The San Francisco call., 1897-10-05
Ex-Mayor Clayton of Bir-
mingham, England, Is
in the City.
The Scene in Golden Gate Park
Afforded Him Special
Delight.
Some Impressions of Municipal Gov
ernment-The Weak Place in
San Francisco.

Francis G.. Clayton of England, who has
been twice Mayor OF Birmin CHAM and is
now an Alderman OF that city, is in San
Francisco, guest al the Palace Hotel. II
is not his first visit 10 the coast. however,
as he made a journey around the world
few years ago. On the present journey he
came across the continent from Boston
on the northern route. When he started
from Birmingham 5e had IN view a sum-
mer trip TO Alaska to view the scenery of
that he was little late in the season for
pleasant outing to the north and he
also encoun cred the rush for the Klon-
dixie. Therefore be decided to deter the
Alaskan journey and turn his steps south
ward. He Will journey from San Fran
cisco through Los Angeles to the City of
Mexico. and if the conditions be favor
abIe move around to the coast of Florida
and thence proceed to England via New
York. The yellow fever plague may
cause a change in his programme.
The feature of San Francisco which
seems most agreeable to Mr.. Clayton is
Golden Gate Park. A view of this pleas
ure ground afforded him great delight.
Mayor Phelan kindly escorted him 10
many of the interesting places OF the city.
To-day the Presidio will be seen.
Mr.. Clayton was asked what ne re-
garded, from general observation, as tie
weakest point in the municipal govern
ment of San Francisco. He said that be
had not studied the subject but from
general observation would say that the
election of the Mayor instead of selection
by appointment was mistake. Under
the elective system the municipality did
not get the benefits which are conferred
by the appointment OF q man who has
been for many years in the municipal
service.
In Birmingham, a city of SOC, 600 in
habltants. the city is governed by Town
Council and Board OF Aldermen. The
council consists of representatives., three
baing elected from each of the eighteen
wards. These representatives are elected
for term OF three years and they appoint
the Aldermen. The Aldermen serve for
six years. There.is one Aldermen on the
board now who has served forIy-six years.
Thirty-six years ago ne was Mayor. No
salary is paid for municipal service of this
character
Birring gham owns outright gas and cleo
trio works and also owns the water works.
A profit IS made IN the lighting of the
city. From figures which Mr.. Clayton
gave it seems that water for domestic uses
costs about as much in Birmingha as In
this city. The tramwavs of Birmingham
are controlled In their charseS by the city,
and the cost OF riding is much cheaper
there than here In the central part of
the city the fare is cent mile.
The leading question now agitating Bir-
mingham relates to electric-cars for city
travel. The overhead application or troll
ley system is not desirable. It has been
decided that the power in the center OF
the city shall be conveyed through under
ground conduirs. The propelling of cars
by the storage principle has not proved
economical. even on level ground. The
waste of power is great.
Mr.. Clayton is an alert and progressive
Traveller. He has been in the United
States long enough to ask as many oues-
tions as Yankee propounds. In one in
stance he got inside information. Coming
across the continent he was told by fell
low traveller that Novem ber was the best
month of the year 10 visit the City OF
Mexico. Mr. Clayton asked: why, then.
do the Raymond excursion people say in
their book that the best time is in Febru-
airy and March?' The traveller replied:
That's because February anu March are
so bad in Boston that people cannot live
there"