The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-29
MAYORS TALK SHOP
PAPERS DEALING WITH THE
PROBLEMS OF CITIES READ
At COLUMBUS.
WELCOMED BY BUSHNELL.
MUNICIPAL RULERS BY OHIo's
GOVERNOR.
FOR HIS HONOR OF MINNEAPOLIS.
Place on the Committee on Organ
ization Assigned to the Dele
cation From Minnesota.

COLUMBUS, O., Sept. 2S.-The first
annual conference of the mayors and
councilmen of the United States,
Canada and Mexico was called to Or
der at II o'clock this morning by May
or Black, of this city, with 100 regular
accredited delegates. The mayors
opening remarks were brief, and he
closed by introducing Gov. Bushnell,
who said the mayors congress would
inaugurate another epoch. While mu-
nicipal officials for centuries had been
dealing with municipal problems" it
had been proved that even long-tilled
fields could, under modern methods
and careful husbandry, be made to
produce more bountiful harvests. The
close of the century seems to find us
in a condition which presents as many
things to be done in our cities and
towns as there was at the time Of the
foundation of the centers of the popC-
lation. No city is now so rich in ex-
cellent results but that there is room
for more wealth in that way.
At the close of the governors well
come, Mayor Black presented Mayor
Collier, of Atlanta, Ca, who responded
for the visitors in a glowing speech
of sentiments of patriotism, presenting
the Importance of good municipal gov
eminent with great force and elo-
quence.
Mayor Black was made chairman Of
the convention, and 7ditor Gordon.
secretary, to serve only during the SEES
sions of the convention prior to the
,o,,f a1rcro T1i1 4
ton on the closing day. At noon the
convention adjourned until p. m.
Mayor MacVeigh, of Des Moines, then
read a paper entitled Street Lighting;
by Contract, Municipal Control or Mu-
nicipal Ownership; Which?" He said
when he undertook to investigate the
question of municipal ownership he
was about as well informed upon the
subject as was the farmers wife VINO
asked her husband to bring home some
electric plants that they might, by
raising their own lights, save kerosene.
The local companies made a vigorous
campaign to defeat the proposition
authorizing municipal ownership OF g.
plant, money and political influence
being freely used, but the vote was Ia
vorable by nearly three to one. The
plant is not yet built owing to suits
threatened by prominent taxpayers
under the direction and advice of the
ATTORNEYS of the local companies.
1t was nearly o'clock when Chair
man Black called the meeting to order
this afternoon. Chairman Black an
nounced the following as the commit
tee to formulate a plan of permanent
organization:
Mayors McVicar of Des Moines, 10;
Pratt. of Minneapolis, Mimi; Collier,
of Atlanta, Ga Hastings, of Niagara
Walker.
Of Trenton, n. j.
This committee is to report not later
than Wednesday night. 1t is looked
upon as fairly representative OF the
attendance, geographically and other
wise, and the delegates expect a great
deal from it in the way OF practlcal
suggestions.
Joseph w. Slower, of New York, oc-
c1lpieG forty minutes of the time OF
the convention in the reading OF pa
Der on photographic Systems for the
Facilitation of Fire and Police Serv-
ice" 1t was largely technical in char
acter A paper by William Brophy'
chief electrician of the city of Boston,
on Modern Construction and Mantle
nance of Electric Wires and Their Su-
pervision by municipalities, was read.
There was no discussion of either pa
per. and at 4 o'clock the convention
adjourned until s p. m.
Chairman Black, in his opening re-
marks at tonight's session, made refer
ence to the Importance of street light
ing in cities and called attention to the
significance and influence of the Ma
tional Street Lightning association now
in session here. In closing, he intro
duced Henry Hopkins, Of New Haven,
Conn.,, who is secretary of the asso-
citation. He read paper on The
Proper Lighting of City Streets the
chief point of which was an analysis
of the reasons why the cost of public
lighting is increasing, while the cost
Der light is decreasing. These he gave
as the expansion of the populated area
of cities, the fact that light decreases
crime, the application of light to rapid
street transit the demand for improved
service in old localities and the pur-
suit of mercantile and professional du
ties at night.
The National Street Lighting associa-
ton has thirty-eight delegates here
but so far it's deliberations have pos
sessed no measure Of public interest.
Mayor McVicar, of Des Moines, 1c,
street Lighting by Contract and BY
Municipal Ownership"
The official roster of the conference,
as far as completed tonight, contains
1875 names, but many of the delegates
are from Columbus and other nearby
Ohio cities. Outside of Ohio, the prin-
cipal cities represented are Minneapo-
lis. Denver. ST. Paul, Tampa, Joliet.
Ill; New Haven, Atlanta, Birmingham,
Des MoineS, Peoria, Pawtucket, De-
troit, Evansville, Baltimore, Fargo and
Wilmington, Del.