Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-29

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n ~ Edftor II ~ Negsster.
Hon. Carter Hnfrf0oa The popular
Mayor of Chicaeo. Ill. Joined with the
citizens ~ aid city 10 wearing minia-
ture nooses. or hAngman's knots. To-
prevent body similar to our Council
from extending a city railway franchise
and it succeeded in preventing same
body from extending said franchise. /
do hope the citizens of Wheeling will
not have to resort to such extreme
measures, but can't tell what will come
to pass in these stirring times with
prominent city officials on the side of
the franchise grabbers. Well, we will
see what we will see, and please publish
the following clipping for the benefit
of the citizens
A GREAT CITY ENTERPRISE.
Pittsburg Post.
The city Of Glasgow, Scotland, is one
of the most progressive in the world,
and particularly in the line of new and
novel enterprises. It believes the best
results are obtained through municipal
ownership of public utilities, and so
owns its street railways and it's
sources of light and water, and to some
extent its motor power supply.
The fourth annual report of the Glas-
gov tramway department for the year
ending June / shows the continued
progress of its famous enterprise in the
ownership of street railways. The
gross profits have increased to $502, 700.
To appreciate fully the profitable char
acter of the Glasgow municipal tram
ways it should be remembered that the
policy Of the department is not to ac-
cumulate profits in the aid of rates,
but to build up a fine service. both
cheap and efficient.
1t hands over $4,000 every year to
the common good fund as a payment
for way-leaves, which is also part of
the profit, and disposes of the balance
as it pleases. 1t pays rent for few
miles of tramway to Govan which it
does not own. 1t meets the interest
(67 5000 on the capital and sinking
fund charges (s55,575), and in addition
has this year set aside the large sum
of $4,000 for depreciation, which is
written off capital. There still remains
surplus of S197 900, which, added to
the payment Of the common fund,
would be sufficient to gay dividend
of s per cent. on the capital invested.
The sinking fund will wipe Off the cap
ital of the concern in thirty years.
Last year the municipal tramways
carried JOG, 344, 900 people, which is dou-
BILE the number carried the first year
of municipal working. They have a
system of halfpenny fares for certain
hours and diE'eances, and the report
shows over 35 per cent. of the tickets
issued are for halfpenny fares, and the
average price obtained is only about
3 farthings. The halfpenny fares are
the equivalent of an American cent, or
five trips for nickel. This is the cheap
est travel in England, possibly in Eu-
rope or America b shows the posi-
bilities of the street car service when
conducted on business principles and
looking solely to the benefit of the
people.
Glasgow is carrying out important
extensions OF its tramway service. 1t
has municipal workshops for the re-
pair and building of cars. The traction
poles erected on these city owned lines
ere ornamental, and are used as cleo
trio lamps, the city making it's own
electric light.
1t is humiliating confession, but
American cities are far and away be-
hind European cities in the utilization
of important franchises. With us they
are the perquisites of jobbing politi-
clans. In Glasgow, and generally in
English, Scottish and Irish towns and
cities, they are owned by the munich
palities, made an important source of
public revenue, and conducted with an
eye single to the comfort and economies
of the people. X.
10 per cent discount on furniture at
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