Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-11-10

II is sometimes objected to munich
pal ownership that 1t is foreign idea;
and had to be taught us by such cities
us Glasgow and Bradford.
To show that this is not so we repro
duce I'm extract from the inaugural I'D
dress of Joseph d. Sergeant, who was
mayor in New Haven in 1891:
~ believe that all works of public
nature, carried on mainly within the
bounds of municipality, and for the
purpose of supplying the inhabitants
with certain daily requirements Of civ
ilized city life, and requiring spec ial
rights of eminent domain to distribute
their products, should be owned and
operated by the people, and in the in
terest of the people
"1'he distribution Of light by gas
through pipes, or by electricity on
wires, for private use is almost posi-
tive necessity IN business and social
life, and its wide distribution and plen-
by of 1t, in the streets Is not only n
public necessity to travel, but Il great
protection against immortality and
crime. So necessary are the products
and services of all these works TO the
people, that the owners Of them enjoy
n practical monopoly beyond, and Sc
cure against any competition. A new
corporation invariably joins with the
old, and the thum6-screws OF tho
doubled monopoly are turned up tight
err,
"The advantages Of ownership Of
such works by the people, and of their
operation by the people through their
municipal agents, would be many, and
they are obvious, Among them are
the following: The profits would go
TO the people themselves, the only GUS
toners OF the works, to be used in the
payment Of the Indebtedness incurred
in procuring the works, or in reducing
the price of the product
"The service would be better and the
proouct would be better II owned by,
and subject to the constant inspection
and criticisms Of an intelligent aud OK.
actin, ,tpeople. Ineiilcacious, sluggish
and intiquated methods Of production
or of service would not DO tolerated
under ownership by the people OF New
Haven; the use of all streets for pur-
poses Of travel whether on foot, by
carriage or by street cars; tho placing
and maintaining on streets and on pub.
lie or private buildings and yards the
wires and poles of the works that dis
tribute electricity; the excations in the
streets for, and the laying Of water,
gas, steam and sewer pipes, aud the
selection and laying of street car rails
would be under the control and super.
vision of officials responsible to the
people.
"Instead Of rstarding tho normal
growth and extension OF the city by
the tardy, tagging and unwilling ex-
tension Of street rnil-car tracks, and
the too infrequent use of what are al
ready laid, aud by the refusal to ex-
tend underground supply mains inc
localities not Immediately productive
Of large profit, as is now the case, il
all these public works were owned by
the people and operated through theil
chosen or appointed agents, extensions
would be made equal to, or in proper
advance Of, the immediate and urgent
requirements of growth, thus leading
instead Of retarding the progress Of
buildings and population.
"Under city ownership Of all the
otreet railroads, it would be extended
and connected aa tia public interests