The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-10

.bs,r creation. and incidentally I stated
that the street railways were also then
producing a profit. | propose now 10
chow that Mr., Porter. In the article you
ouote. does Huddersheld serious Injustice
mo doubt unintentionallY) and that m
stead OF its affording an argument
against the municipal working Of street
railways IL is In reality a strong object
lesson In favor of the adoption OF TINS
system where municipal aitlirs are con-
Quoted on business principles and munic-
ipal officers are not elected ana dsplSc'd
for nautical and personal reasons. Ex-
nerience has convinced mo that in this
country and under the system Of election
NJ municipal authorities and officers here
in force no city should be permitted 10
operate any public works of any kind.
Indeed II Is doubtful whether they should
even be Dermitted 70 own any, but be
strictly confined TO the duty OF preserving
order and street cleanliness. IL Is lament
able that this should he the cOn-ldsion
forced upon me. but with the miserable
results shown in this city and In almost
every other city in the country I'm the
MANAGEMENT, or rather mlsmanasement,
Of water works and gas works, J fail TO
see how any one can come 10 any other
conclusion. Under proper system or
municipal government, where those who
pay the taxes elect the council and the
Council elects the oilcers' not Tor one
or two wears. hut for 80 long as they sat
lsfactorily discharge their duties ike any
and every business man elects his own
employees. there can be, IN my mind. no
doubt but that all undertakings Of a
ouasi-monopolistic character such as
water works. gas works. electric Hight
works and street railroads ought 10 be
owned and operated by the municipal
authorities. In no other way can such
control be maintained over the streets
as shall ensure. they being kept always
In good condition and the charges for
services rendered be 50 controlled az to
give the best service at the least cost
Turning now 20 the charge made bY
Mr.. Porter in the article that Hudders.
field has failed to manage It's street rail-
way system successfully, let me give inc
facts. ] rely for the data upon tho aud
tied accounts Of the Huddersield corpo-
ration and the report Of the manager or
the road. ! premise ~ saying thdl
UuddersGeld was the first town in Eng
land 10 which Parliament granted power
TO own and operate a street railway. Tho
reasons which led 10 this grant were that
from the difficult natural formation Of the
city II had not been found possible 20 get
any private company 10 undertake the
making and working Of street railroads
In tho city. Huddersfeld lies in deep,
narrow valley with lofty hills rising on
every side. The business portion Of the
town hes along the bottom Of the valley,
the residential portions on the hill sides
The gradients OF these hills are so steep
that no one would undertake to work a
road over them The hills rise TO n height
of 500 or 600 feet above the level OF tho
valley in a distance of two or three miles
In 1850 the corporation applied 20 Parlia
ment for leave TO construct q system
| Of street railroads and TO lease the same
| when constructed 10 company 20 oper
! ate. Parliament granted the application
when the roads were completed the cor
| poration could not secure a tenant fo
! them on any terms yielding any profit Il
| the town. The corporation then applied
! for power to operate the roads them
selves. and Parliament, for the first tim
in It's history. granted such an applica
| lion. II was decided 10 adopt steam az
the motive power the electric WORKING
| Of railroads being then unknown. an'
on operation. exclusive Of interest on tn
| capitaI Invested Of S5l2S5 for the year ii
| addition to the $500 paid for taxes AM