Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-17
A MODEL CITY,
Wonderful Changes Effected in Glas-
cow in the Past Eighty Years.

CIV III e"S art LlShIy Tears.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
Apropos of the recent agitation for NUM-
cipal ownership few facts concerning the
much-talked-of Glasgow will doubtless be
of interest.
Eighty years ago Glasgow was a filthy
manufacturing city. situated on q muddy
ditch. Today it stands second in point of
population and commerce in the British en-
pire, and in matters of sanitation and mu-
nlcipal government a century in advance
of its nearest rival. Till 1915 the CORPORA
ton levied no taxes. The whole of its rev.
enue was derived from duties made on all
articles of food brought into the city.
Every year this revenue was In excess of
the expenditure, and the surplus was put
aside, and in 1S45 this accumulated money
was invested in the purchase of ground
right in the heart of the city, now known
as the common good" That purchase was
the foundation of Glasgow as it stands
today. At first the income from the conn
mon good was only little over $75, 900.
1t now brings in over $4,000 yearly.
Glasgow is owned by its population. The
people own the ground, the street railways.
the gas plants, the waterworks, the parks
and gardens and concert halls. And, al
though every one of these Institutions Is
worked more cheaply than in any other
town. each one Is made to bring in great
er yearly profit to the community, the total
profit per annum on municipal undertakings
being 1914. 800. The corporation of Glas-
Cow has spent over $150.OOO,0OO on making
Its mud ditch into river up which the
greatest ships afloat can sail and in raising
the town to its present position. And Yet
it's public debt is. taking into consideration
it's size, by far the smallest of any city in
the world. The key to its prosperity Is that
every common improvement has been done
by the corporation.
Instead of the city being supplied with
those necessities of life. water and gas, by
private companies, the people, through their
own corporation, supply themselves at the
nominal rates Of in the first case, II cents,
and in the second, 81, as against II and "a
when formerly supplied by companies. And
1t may be added that not only Is the charge
for water the very lowest of any town. but
| the water itself is acknowledged by experts
to be the very purest supplied to any city
or village. Yet Glasgow reaps from the
water supply alone an annual profit of
$4,000. AT the same time Glasgow
purchased the common good property the
markets We're also bought. And although
the lightest tolls are levied, so that the
sellers able to dispose of their goods TO
the inhabitants at less price than in any
other town. the city gamers in yearly
revenue of s16.500. And s147,5OO Is also
gained from the gas supply.
Working on the good results of their for
mer enterprise in these directions. they
have now taken over the electrical light
ing of the city at yearly profit of $1,000
With this money the corporation has looked
to procuring public recreation parks with
the result that in the matter of lungs"
Glasgow stands first in the world 1t has
some 700 acres allotted to this purpose.
which works out at one acre of public grass
covered ground for every 500 Of the popu-
lation During the spring and summer
there Is no collection. They are paid by
the corporation. which puts aside IS, 500 for
| this purpose
! In one matter Glasgow stands alone. All