The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-28
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
George w. Russell Submits a
Report to Good Govern
ment Association No. 4

Good Government Association No. l held
its regular monthly meeting in Arcanum
Hall, Clinton and Jackson mi last
evening, and after the regular routine of
business had been disposed of Secretary
George w. Russell submitted his report
on the ownership of electric lights and
other municipal conveniences The re-
port was as follows:-
At our last Executive Committee meet
ing on rho second Thursday Of this
month, it was decided to AXE up the
question OF municipal ownership, ard /
was instructed to ascertain names of
cities owning electric lighting plans, n
any informal zion pertaining to same and
report 1T this meeting. Owing to the
very limited time OF two weeks allowed
HE, l have no been able to submit as
full a report as | would like. l can state
hundred cities owning and operating
their electric light plants. Following you
viii ind reports from a few of the mu-
inequalities on the subject of municipal
ownership and CONTROL
First Foreign cities: Berlin, gas works
run by city showed surplus last year 81
$4,000 marks; water works owned by city
shcwed profit of $4,000, marks, The
houses where AL animals are
scopic inspection, showed surplus of $780,
600 marks. Street railways, horse and
elevated are monopolized by the great
Berlin Horse Car Co, which a control
till 1911. when the city may take the plant
at a valuation. The company the city
In shefieid, England, the corporation
constructed ten miles of double tramway
from 1872 to 1875. On their completion
they leased the same for a term of
way Company. The lease expired July,
1856. The corporation refused to renew
horses. buildings and plant of the com,
pany at a price agreed upon. Since the
corporation undertook the working of the
lines the receipts have increased to a
most satisfactory extent and, the corpora
ton, encouraged thereby, have at this
time before Parliament a bill to enable
about twenty additional miles of. tram
way to be constructed, and the whole
system to be operated by electricity. The
corporation owns their water plant, and
are now considering the proprfety of pur-
Electric Light and Power Company,
which they have the power to take under
the act of Parliament Incorporating the
company.
In Manchester, J. w. Jameson, secre-
tary to the Lord Mayor, says:-"In re-
gard to the municipalization of Man
chester,s franchises It seems that what
ever has been taken up by the Municipal
Council has sooner or later turned out a
complete success. The city has the
monopoly of holding public markets. the.
and all yield a good profit, and keep down
the rates. The tramways are let to a
who pay rent for their USE
From Birmingham, England, Hon.
over twenty-three miles Of tramways
haye been constructed and leased to four
companies at rentals equivalent to A per
cent. for first fourteen years and 5 per
cent. during the last seven years. The
companies are further required to con-
N[fbute to a sinking fund. The gas un-
dertaking from the commencement has
been magnificent success, profits to the
city eighteen years being e515, ooo; tax
to consumer. III pence per 1000 cubic. feet.
Switzerland owns electric, telephone N
telegraph; receives big revenue In local
districts; one cent Is charged for each
talk Sweden State has. bought un all
private telephones companies. with the ex-
ception Of q single one, and they are.
worked under a special government de-.
partment and have proved a financial
success.
Chicago reports through MI. q G Bar
that the n3ty owns three electric light
and and operaSas i,,a5z Zoo Candle power arc
lamp. The average cost of maintenance
per lamp per annum for the year 1896
was s96. 40.
I firmly believe in all municipalities
il for no other reason than the broad
one that it Is better 70 have something
which is a certainty. than to have to de-
pend upon a varying condition of affairs
which is ffable to occur at any time, as
rental rates change. / believe This, all
In smaller cities. Of course, overhead
construction can be used instead of uil-
der round as in the larger ones.
materially decreases the original cost. In,
cities the size Of New York and Chicago
underground construction A. necessary,