The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-19
BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS.
City Management.

by Albert shaw; The Century Co., New
York.
People who belong to the great. and
rapidly incrersing, class that Is concern
ing itself about municipal government
have been expecting that DIR. Albert
Shaw would eventually publish
work upon that subject that
would be at once exhaustive and illumi-
mating, and the first volume Of that work
is at hand. j IL complete In itself, but
there are several references to another
volume that is to deal with continental
cities, and, though there is no assurance
OF one, we are permitted to hope that the
cities In Americs may be given third
volume.
DIR. Shaw was for some years news
paper cd ltor in he West, !, but is now the edi-
tor OF the American Review of Reviews,and
has succeeded in making that unique and
valuable periodical vastly superior to It's
English progenitor. But while he has
acquired reputation as an editor and
writer upon general current topics, II
Is in his capacity as student OF
municipal conditions of life and city
government-or management-that Dr.
Shaw has demonstrated his claim to con-
sideration as one of the few men who are
able, and inclined, to preach the newer
propaganda OF the right of the people to
have their collective interests ordered TO
their immediate advantage and happiness.
l. In this book DR.. Shaw pictures the En-
glisb cities in their more recent develop
ment from the mere herding places of
masses of people to the best exemplifica-
| tions there are at present under the
sun OF certain economic principles that
recognize the tremendous value OF
| cleanliness, contentment and education
in the general scheme OF the prosperity
| of people and the expansion OF a country.
In these English cities there is a hard
money principle at work that shows itself
constantly as the real motive
powei, and the humanitarian results
are none the less remarkable and ad-
mirable because Of it. 1t is not
| primarily TO benefit and elevate the
operatives in the cotton mills OF Man
| chester and the woolen mills OF Bradford
that millions of money are expended to
teach the young OF those cities the subtle
secrets of the dyehouse, the weave
efoCm and the spinning-room. II is
| to place those industries upon basis
| of perfect skill 10 insure them against the
effects of German, Swiss and American
competition. SO In every branch and
phase Of the civic evolution IN England:
the hard-cash idea is what controls. The
plainly comprehended idea that
healthful, contented and prosperous pro-
letariat is the best basis a strong
nation can possibly have, underlies every
reform that has been effected In English
cities, that is now on trial, or that has at
tracted the contemplative attention that
in England is more certain than else
where to lead to results.
1t has been quite generally understood
in America that English cities were far
In advance OF our own, in nearly all the
details OF management and development.
But the disconraging width OF the chasm
between could not have been realized
~Iil DIR. Shaw has brought it
home to US that we are making
comparatively no progress, but are, on
the contrary, allowing our cities to drift
into a condition OF fixity in ill-doing that
will require generations OF time and un-
| told millions of money to bring them out
from. This book is a matter of-fact
statement OF conditions operative In the
| development OF English cities and towns,
prefaced by a lucid chapter upon "The
| Growth aud Problems of Modern Cities"
and general view of the system made
! applicable TO all British cities by parlia-
mentary enactments. Then three cities
are taken up-Glasgow, Manchester and
| Birming gham-and treated somewhat in
| detail. Each of these cities represents one
| phase OF development more strongly than
| another, and the three together give q
| perfect idea OF the whole topic. London
is given separate chapter, and there is a
chapter TO show the social activities of
British towns, and one devoted TO
metropolitan Tasks and Problems"
There are three appendices, which make
! up a section of the book of especial value,
as they give the English municipal code,
| the London (progressive) platform, and
! the report OF the royal commission that
last year drew up scheme for "the COM
plete municipal unity of the metropolis
through the amalgamation OF the old city
| and the county of London"
IL is unnecessary To say that the literary
| qualities OF this book are marked. DIR.
| Shaw's work Is pretty generally known
| by this time, ana has become known by
reason of its earnest excellence. IL is
| equally needless to speak of the perfect
form and typography OF the book, since
it is a prea#et tho be Winnie press,
which never burns out mediocre work.
The prizes offered for literary compost
| tions by the New York Herald have at
tracted much attention and are likely to
| have some effect upon literary production
! this year. The offer is OF $4,000
in prizes-sl $4,000 for serial story,
| $4,000 for novelette,, 5000 for a
short story and $1,000 for an
epic poem. Three OF each OF these are to