The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-04
A BOARD OF THREE.
How a Million Year Goes in Ire
land.
London Mail.

London Mail.
The Irish Board of Public Works consists
of three men, one of whom presides over
the other two. 1t INDUCES in no unexpected
flights of enterprise and never eXcites pub
lie enthusiasm. But in its own humdrum UNI
kind Of way it cOntrives to spend about
3350, 900 a year voted by Parliament, some
thousands more obtained from other
sources, and to lend to companies and 1ndi-
100000 annually (making altogether G1,OOO,-
Oc0, and also to collect from creditors and
pay over to the treasury about 900 per
annum, bringing the total sum which the
three commissioners deal with in the course
OF twelve months to about 900 sterling.
The three commissioners live in sort OF
public department retirement, never, or
hardly ever, troubling the country with ex-
positions of their work or explanations OF
their deficiencies on intentions; and when
any Irish member of Parliament desires to
know anything about such matters in the
House of Commons he asks Mr.. Balfour,
who tlereupon asks the commissioners.
But their duties are of an extraordinarily
varied character. They look after all gov
eminent buildings. public works, canals,
sea fisheries. parks gardens, the famous
Curragh of Kildare. lunatic asylums, an
cient monuments, the lending of imperial
tress and many other things. For example,
this board last year completed a new Ii
brary in Dublin for the judges and bar, re-
decorated the great hall of the -Four Courts
for the first time since 1896, refloored and
redecorated the throne room of Dublin
Castle, abolished the old wineries at the
of the Viceregal lodge, spent 9166,OO0 on
lunatic aSylumS, and only a beggarly few
thousands on improvements for the devel-
opment of the sea fisheries.
Some curious experiences were, however,
encountered in connection with the custom
house for Queenstown. Parliament voted
money for that building but the Board of
Works was unable to expend it under the
following peculiar circumstances. Early in
the year tenders were invited from the To-
cality. but no builder rendered. A second
request for tenders was equally unsuccess-
full. But at the third time of asking some
one came forward and "a satisfactory
contract" was arranged. A strike occurred
was a genuine and well-maintained six
months holiday, no work was done at
the Queenstown custom house. All that
the board could say in its report was to ex-
press the belief that the work would be
finished before winter
1t appears that the total of all the loans
advanced in Ireland between the year 1877
and March 81 of this year is G41 ,483,077, and
the small sum now regarded as irrecover-
able is ESP ,000.
The principal works from the point of
view of Ireland's welfare, executed under
the board are the light railways initiated
by Mr.. Arthur Balfour, when chief secre-
tary in 1889. Mr.. Balfour induced Parlia-
provided an annuity of some few thousands
additional. This conferred immense benefit
all through the western counties, but the
money is now virtually exhausted. Last
year another half million was rendered
available. and we notice that under the
scheme so provided the viceroy has APP
proved two light railways in Donegal, sub
sidized three steamer services Zone of which
runs 105 miles along the Shannon), and
subsidized two coaching services in Kerry
and Clare. BY these latter Kerry and Clare
are brought into direct communication, and
also Glare and Galway.