New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-03
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM.

GALLERIES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
prrRI.rc BATHs-T OF
ENGLISH TOWN GOVERNMENT
Birmingham August a.
Municipal ownership OF water, gas and electric
sunpes and also Of the street railways. or tram.
WAYS has been dealt with In previous letters;
and drainage works and the transformation OF
unsanitary sections Of overcrowded cities into
corporation thoroughfares under system OF
ground rentals for long terms have also been con-
sidered. There II another class Of municipal IN
dertakinss which deserves more deliberate study
than Il has yet received In New-York These are
public works designed for the promotion Of intel
Iectual culture among the masses. Birmingham
has been one Of the pioneers in this field Of munie-
inaI activity. Its town hall ls fanked by splen-
did structures used az public readng-rooms, IL
braries. museums and art galleries. and support
cd entirely by the ratepayers. All these institu-
tions are free and are used mainly by working
people.
The public ncwsroom is a large. well-Iighted
hall I'm which all the principal journals and maya
zines OF the United Kingdom are 10 be found. II
IL crowded from an early hour In the morning
until midnight with orderly, quiet assemblage
OF Interested readers No conversation ls allowed
I'm the room There are tables with comfortable
chairs where the magazines and weekly jourDals
can be read without interruption or annoyance.
The newspapers placed on sloping racks.
where there is light for reading the finest type
without difficulty. This Is the central newsroom,
but there are other reading rooms connected with
the branch libraries No admission fee Is charged.
ANY one can have the advantage OF reading the
best periodical literature Of the day without ex-
pending a PENN.
In addition to the newsrooms there are public
Libraries with reference and lending departments
under the most admirable management. There
are seven OF these municipal Libraries In various
quarters Of the town and the shelves contain over
1870 900 volumes with circulation exceeding 1000
900 volumes year The reference departments
are well supplied with tables for reading and writ
ing and the main library IL furnished with indi-
Gators which show az glance what books are
on the shelves and those which have been lent.
The use which is made of these libraries is enor-
nous. The service of attendants is excellent: the
rooms are filled with readers and book borrowers
at all hours and the influence OF these municipal
institutions in promoting public Intelligence
hardly be over-estimated. The libraries and
reading are open on sunday with the
hearty approval Of all classes
THE MUNICIPAL ART GALLERY
The Art Gallery is another municipal ns,itu
ton which is open at all seasons without an adj
mission fee II is Of the finest buildings in the
town. and through the public spirit of wealthy
citizens in supplementing with gifts the annual
purchases made by the Municipal Council under
the advice of an director, the collections Of
/ paintings. water cOlors. engravngs. sculpture.
bronzes and ceramics already varied and VAL
liable. There pictures by Mtals, Holman
Hunt Sir Frederick Leighton Burne-Jones, and
other well-knOwn painters. The attendance 81
visitors every pleasant day Is very large. and
the poorest classes not only feel that they have
right to visit the gallery and to stay long as
they choose but they are also developing taste
for art and falling under it's refining influences.
In connection with these free galleries and mu-
seums has been established art school with
large number of classes. which attended by
between $500 and $500 pupils The instruction
has wide range and is adapted in some meas
ure to the industries OF the town. The great ma
jority Of the pupils working people. The in
struction is not free but the fees are so low that
| ii IL virtually open to all applicants.
Another institution is nearly completed which
! Is designed to meet the requirements Of technical
! education. 1t is a substantial and handsome
structure erected at an expense Of over 100000.
There already 1000 students attending day
and night classes in temporary buildings without
suitable appliances: but the new Technical School.
while it Is regarded by many educators as a
doubtful experiment will be fully equipped for
undertaking a great work for the masses. 1t
will combine day and night schools; there will be
scientific. language and commercial classes. there
will be chemical laboratories. engineering rooms.
designing and art departments. and metallurgy.
carpentry. textile manufacturing photography,
steam engineering and many other branches will
be systematically taught. instruction will not be
| free but the fees will be 50 low that no ambitious
boy or girl will lack opportunity for acquiring
| technical education.
While Birmingham is taking a conspicuous part
in municipal undertakings Of this class. II does
not stand alone Nearly all the progressive towns
! of England and Scotland. with the exception OF
! Glasgow and Huddersield have either made use
! OF the Public Libraries act or have prohed by
the generosity of private benefactois. who have
established free Libraries and newsrooms. Man
chester has library. an art gallery and tech
meal school rvalling the free municipal institu-
tons of Birmingham. Liverpool is also keeping
we'll abreast with Birmingham in this field OF
municipal activity, and Bradford. Leeds and Dun
dee displaying great energy in the same d.
| rection. Newcastle. Nottingham Sheffield. Sal
ford. Derby. Bristol. Plymouth and many other
towns have municipal free libraries. and under
the impetus Of honorable spirit of emulation
the movement is rapidly becoming general. Not
satisfied with limiting the special contribution
from the rates for public libraries TO penny to
the pound. many towns have largely exceeded II.
! The municipal art gallery is only found in few
of the most progressive cities. but technical edu-
cation is receiving attention in all the manufact-
uring towns the excise money being appropriated
for that purpose. and paid directly TO existing in
stitutions when technical school has been es-