The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
MUNICIPAL W NERSHIp.
ENGLAND NO FURTHER ADVANCED
IN THIS RESPECT THAN AMERICA.

NWur0 DN v
There ia more or less Misrepresentation in re.
lation to the extent to which England has mt
nicipolized such undertakings as water, gas,
electric lighting, and street railways. As a
matter OF fact, II al absolutely accurate COM
pnrison could DO made between the United
Kingdom and tho United states, 1t is doubtful
which of the two countries would lead in this
rcspect, | refer. OF course, to public service.
with proft.carning possibilities. For example.
should we consider the four important branches
of service, the supply of water, gas, electric
light, and street railways, together, it would
DO safe to soy that honors in favor OF the mum.
equalization OF these undertakings would be
about equally divided in the two countries. 1t
is certain that in spite of oil we hear of the nd
vance English cities arc making in taking over
various enterprises, tho actual facts do not in
dictate that English municipalities have un.
hcsitatingly adopted the theory Of absolute
municipal control in such enterprises.
To those who have had no practical experience
In such vast undertakings, and who cannot pos
sibly realize the obstacles in the way Of turn
ing over such stupendous enterprises as these,
requiring, as they do, 30 much expert knowl-
edge, to officials in no way specially trained,
tho idea is no doubt q fascinating ono. Hence
We lnd young college professors taking it up
with avidity, and, as a result, the literature
on INC SUBJECT during the lusJ ucCIue nus III
creased far more rapidly than tho experiments
themselves. Indeed. n very few instances OF
municipal ownership have been made to do
duty, for 50 many books, essays. lectures, and
! articles that the practical man Of affairs is be.
ginning to inquire for additional particulars.
Exaggerated and enthusiastically written ac-
counts OF the municipal millennium of Glasgow
and Birmingham no longer arrest his attcn.
ton. while the sudden change of public senti-
mcnt in 1894 in favor of n halt in the startling
experiments inauRuratcd by the London County
Council has greatly increased the doubts Of
those who are not sure that, oven IL tho sue
cess in this direction had been as great as init.
mated in England, similar experiments might
not he fraught with great danger this side the
Atlantic.
1t is with those thoughts in mind. and not
from any desire to cool the ardor of those i'm.
bued with the municipal spirit, which, within
reasonable bounds, is commendable, that
these few facts have been gathered together.
II they do not serve to change tho views Of
those who appear to be hopclcssly smitten with
the idea that municipalities must rush head.
l%ong:into all sorts OF enterprises. many Of which
can be far better undertaken by private cor.
porations, always, however. with proper safe
guards to protect the public, they may, at least,
aid in a better understanding Of the question.
II it should appear that with officials less sub.
ject TO political influences than the officials Of
American cities, England has made no greater
Roadway on the whole In the manipulation
OF such undertakings as water, gas, electric
lighting. and street railways, then it may DO
worth while for us to study more carefully
that middle and safer ground which may DO
found in good working condition on the Con.
tincnt, and which has been able to obtain the
best expert service Of private enterprises,
with such municipal control as absolutely
protects the public interest; in other words,
the highest efficacy Of service. adequate COM
pensatlon for rights and franchises conferred,
reasonable public control, without making tho
municipality an enormous labor employing
bureau, with its innumcrable complications
and stupcndous dangers.
In n recent visit to England l was surprised
to learn that the water supply is under private
control in half the municipal boroughs. The
tendency, on tho other hand. in the United
States has been for some timo toward mum.
cipal ownership Of water works, and, as a re.
suit, / find moro than half OF tho water works
in the United States owned and operated by
the municipalities. In England VIC find the
water supply of London itself, involving tho
health Of 5000, 900 human beings. in the
hands of private companies. The same is true
OF tho great southwestern city of Bristol. OF
the great centre OF north of England activity
Newca stlc-on-Tyne. and OF the ancient capita
or East Anglia, the city OF Norwich. Gates
head, Portsmouth. and West Ham are among
the cities similarly situated. In Scotland WI
find. on the other hand. the water supply /!
largely in the hands of the municipalities
Belfast has "A separate elective commission Il
manage its water works. but the Mayor ant
Harbor Commissioners arc members OF Thu
board.
The data arc not available for a comparison o
the ratpB of the priyate COmDanipS with thi
water systems owned by the municipalities
a glance over The rates charged by the British
rate is about one shilling in the pound. Thi
means that for every pound rent yGoii have to pa
be S25 per year, which I think would be re
States. An examination of the facts disclose
that the United States has not made create
Advance in the mmnic!pa! ownership Of wa,c
OF American water works, whether owned b.
private corporations or by the cities, with sim
lar enterprises IN England. would DO fayorabl
both in point OF quality and quantity OF waite
and in cost TO the consumer. American cite
are, as a rule: better supplied with water an
The Hon. John De Witt Warner. in a Wild
i Sn,h ny;hisG .1 aEi!6lS IN ,h f@y rnpG Of m ~ IN
A9nirs for September on the question Of 'Ligh
, supply" in the following words:
Not less significant has be- the experience in cit
light supply, which anita lately was lIkewlse In III
4 main furnished ny private parties; but which, cap
lhlly IL ~ uVFtlbDHItut ~ llfht, W
been 80 frequently and with such generally satIsfa
y tory results assumed by municipalities. that tho pr'
I prioty OF the operation by municipalities OF III
irnECHise vas long sine put beyond question. first b
t a line Of decisions and later by the statute law OF tn
e land.
: This reads well. but what are the factsi !
1 support of this sweeping paragraph Mr., u
: Wit Warner quotes In u foot-nOto anotht
q enthusiastic writer on the subject, Edward y
!. Grout, VIC says:
Gas plants are operated nv ono hundred and sixt
eight NG>J cities OF England and Scotland. includiI
u almost every city or consequence. except London.
a Now this Ia a formidable statement, and til
i parenthetical repetition of the number OF citi,
I in numerals indicates that Mr.. Grout was d
termined TO impress the reader with the nun
her II cities In the United Kingdom owning 81
" plants, though he leaves MS in unutlerab
darkness as Ia the number OF cities still SUI
piled by private enterprise. IL Is not tho ii
%tention, TO imp4Gn tho motives OF either OF thc'
honorable Rontlemcn, but in discussing matter
OF such vast public moment ii would seem TIN
thc people are entitled 10 something more tina
II partial statement of facts. There are In Il
United Kingdom not only 1853 municipal u
- works, but 2o3 In 1896, while the numb,
owned by private companies was 400. Sure
n the following table, showing the number OF q
companies and he aggregate capital for Il
II United Kingdom, tells n different story TO tn
- ,rIs,l L.. NFl, No. s.,oaI, ~ ,,.,,