The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-30
GOVERNOR PINGREE.
On the "Results'' Of Ten Years Munich
pal Progress--He Mas The Model
Mayor.
lobe MOORE,
Democrat.


Mayor,
New YORK, Nov IL Governor Pin.
gree, of Michigan, delivered an address
tonight before the Nineteenth Century
Club, at Sherry's. His subject was
The Results of Ten Years Municipal
Progress"
There was a very large attendance at
meeting, Sherry's ballroom being filled
with men and women in evening dress.
President Taylor introduced the
speaker of the evening at $50 o'clock,
and Gov ernor Pingree at once began
to deliver his address, reading from
manuscript.
Governor Pingree said in part:
II am q little ashamed to say that
ten years ago / knew little about NUM-
cipal affairs. / was like thousands Of
others of plain business men who i'm
agine that they are good citizens, but
who not only allow but expect those
upon whom they look down upon with
contempt, to furnish them with good
government. They grumble at the
results of caucuses, which they do not
attend. and complain of the m'sman
agement of those whom they take no
part in selecting. / have come to be
lieve il would be q wise law that would
prohibit men from voting who have
voluntarily abstained from taking part
in nominations"
The governor reviewed his connec-
ton with municipal 6falrs as mayor
during the past seven years. Detroit.
he asserted, had long been safely Dem
Ocratie; its streets were mostly un-
paved, but had been given way to
street car and gas companies, etc.
Oae could not drive out of the city on
one street without paying tolls. The
city was less than half lighted, but at
exhor bIEsntly high prices, large tracts
the heart OF the city were paying
farm taxes; the street cars were wretch
ed, uncomfortable and dra wn by horses;
the original street railway charter
granted for thirty years and authoriz
ing 5 cent fares without transfers,
we're renewed for thirty years after it
it had run but thirteen; the municipal
boards were conducted Independently
of each other, and of the people; the
pavements were of the worst cnarsc
acter; most of the park grounds had
been given away. and all electric wires
were stretched on poles.
II take some PRIDE" continued the
governor, I" in saying that at the end
Of nearly eight years as mayor, Detroit
Is conceded to be one of the most beau
Gitul cities in the Uaited State. It has
its own electric lighting plant and ia
magnif1cently illuminated al less than
half the old rates; gas has been re
duced at least M third in price; there
are no toll gates left within the city
the boards are compelled to do their
legal business through TIM corporation
counsel and their financial business
through the city treasurer; conducts
have been provined for wires; the old
paving rings have been broken up; the
horse a have disappeared and a
splendid electric system established;
the old companies have been forced to
sell tickets at 6 for Is cents, with trans.
ters; a new company, carrying forty
per cent of the passengers, is selling
selling eight tickets for a quarter, with
transfers; all the companies have been
compelled to sell workingmen tickets
during certain hours at 8 cents; an op
position telephone company mas been
established by US and rates have been
reduced more than rs per cent; more
than 225 miles of modern pavement
have been laid; the parks have all been
improved. I found that over % per
cent. of the children could not attend
school on account of nc buildings to &C
commodate them. We built thirty.
three school houses. With all this the
rate of taxation has not materially in
creased.
This period has been to me more
like a of war than of I was