The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-02
WORLDS MODEL CITY.
Glasgow, Scotland, Sets q Pat
tern for Every Other.
VERY GOOD WATER AND LIGHT
The Street Railways Operated by the
Municipality - The Debt to
Be LiQu1dated.


Glasgow " the model municipality OF The
world and We may al profit by Its expert
ence and example The city council.
which 10 the governing body, recognizes
three duties as being laid upon 1t: To
fulfill their trusts by economical admin
istrat.on OF the city's finances; 10 I'M
prove public health, both ply ssca1 and
moral, and to give brightness and the pos
sibiiity OF happiness 10 civic Life This
nigh conception OF the duty OF a corpora
ton has not been carried out in full. but
no one WAX deny that very satisfactory
and successful attempt has been made TO
i've up to the lofty standard which has
been established. The city council under
takes to supply the demand for water. gas.
electric lighting, parks public baths ware
houseT and street railways. street eleala-
ing. building. police protection and vari-
Gus minor services.
The water supply Is obtained from Lsooh
katrine, thirty-five miles distant, and 10
copious and pure. There Is no better wa
ter furnished any city In the world. and
Dublin is probably the only city pnat gels
1t cheaper. There has been nearly 81. 5o0-
90 invested In water works. In lSao
sinking fund was established, through tho
medium OK which nearly three quarters or
million pounds have been paid oil up to
the present time. and 1t L. expected that
the sinking fund will pay OF the whole
the 1nburdened property OF the corpora
ton. In the meanwhile the supply Of
water has been enormously increased. the
quality improved and the price reduced
more than so per cent. In addition to the
supply of water for the usual purposes. Vt
Is now proposed to drive machinery by
hydraulic pressure Of Zoo pounds to the
square inch throughout tho business area
of the city.
The Glasgow corporation has long been
in the fed as a manufacturer OF gas.
In 1853 it took possession OF the
gas plants, which were owned by
two private companies, and COM
menced the sale and production OF gas.
The quality of gas was improved, while It's
price was reduced. The city furnishes p
candle power gas at the rate of 60 cents
per thousand cubic feet.
The street railways OF Glasgow, up to
June 30, 1894 We're operated by private
company. Six years ago the council en-
deavored to impose certain conditions on
this company, such as regulating me fare
and limiting the hours of work OF the en-
ployeS. The company refused TO make
any concessions, and. as a result OF Its un-
willingness to act In fair and generous
manner toward the public and the labor
ing classes, the council decided not to re
new its charter, but to take possession of
the street railway itself and operate It.
1t put on 800 new cars. 5000 horses and 100
new men. The city introduced l-cent fare.
hitherto unknown, and made cents the
maximum fare. The experiment OF oper-
ating street railways by the city has
proved a success. The city has made
money. and at the same time has I'M
proved the plant and reduced the fares.
1t now carries 300.o 900 passengers a week
for 1-cent fares, 10000 for 2-cent fares.
5000 for Scent fares and 10000 for 4-cent
no CO W II
all fares above cents.
The distinguishing feature OF Glasgow's
financial management is the sinking fund.
II is now applied TO every municipal enter
prise Of the city. On examining Its ac-
counts one finds that all serious debts are
on the way to be hquidated by the auto
matic operation of this device. The pres
sent financial condition OF Glasgow seems
extren,{v satisfactory. The liabilities are
e. 600 900 and the assets fio,5o0, 600, with a
clear balance OF e. 900 on the right side
OF the account.
The ability, the honesty and the econ
omy which have been brought to bear IN
the administration Of the pubic a1airs of
Glasgow have been secured by the eiirnl-
nation of politics. The council is COM
nosed Of solid business men. Poitcs -
practically unknown in the meetings or
thsarouncil nor Is eloquent speech IN great
demand there. The success or glasgow IN
municipal government has been achleVed
bv the rigid exclusion of politics from the
citv offices and by intrusting the admin
istration of the city TO trained, capaoic
and honest business men, There Is no
CITY in the world SO well governed as
GLASGOW and none whose a1airs are con-
Quoted so thoroughly In Keeping with tue
,,r,n,inle that the public officials or the
CIV are TO he regarded as the direstors OF
a great cooperative undertaking. in which
every citizen is a shareholder. and the
dividends of which are payable in the pet
ter health, increased comfort, recreation
and harnlness Of the whole popuIatioh.