Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-19
GOOD CITY GOVERNMENT,

Under the auspices Of the clvics com,
mittee OF the New Century Club most
interesting and valuable lecture WAS
delivered last evening ny Prof. +. W.
Sppjrs OF ,ne Drexel Institute, On An
Direct Lessun in Good City Govern
ment" Mr.. Speirs' statements and
arguments we're rendered impressive ny
ststeorticon viaws of New York streets
before and during Col. Warnings sway
lie said:
AS the historian OF the future recon
structs the history Of the nineteenth
century he will be impressed with the
| fact that he IS dealing with period OF
| the worlds history remarkable for the
| DEVELOPMENT of democracy, iCr sweep
| inn industrial reorganization, and for
profouud social changes. But he 10
| likely to list among these changes one
| that we seldom note, the Development
] of great industrial cities. We sea this
at too short range to grasp It's true
Significance, or to realizs that great
CITY is the distinctive contribution OF
the nineteenth century to civilization
-Eompthing entirely new unuer the
sun, new in its vast aggregation OF
pupulation and in the reason for It's
being. The great buildings towering
20 stories high arc the outward anu
visible sign of mighty force piling
up population on small areas. Paris is
FIVE times as large as in ls0O, berlin
aeven times as large as in 1851. VI tha
population Of the United States one,
third is in cities. This is an abnormal
condition for healthful life, bnt 1T Is
mani fest destiny and we must face the
prunlem, which is 10 provide environ
, I =. ord life unnnf
conditions Of dense inhahitanuy.
This demands skill of the highest
order, along with efficiency and honesty
which wa have lacked. American citie'
are the worst governed in Christeniom
and of ineiiciency and corruption II
/ municipal affairs New York was thu
, most striking instance. Hon. AndreV
!, ID. White said Constantinople was thu
only foreign city 10 which he felt a
} bome or recognized around him th
| filth to which he was accustomed il
! Now York. This great city, tina centr
+: of most that ia best and all that !
Q worst in American life developed
| eystsm which has been characterized
n as thoroughly organized, completed
Z systematized, highly popularizad an
I self respecting corruption. hut
has also furnished oRs OF the mos
notable object Lessons in good cit
governments. 1t ia tho most crowue
9 city in the world. 1t averages LOU
pcuple to the acre.
= 10 families living in crowded tent
d mont houses clean streets are not
y aesthetic question, but one of life c
o death. Viowa were hers shown of
% number OF streets in which filth an
10 REFUGE OF oil sorts were piled high an
l. of trucks which to the number
10 Ga. 600 ubsrruuted the streets at nigh
!, Was the street cleaning department
10 failure? No, brilliant SUCCESS fro
it's own point of view; it was run as
lr adjunct to political organ; 1t pa
ID fat tribute: it full Thousands OF vote
10 and gave power and influence to hui
Ia dreds al noitical leaders. But poop
le tired OF it al last. They chose
I'd honest merchant, William L.. Stron
ID for mayor and told him they want'
to the city run ON business nrlncipls
r. they had hati enough of political rul
ut MAYOR Strong selected Col. Maring
etreet cummi ssioner, sanitary eng
near. and told him to clean New 70
in his own way. His problem was &
n CLEANING of 433 miles of streets, and &
es removal of the ashes and garbage a
Nc cumulated by 1000, 900 people.
~ The 1ammany street sweeper b
1e worked alone. an outcast of the lowe
~ kind; no worked without suitable tot
Oh anu did as little as he could for I
Is city and ms much an ne could for t
.oa organization, for good work did
1r count, he was only liable to remo'
~. for failure in helping the political y
!" Of Tammany. Col. Waring told I
men their retention depended on TIN
WORK, AMI gave them list OF offenc
tic the commission of five of which wol
ed cause their dismissal, among TN
IN being the visiting OF saloon duri
10. their working hours. The bust
as streets were to lie swept four time
az day, and every street once a day; !
OF men were organized in hrigRdes 4
nd city districted, metallic garbage ca
provided, the refuse when -aWept