The herald., 1896-12-07
OWNERSHIP BY THE CITY
How 1t Works in Other
Places
THE STORY OF TORONTO
The Queen City Of Canada Conquered
Monopoly
An Interesting Interview With a Visit
ing Physician-The Security and
Benefit Of the City's Plants

A Herald representative heard of the
arrival in this city of DR.. William V.
Cook of Toronto Canada, city that has
throttled the monster OF the monopcYy OF
municipal necessities, and sought out
the doctor to get some pointers for use
in the present municipal fight against
the water monopoly. DIR. Cook is lead
ing physician Of Toronto and head of q
large drug firm. He has given much time
and study to municipal problems.
In answer to question, the doctor said
that the water fight of Toronto took
place years ago. so that he could not
give many particulars, but would say
that prices and quality of water furnish
ed by the city are vastly more favorable
to rate-payers than when privately man
aged.
"As compared with what you are pay
ing here in the Harper tract should say
you are donating about one-third of
your money to your water company, as
it Is certainly unnecessary to pay more
for a thing than it costs when furnished
by the city. My house of twelve rooms
and eight water taps, including lOO-foot
lawn, costs me about $S annually. and,
mind you, these charges are peing re-
duced every year.
do you have any difficulty in secur-
ing honesty and efficiency of manage
ment under city ownership"
Not at ALL Some years ago there was
what has always been known as the
water investigation that developed
a slight departure from the plumb line
of public duty, and you may imagine,
that is If your imagination is sufficiently
vivid, what an everlasting shaking-up
those fellows got, and how everyone of
them was carefully deposited in the po-
litical garret, there to moulder among
things forgotten"
Did you not butt up against moneyed
interests, prejudice and conservatism in
making the change from private to pub
lie ownership"
1--WE did, of course" replied the doc
tor. "All the political jackals that in
fest court houses and city halls the
world over, snarled and snapped at
the prospective loss of their carrion of
corruption. But the spirit of patriotism
was alive and thrilled through the veins
of every voter, and an unf1inching battle
of determination was waged and won,
and, now that we have conquered, it
seems matter of course to see our water
committee hewing to the line of honesty
to hairs breadth, as much so as If they
were conducting their own individual In
terests."
Suppose an alderman were to pro-
pose selling the water works of Toronto"
asked the scribe.
why, his name would be Walker"
smlingly replied the doctor.
How much money was involved in
your municipal fight?"
1.-THE water plant is worth about
81, 100000, but you must remember that
in all, the municipal interests run up
of the finest trolley systems in the world,
are practically owned, though not tech
nically SO, by the city; we have absolute
ownership of the electric lights, gas
works and telephones. Rates on all these
public convenienceS are phenomenally
low and the service absolutely perfect.
The street cars have about seventy-five
miles of track and pay into the city
percentage of earnings and mileage the
enormous sum of about $3.50, 600 annually.
Fares are from 20 to 40 per cent lower
than any private company charges and
transfers are given to every line in the
city. From to a. m. and from to
p. m. half rates prevail, and school child
rem ride any time at the same rate. The
strictest supervision by the city officials
is kept over the condition of cars, tracks
and even the books of the street COM
pany, so that even the slightest error
is instantly detected and corrected, and
if it be thought Intentional is punished
by heavy fine. If an alderman is found
In collusion with any corporation, or
even suspected or DelDg, the mayor has
power to suspend him, pending an in
vestigation. and it goes hard with such
an offender l can assure you. A sus-
pension alone is almost fatal to pub
lie official
80 you think city can manage it's
own water works without fear of official
corruption?"
why, our experience proves it. What
we have done you can do. By the way,
we had a mayor, too, that helped us
much in our fight. A strong, courageous
man like E. F. Clark or r. J. Fleming,
the two mayors that did the best work
for us. is a necessity in such case.
Fleming was not brilliant man, but
was sound, honest and practical, much
resembling your Mr.. Snyder saw at a
public meeting the other evening" tell
you, the plain man, with hard-headed
business experience, is the sort to fight
monopoly"
How do like Los Angeles, DR.. Cook"
well, it would be putting it mildly
to say that I am delighted. OF all
places I have visited, Southern Califor-
mia stands first. Los Angeles county
is the perfect spot"