The Monte Vista journal., 1897-09-18
MUNICIPAL BUSINESS.
HOW zNoL,snc,r,Es MANAGE IT
1ar.a.saaa sAiai.s Ez.np,s Il the
Wise uss Il TsaAs - 1sAses Cost eS
PuhlSs Utl1Do6ee.

wiuiam 4. Curtis writes as follows
10 the Chicago Record about the man
aeement Of municipal Affairs In Eng
land: ~
There are some curious features of
municipal government In England
which may be copied with great advan-
tage By the cities Of the United States.
TITS customary to issue bonds to meet
tho expenses Of all important public
works. A rule these bonds run
TOR twenty-one years aud the interest
and sinking fund charges are SO ar
ranged. either In the form of taxes or
ices Tor the enjoyment of the privi-
ieges and conveniences furnished by
the works, that they will pay for them
selves when the bonds have matured.
For example, the city Of Birmingham
built its gas works on this plan and
when the twenty one years expired the
establishment was owned by the city
free Of debt. and became a source OF
revenue which may be devoted to other
purposes and caused a reduction In the
general taxation. The same plan has
been adopted for water works, street
railways, bridges and various other
public enterprises.
The most interesting and conspicuous
Of these enterprises is Corporation
street" In Birmingham, which IL q
monument to the energy and overnight
OF Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain. who served
several terms as mayor Of that city.
and u now minister for the colonies In
the imperial Cabinet. His wife is
daughter Of Mr.. William EndIcott of
Newburyport. Mass. who was secre-
tary Of war during the first administra-
tion Of Mr.. Cleveland.
In 1915 the center OF the city Of Bir-
mingham. including the railway sta
lions, the city hall, the chamber Of
was surrounded by loathsome slums-
about ninety acres Of tenement houses
separated by narrow streets and still
narrower alleys, which resembled the
Five Points Of New York and the lower
Pacific avenue district Of Chicago. In
this area was housed population OF
about 10000 Of the most vicious class
In England. 1t was a hotbel OF vice, a
nursery Of criminals and constant
menace to the health rs well us the
morals Of the community.
MI. Chamberlain proposed that the
district be purchased by the municipal
government cleaned out and replaced
BY Wide streets and better buildings.
After much difficulty and delay his pur-
pose was accomplished, the property
was condemned by the courts and pur.
chased by the city. Every building was
torn away. and the rubbish. so far as
possible, was burned. New and wide
streets were laid out and the vacant
land was leased at auction to the high
est bidder for terms of fifty years upon
the condition that buildings Of q Ger.
tain class should be erected upon II.
1t II now the handsomest and most
popular business section In Birming-
ham. 1t II occupied by the finest build
ings In the city. and has the most popu-
lar shops and offices. The cross streets
correspond.
The entire cost was $S.OOOOOO. The
city borrowed the money and Issued
ifty.year bonds. The annual charge for
interest. sinking fund and other ex-
penses Of about x4OOOOO. which 10 met
by receipts from the rental OF the leas-
ed ground. Thus the enterprise paid for
itself. The property 10 Increasing in
value. AZ the end Of nfty years, when
the leases expire. the city Of Rirmln9-
ham WIN be the richest municipal cor
posatSon In the world. for II will be the
owner Of ninety acres Of the most valu.
a6le FeA1 estate under its Jurisdiction.
covered With nne bulldings, which are
estimated to yield an annual rental
now equal 10 the total original cost Of
tho eutesprise.
Al rule the municipalities Of Great
Britain own gas works and electric
lighting establishments. which have
besa acquired in 4 similar manner. In
some cases they arc operated At loss,
bot In majority Of Instances they are
Q source Of revenue. The prevailing
rule u to dx the rates for private con.
sumefs At an amount that will not only
pay the cost OF manufacture and main
tenance. but also the expense Of light.
Ing the city buildings and the streets.