The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-21
Municipal Ownership.

The mayor of Atlanta has appointed
a committee to consider the benefits
which would be derived by the city
from the ownership of an electric light
plant, and report will be made at an
early day. The readers of The Age
Herald from time to time have seen
summarized accounts of the experience
of Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool
in the mater of the municipal owner
ship of electric lights, street railways.
etc, and it must be admitted that the
published statistics made very good
showing in favor of the experiment.
The question of municipal government
has been a subject of great interest in
England for many years. In truth. 1t
may be said that in England the sci
ence of municipal government is rap
idly reaching perfection. 1t is doubt
full If there is a nation upon the globe
where its cities are so badly governed
as are the cities of the United States.
No two of them are governed alike, and
all are governed badly.
There are some cities in the country
which have long operated their own
water works and their own electric light
and gas works. In these cities the cost
to consumers is a great deal less than
in other cities where these plants are
owned by corporations. The United
States is old enough to b. gin the much
needed reform in municipal affairs 1t
is the municipal government In which
the people are most interested Every
act and every movement comes almost
in direct contact with some part of the
workings of the municipal government.
The administration of municipal affairs
in the United States is a disgrace to
modern civilization.
Where 1T has been tried, municipal
ownership of franchises has proven en-
inently successful, most satisfactory to
the people, and the cost of operation
materially lessened. The service has
been increased, while the cost has been
diminished.
The city of Indiana polls, which, by the
way, is one of the best governed mu-
inequalities in fine country, has the best
managed water supply in the United
States. The same can be said of its
lighting facilities. The cost to the CON-
sumner of water and light, either cleo
tricfty or gas, is cheaper In that city
than in any other city in this country.
Indianapolis is now agfta ting the ques-
ton of becoming the purchaser of the
street railways. 1t was not many m3r.hs
since, that a city ordinance was passed
reducing the fares on the street rail-
wav from five to three cents. With
this, reduction the company has been
able to make money, yet 1t has not de-
creased the efficiency of its service. In
addition to these things, Indianapolis is
also one of the clearest cities i'm this
country. For The past fifteen years it
has made most rapid strides in the per-
lection of its city government, until to-
day 1t ranks as the very best.
Detroit, another well governed onunic-
ipafity, possesses lis own water supply
and its own lighting facilities. In THAT
city also the question of municipal rail-
way ownership is being briskly agitated
When Mr.. Pingree. now governor Of
Michigan, was mayor of Detroit, he was
instrumental in reducing the street car
fares from five to three cents, and like
Indianapolis, the roads are giving the
same service with reduced revenue, and
yeie are making money.