New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
YORKSHIRE TOWNS.
WITH ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS of
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM.

n
,,,resoue attractions to tourists and pleasure
sselera When President Theirs remarked that
he favored a protective tariff because he liked 10
soc smoke coming out OF the tall chlmheys he
brought into use his saent for economies ra'"e
than his artistic sense. The tall chimhess pun,
out clouds OF smoke in Huddersnelu' prauio'o
and Leeds without the aid OF protective ss STEM
asnec,allv when American Legislators In Wash-
,ngton have been reforming the tariH III ''e III
terest of English manufacturers; pu' II io"is '"'
atmosphere and imparts a dingy, grimy aspe'' "
towns which commercially active ou' ""
re,,her fine architecture nor scenic beauty. Leeds
is probably the least Interesting large 'o"" ~
england: Bradford is brighter and more cheer
full but II is not picturesqe, even win us mn
side streets. and Huddersheld is dull prosaic ana
uninteresting Each Of these towns is esse''ia'.'
,sorr ard has drawn swarms Of country people
,roA, rag,ected and unremunerative Farms INTO
foc,orIes where wages are to be earned Fac"
nas iun.trated the evils we'll as the au'ah-
+eges Of rapid growth phenomenal eh'erpiis=
and over-populat!on. Each has also couraseou'''
faced the responsibilities involved oy It's o"'
prosperity and has been enabled through the ca
tension and multiplication OF municipai iuhc'io"'
IN relieve the pressure of congesteo oisuio's ="
improve the condition of the masses Oh ihuuS
,rious workers and to promote the interests oi
public health and morals
PIONEER IN MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM
Alfred Walker an exMayor and an active anu
energetic member Of the Town Council remaiA eu
when he was introduced to me oy rra"N -
NcC;hee the American Consul: Huooershe'u 10
one of the pioneer towns or the ne" hiu'"p
socialism, for 1t has gone into every 'iiiie ma
.n, r.,ormer has proposed" How true this sum-
10
municipal experiment after another and explained
what the Town Council had done Inc "a'ei
works had been purchased and enlarged ana al
h,,rdont sunnlv had been furnished at low rates
Tho gas coupany's plant had been muhlCipai-
tod and the business of lighting the streets anu
housas ~ the town was most profitaDly conducteu'
NTH great saving IN the bills of the housenoloer
and a remarkable increase in the cohsui"p'oi
Electric supplies would be controlled III 'he s"i'e
vav The tramways were owned ana ope'a'eu ~
the town with low fares and seats Tor passeheei''
and If the business had not been proh'aoie oi'e
for the municipal treasury 1t was because TIC
Town Council was embarrassed by an Ac' vi ar
uament which needed revision so as to EXCLUDE the
necessity of offering the privilege OF renting 'he
tramways periodically 10 capitalists
There had been very costly improvement
schemes bv which the appearance Of the town
ba1
hatbs Warehouses;. cemeteries. markets. slaugh-
ter-houses technical schools. lodging houses anu
,anements With the single exception OF Tree
,hrarv Huddersfeld had every one of the new
municipal institutions. and was one OF the iios'
progressive towns in England
7, was most agreeable and profitable to listen
60 this keen practical municipal administrator
&c ne related in detail the experience OF the
town in introducing and testing one new pohc!
after another lie was one OF the busiest anu
most successful manufacturers In Huddersheio'
vet he had devoted his time and energies year
after wear decade after decade. TO the service
NJ the town, and always gratuitously ana as d
matter OF civic responsibility and obligation IL
Is the voluntary service OF men or this type
that explains the practical efficiency ana pro-
gressive tendencies OF municipal government IN
England.
Many Of the municipal functions or these
Yorkshire towns | have already described III
letters from Dundee, Glasgow, Birmingham
bradford and Leeds For this reason / pass
over in silence the remarkable achievements OF
\ Huddersheld in the management OF municipal
tramways the control Of the municipal and cleo
trio supplies and the opening of corporation
streets. and single out few points which have
been less carefully treated.
MODEL LODGING-HOUSES.
Huddersfeld was one Of the first English
towns where model lodging houses were con-
Quoted as municipal institutions These We're
designed to meet the requirements OF WORKING
neonle of very narrow means and to counteract
the influences Of common lodging houses. which
were overcrowded, unhealthy and not infre-
quently haunts OF vice. There are separate
buildings for men and for women The rooms
are small but we'll ventilated and clean
moor woman who comes to Huddersfield from
the country in search of employment can OBTAIN
in these houses a comfortable room and good
bed for few pennies night While she Is look
Ing for work She can also have the use Of a
common kitchen range for cooking her meals,
and a large public sitting-room is also at her
service 1t Is a municipal hotel, very plainly
furnished but II is decent and Clean and the
charges are as low as three pence day. There
are similar institutions In Bradford, Leeds, Man
chester Birmingham, Glasgow and other towns,
and even with the low charges for lodgings they
are practically sustaining. In Glasgow,
where the experiment has been tried on large
scale. these municipal institutions even yield a
small balance Of revenue to the city; and the
patronage has been so great that municipal
hotel for poor families has been established on
the same principle with higher charges. There
are many model lodging houses in England
which have been constructed and opened either
by benevolent associations or by private enter
prise; but these do not have. as rule, fraction
OF the patronage Of the municipal lodging
houses Working people apparently make dis
tinction between the town institution and the
charitable enterprise and prefer the former
possibly because 1t Is under better manage
rnent but presumably because they feel more at
home In a refuge which has been opened for
them a municipal basis.
CONvALEsCENT HOMES.
In Bradford and Leeds there are convalescent
homes designed for patients who can afford tc
pay Sc a week for board and lodging while recov-
erng from surgical operations serious Illness