Evening star., 1901-09-14
GOVERNMENT OF CHICAGO.
Street and Bridges Maintained by
Private Enterprise.

Street and Bridges Maintained by
Private Enterprise.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
The stranger arriving at lake-front sta
tion in Chicago is driven rapidly and
smoothly over the even pavements OF bou-
levarded streets. He has heard that chi
cago's streets have been going to ruin. He
Is, therefore, surprised. On making inquiry
at his hotel he learns that the boulevards
over which he has just been riding are un-
der the jurisdiction Of a park board that
has no connection with the city govern
ment
He looks out from the window of his hotel
upon beautiful sward stretching along
the lake front, and he is reminded OF hav-
ing heard and read that under gang rule
in Chicago all public improvements were
suffering from neglect. Here, however. is
a fine park, protected on the east by a
costly wall and adorned with elegant and
substantial viadacts. He is again sur
prised. In answer to questions the bellboy
informs him that the sward was provided
by a park commission unconnected with
the city government, that the viaducts were
paid for from the proceeds of a park tax,
and that the wall was erected by q railway
company. -.
He orders carriage and Is driven over a
tial bridge. and In perfect state Of repair.
He had heard that the bridges Of Chicago
were falling into decay or into the river,
and he Is again surprised. On making in
Qu1r1es OF his ceAchn1an he learns that this
particular structure was erected and is
maintained by street railway company.
He is whirledF along the north shore Of
Lake Michigan. and discovers thousand
sbe yded with a' ARE g aeh hose wa0h He Pra has
heard that the gang government of this
city neglects to furnish bathing places on
the water front. He is again surprised.
The coachmanl tells him that this beach
and all its -balhing accommodations are
provided by private citizens.
he drives through Lincoln Park and
learns that the city government has no
great. pleasure grounds Of Chicago. He Is
driven over miles OF outlying bouIevards
and learns that these are aff paved MAIN
tanned and controlfAd by park commission
ers. He admires the blueness and clear
ness Of the water in the river, which dilutes
three-fourths Of the city's sewage, and Is
told that the drainage canal into which
the river enpties and to which its splendid
sanitary condition Is due, was constructed
and Is maintained by a municipality inde-
pendent of the city government
He rides over many miles of residence
and business streets and learns that the
streets and alleys there are kept In good
order by means Of scavenger service paid
for by private subscription and supervised
by volunteer superintendents He sees in
the outer wards scores of men moving
down weeds from the sides Of streets and
walks. and Is told that these are not city
labor~rs but property owners and taxpay-
ers. who are helping out what they Joking
ly allude to as a business administration
Sorely perplexed by all that he has seen
anu heard. the stranger returns to his hotel
and retires to his bed. where he spends
sleepless night In a vain effort to discover
good reason for the existence of Chica-
gos city government. since so many of its
functions are performed well by other agen
cies, while the government itself does moth
ing but spend money.