The evening times., 1895-09-25
WON BY wORKINGMEN.
How the Street Railways of Glas.
gov Are Run.

Cow Are Run.
Editor Times: In a recent issue you speak
| of the profits, S11s, ,129. derived from the
tramways of Glasgow with the reduced
| fare.
tina interest the public to kno W that the
| :ramways are owned and run by the city,
| and consequently the profits go into the
| city revenues, instead of the pockets of
| wealthy individuals as is the ca Sc in many
European cities, and should be everywhere.
1t is an interesting fact also, that this
change OF management was brought about
| by the workingman.
Originally the tramways were leased to
a company for twenty three years. which
lease expired in 1894. Up to 1891 the
expenditures amounted to S1,725 600,
while during the same period the city re-
| ceived S2,44O,0O0. For the first three
years the company paid but one dividend
of 8 per cent, but for the last nineteen
years it paid from to IL per cent, and
for ten years they averaged 10 per cent.
The company, however, treated its en-
ployes badly, exacting fourteen to sixteen
hours, and the result was a strike, and a
public cscntinientinf favor of the city stunning
the roads. The city offered to renew the
lease on condition that the hours should be
| reduced to ten. The company refused, and
also refused the offer of the city to buy its
rolling stock, and the result was that the
city stocked the road Itself with much bet
ter cars and outfit, and. better service
every way was had
1t was not expected at the time that the
city would receive any profit from the
roads, for some years at least, it being sat
isfied to payits cay, secure better service,
and better the condition of the employees.
The result has been most gratifying.
In the first place, the 1,73O men employed
have shorter hours and better. wages. In
the second place, the lines have been ex-
tended and the fares cheapened, thus
not only better accommodating the general
public, but WHAT'S perhaps more important,
promoting the removal of the poorer classes
from the crowded quarters of the city to the
more open and 'salubrious suburbs.
One can ride mile for a half-penny,
and red lamp is set to designate the miles
along the road. while for longer distances
the fares are proportionately cheap, and
in some cases a'ride ofs.hree miles costs but
a penny-equal to two cents with us.
Instead of simply paying expenses, the
result for the first year is a profit of over
$118,O0O. In addition to that a recent writer
over there says: 1.-The handsomer and more
comfortable cars, electrically lighted in
side and out, ON which the city arms are
gaily emhlaZoned, and the happier appear
ance of the men-smart uniforms giving
full protection from the weather, taking
the place of the ragged garment with which
they provided themselves out of their pow
erty-complete the satisfaction with which
the Glasgow citizen regards the latest
addition to municipal ownership"
Truly, this is an object lesson for American
cities which ought to be needed everywhere
II the workingmen of the United States
would turn their attention to efforts to
bring about such state of affairs here,
not only In regard to street railroads, but
also in reference to public light supply.
both gas and electric. and the water supply,
they would accomplish much for them
selves and the public. W. G. DODGE
"If it's ncsvH. tt's In The Morning