The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-27
A Model City.

To those students of municipal prob
lens who are not already familiar with
the conduct of public affairs in Birm-
ingham. England, "the model city"
We commend George +. Parker's paper
in the November Century entitled An
Object lesson in Municipal Govern
ment." That paper should be read in
full! by every Amercan; but lest II
shall not be. we propose in what fol-
lows to present a brief digest OF some
parts of it.
The first point touched upon by Mr.
Parker is the city's gas and water
works The gas works were purchased
by the city in 1873. at total cost of
$l0O0i,SJ5. The city's first act was to
reduce the price until now the rate
charged for 1000 feet is flom 62 to 40
cents, with per cent. discount for
prompt payment. The city gets it's
own gas at 80 cents per 1000 and in
twenty years has cleared over operat-
ing expenses $5,2i4.520. The city owns
also its own water supply which is
conveyed so miles from the Welsh
mountains. No figures as to prohts
are presented. Both works are man
aged by unsalaried boards appointed
from among the City's most representa-
tive and substantial citizens.
Birmingham's treatment of the slum
problem has been heroic. An area in
the city's very center having become
unwhOlesomely crowded by artisans
living in ill-built tenements an act of
parliament was secured giving the city
the right to condemn and purchase the
property in question. This was done,
the ramshackle tenements were torn
down, the streets were widened. prop
er sanitation was provided for and
the entire complexion of these quarters
was changed. In 1889 the city got
leave to erect artisans dwellings.
which cost on an average about $500
apiece, comprise five we'll ventilated
rooms and rent for about $3.50 a month,
which covers every cost save gas. The
latter is supplied by penny-in-the-slo
machines giving % cubic feet, or enough
to keep the burner going four hours,
for cents. Before these changes were
made. the slum death-rate was 532
per thousand of population, now it is
21.3 per thousand.
Birmingham utilizes it's sewage for
fertilizing purposes; keeps it's streets
clean and well paved: owns all its
street car lines or leases them under
well-reguated conditions; maintains a
park system comprising $50 acres di-
vided into fourteen breathing places"
which are kept for use rather than
For beauty; sustains eight free libraries
having altogether, 1S7, ,443 volumes, con-
ducts fifteen free art schools. q mag
nitlcent museum and art gallery, and
two technical schools in which young
mechanics may at a slight cost learn
at night everything about the trades
! they pursue during the day. Such has
been the popularity of these various
institutions that nearly all are now
supported from the revenues Of pri-
vate endowment benefactions given by
wealthy citizens in encouragement of
| the work.
Something must now be said with
reference to the government of Birm-
| ingham. OF course all these municipal
undertakings have cost money, and big
| money as we Americans would say.
| The citv's net debt is now about s40,-
100000 with an annual interest charge
% OF I,a I.
| are quoted at ll6 and it's IS at 1O5. Each
| taxpayer whose assessment equals $500
a year has one vote on propositions to
| increase the Indebtedness for public
| Improvement, and an extra vote for
| each additional $500 up to $780, This
vote is doubled if he owns the prop
| erty he occupies. Five or six times
! such propositions have been submit
! ted and not one has been rejected. The
| average per CAPITA rate of taxation for
all purposes in Birmingham is SHE.
The governing body in Birmingham.
| the practically onnipotent force in
matters executive as well as legisla-
| tive. is the city council. Each of the
/
called councillors and one an alder
man. but all meeting together. The al
| derman's term Is for six years, the
councillors for four, but only one coun-
| cilor is elected each year. They are
| elected bv the votes of male and fe-
| male occupants of any dWslling-hOuse.
shop. manufactor,, land or tenement
of the annual value of $50. No muni-
| cipal candidate dare s3end to exceed
5000 in his campaign for election. Since
| 1871 only one saloon keeper has sat
/ in the Birmingham council. The great
majority of it's members are business
| men and business principles rather
| than politics control them. NO uem-
her," says Mr.. Parker, has any priv
ileges on railway or public convey
| ance of anv sort. even on the street
| cars belonging to the city. or admis-
none Is permitted to vote on ques-
| tion when he has personal interest
He is subject to Il fine OF $3.50, with loss
Of office, il he enters into any con-
| tract with the city. or sells an article
of even the smallest value to the coun-
ell, Or to any of it's subsidiary or asso-
ciated committees or departments
The mayor Of birmingham is some
thing OF Il figure head. He IL chosen
| bv the council generally from among