The herald., 1897-05-24
LOS ANGELES COUNTY

annum above all expenses, or sS5OOO Of our
money. The experience of Glasgow ought
to be an eye-opener to Pasadena.
In regard to the experience Of the differ
ent cities. here are a few of the state
ments made by those qualified to Judge:
Manchester. England. by j. w. Jamison,
secretary to the lord mayor: IN regard
| to the municipalization of Manchesters
franchises, it seems that whatever has
| been taken up by the municipal council has
| sooner or later turned out complete sue
! cess
| Birmingham. England, by the Hon.
James Smith, lord mayor: Tho gas un-
dertaking has. from the commencement,
been a magnificent success
Toronto Canada. by the Hon. Robert j.
| Fleming, mayor: THE water works system
| os this city was formerly owned by
private company, but when their charter
| expired the city purchased their rights
and has controlled the franchise for the
past twenty years, and under no circum-
stances would the city now think Of going
| back TO the old system. The advantages
| fl ON municipal control have proved to be
undeniably great The city operated the
street railway for four months with most
| satisfactory results but we were pledged
| to sell. Had we the opportunity to now
operate the road l do not think vc could
| be induced TO give it to company"
| Chicopee, Mass, by the Hon. George D.
Eldredge, mayor: so far as municipal
! electric street lighting is concerned. for the
city of Chicopee it is a most decided sue
cess. When the city was under contract
with the Electric Lighting company the
price paid per arc light, moonlight schedule
until / a. m, was s15 per light The cost
to the city under municipal control per
arc light. moonlight schedule until one-hals
hour before sunrise, is s64 per light. On
| incandescent lights for commercial pur
poses the city has made a small profit,
with a reduction to the private consumer
| of so cents per 1000 feet. The water supply
was formerly under the control of three
private corporations, all of which are now
owned by the city and the unquestoned
results are better water. a much more
general distribution of water mains, better
service and at a less cost to the consumer.
and a source of large revenue to the city,"
Bellefontaine. O.. by the Hon. A. L.
Wright. mayor: "Belefontaine is a city
of 1900 inhabitants. The gas plant electric
| lisht plant and water works plant are
owned and controlled by the city and under
the management of a board of trustees
elected to serve for three years.
We consider our municipal ownership a
success in every particular and that
have bonanza in our gas. light and water.
The electric light and water, like the gas.
are furnished to the people at a nominal
! price
| Richmond, Va. by W. p. Knowles. sup
orintendent of City Gas works: During
the period of thirty years. beginning 1851
and ending 1896. the gas works of the city
paid into the city treasury the sum of
$l,14, ,S55.29 over and above the amount
drawn out for the cost of running the
works and producing the gas. Actual re-
suits: The city owns its own gas works,
with entire outfit, without cost and has
re ceiVeQ q bonus of Si93. $50 "a
! Peabody, Mass. by Chairman Andrew NJ.
Jacobs of the selectmen: peabody itself
! is supremely satisfied with its present
method of lighting the public streets and
| buildings and its stores and houses by
electricity"
Fairfield. Ia, by the Hon. A. w.
jacques, mayor: "Since 1884 the city has
operated its own electric light plant in
connection with the water works. to the
entire satisfaction of all our people"
Bloomington. H.. by II. w. Schmidt,
superintendent of water and light depart
mcnt This city owns its own electric
light plant and it is giving the best Of
satisfaction"
Detroit. Mich, by the Hon. II. l.. Pin
gree, mayor: II am 10th to surrender my
, belief in municipal control and accept the
doctrine of municipal ownership. but / am
free to confess that I am being gradually
| forced into the position of an advocate of
| ownership. After some seven years of
struggle against extortionate rates AMI
the exploitation of watered stock. / must
admit that my hold on municipal control
is feeble. The methods of franchise hold
ers are forcing the expediont of municipal
ownership, and yet they expend large sums
of money to defend Themselves against
municipal ownership. Unless there is
great change in the present general out
! look, indeed as l am constrained by con-
ditions to say, unless the leopard change
his spots, we will be obliged to adopt
municipal ownership not only as a de
| fcnse against these franchise holders, but
also as against the trusts"
That this applies to Pasadena at the
| present time is patent to everybody except
the corporations and their allies and if
| Pasadena is to hold her place as live
progressive city. she will Immediately take
steps to secure municipal ownership of
first the electric lighting plant since that
is where the chief danger lies at present.
some of the other public conveniences. No
one will question that the matter of taxes
and the expenses for light, gas. water.
rGilway fares, etc. have much to do with
the welfare of a city. Then, why should
Pasadena so to sleep while some Of the
most valuable privileges, upon the man.
agement of which the citys future de
ponds. are being parcelled out at the bid
ding of a corporation which has never kept
faith with the city in any of the numerous
promises it has made?