it.
He said that the'department of public
works apparently extend over much
wider range of subjects in European
countries than in the United States.
He then gave a brief review of the
handling of that department of city
government in Europe, and especially
in the city of Glasgow, Scotland,
which has the reputation of being one
of the best governed cities in the
world. There the city, while taking
charge OF the various matters which
naturally come within it's scope, also
enters into the field occupied by pri-
vate enterprise, and does much for
the benefit of the general public,
such as the establishing and conduct
of public wash houses and common
lodging houses. 1t is also much more
particular in the matter of building
than are the cities of this country.
The extent to which Glasgow goes in
such matters seems unwarranted in
this country, but he said that possibly
we might grow to it in time. In fact,
there are already evidences of drift
in such a direction in some of our
form. He thought that while much
might be learned from a study of the
system of public works of the cities
of the old world, this country would
not find it advisable to GO to such ex-
tremes in our public undertakings.
While the cities of this country might
thereby make some valuable addi-
tions to the scope of its system OF
public works, he did not think they
were so much in need Of an enlarged
scope as they were of better admin
istration of the present system. In
fact, he thought it would be better to
let it so rest and turn the attention
of the people to better administra-
tion.
He then entered upon discussion
of what are termed natural monOpo-
lies" and while he did not agree with
the position taken by many writer's
upon the subject of their complete
ownership by the municipality, he
thought the time might come when
they would and should be so owned,
and that in the meantime they should
be under careful control through the
franchises which are granted for the
use of them. Franchises ought not
to be granted for too long a term OF
years, and so drawn as to allow of a
periodical readjustment in accord.
ance, with the progress of the times
All franchises, in large cities at least
ought to yield a revenue to the munic'
ipality.
He thought that great care should
be taken in studying the municipal
question to always bear in mind that
circumstances alter cases, and that
what may do for a large city is not
always practicable nor advisable for
small one.
In closing he dwelt upon some OF
the causes of inefficient municipal
government, and emphasized the fact
that after the best and most complete
form of municipal government had
been devised, the matter of good OF
bad management rested entirely with
the people. If they did not take an
interest in public affairs, bad men
would obtain control and corrupt gov.
eminent would enSue. He believed
the main trouble with American cities
could be found in the matter Of poll
tics, and that, if they could be eXtri.
Gated from this, he saw no reason why
they should not be as well governed
as any cities on earth.
The discussion was opened by Mr.
Geo. Pass who commended various
points made in the paper. He be-
lieved thatthe municipal government
should deal as little as possible with