The Eddy current., 1898-10-29

huuNun 70 Aut New INnfnuHhtaro ~
a Cost 81 ea,soo.o00
Tho city OF London is about % un-
dcriako another OF those gigantic op-
oratloua which have marked i,s de-
yolopmCnt during the greater part OF
the present century. IN the opening of
new street for the convenience Of
commerce extending from Hoiborn 10
the Strand. Il will be cut through a
district now iniorsoctod by crooked and
narrow ihoroughfaros and inhabited b.
n population OF about 5000 artisans
Tho Improvement requires the eylc-
tlnn of these people from their homes.
hnd the London council has agreed 10
rohousc them within q mile OF their
present quarters. so o. not to disturb
their vocatlons II "a estimated that Il
viii cost the municipality Si.b000O0 to
DO this, being an average Of $1,000 for
each family. Tho rent TO be derived
from these artisans when quartered
IN their new homes will represent only
a small share OF tho interest on tho
capital Invested, bat that Is the penalty
which the municipality has been Will
ing to assume In making the changes
involved IN the main improvement.
which VIII cost fa.5O0OOO Incident
ally the measure has introduced a GU
rious problem into municipal govern
ment for IN rohouslng the cyicted
working people employed on the line
OF the new thoroughfaro u has virtual
ly established the principle that the
municipality shall reserve a part OF tho
constantly expanding and hlgh-priced
areas within Il, which are devoted 20
commerce and wRrchouslng, for the
housing OF the laborlng people em-
ployed In them. and that the munici-
phlity must bear the difference be-
tween what the working people can
reasonably be expected To pay for such
accommodation and the actual inter-
est due on the basis OF surrounding
land values. The experiment has boen
made there on small scale for years
past, with some degree Of success The
great cities OF the world have grown
iuring the present century as they
never grew before Modern travelling
facilities. the development OF manu-
featuring industries and the growth Of
s0mmerce have steadily drawn into
them the population OF tho rural dis
trietH As consequence the crowding
has been so great and rapid within
them that many such Improvements as
tho one which London now contom-
plates making to relieve a gorge, which
were little dreamed OF In the earlier
part OF the century, have. IN the latter
half OF H. become imperative ncccssi-
Ties. Within the past ifty years the
/ ground plans OF Paris and London
have been materially altered through
tho opening OF new thoroughfares
through congested districts In the in
terest OF convenience, adornment and
commerce. During this brief period
all the bouleyards which make Paris
the city beautiful and tho magnificent
sewer system which makes Il the best
drained city In the world have beei
constructed. SO. also. the Thames eu,.
bankwent and the great sanitary pros.
lem involved In the relief OF the
Thames Of the clty's sewage, which II
carried with a.; the opening up OF great
thoroughfares through congested dis.
trlets. the construction OF new bridges
20 accommodate tine eyer-increaslng
transriyor trafic. and tho construction
Of aubterranean system OF metropcl-
itan railroads have largely changed the
face OF the British metropolis