The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-10-24

inequalities by Hon. j. A. Johnson,
Mayor Of Fargo, North Dakota, and
President Of the National League:
osKALoosA, Iowa, october 9-1o, 'o1,
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
League OF Iowa Municipalities I feel very
much houored at being invited to come from
one OF the newer states and from one of
the smallest cities in the Northwest, 10 ad-
dress this august assembly and Tueh more
90 from the fact that some OF the gentle
men who invited me to appear before you,
know that am not an orator, In any sense
Of the word
The subject which ! have chosen Is one
which is now agitatIng the municipal
world, not only in the United States and
Canada, but Europe as we'll Tue subject
Of Municipal Ownership of Public Utili-
ties" is, to my mind, one Of the greatest be-
fore the American people today. The CEN
Eus Of 1900 dlsclOses that the urban popu-
lation Of the United States has increased
FROM L, 9So,1 no in 1850 to 2s, All, 900 in
1900, and the percentage from 25.s in 1880
to S73 in 1900; that Is for cities Of over
4rOO
alteration, Incorporated cities OF under
1000 we will find that nearly oue-half Of
the entire population are living under
municipal governments. or the population
living in cities Of over 100000, W find A.
2Os, 347 and in cities Of from 1000 to 100,-
600, 14,13l,351. Thus we find that nearly
one-half live in cities Of between 1000
and 100000. We also find that cities OF
between 1000 and 100, 600 have increased
in numbers from $50 to 1,15S between the
years named. With these startling facts
before US, we, as officers elected to repre-
sent the people, must do all we can TO give,
not only the best service. but the best ser
vice at the least possible cost TO the tax
payers, who have hOnored US with their
confidence and have placed US in positions
Of trust and honor. To do this we must
ascertain what is best to be done. There
ar certain natural monOpolles that belong
to the people as a whole, among which Is
water, lights transportation, street cars
and other public conyeyances and teIe-
phones. These are now necessities; few
years ago, some of them were considered
luxuriea. II there is any profit TO be de-
rived in the possession OF any, or all Of
these natural monopolies, the same should
be given to their rightful owners, the peo-
pie. In the cases of the cities propose 10
quote, the figures are taken from the rec
srds as are shown In their official reports
and contracts and can be relied on. In
each and every case where the water works,
gas works or any other monopoly have
been acquired from & private corporation,
the rates have been reduced from what
was charged by the private corporation. In
each case, all the expenses incident to the
SEPARATIONS, including interest, depreciation
sinking funds loss Of taxes, insurance, la
Dor and all other expenses are included in
the cost, unless otherwise noted. The net
profits derived is what would go 10 the pri-
vate stockholders as a dividend, If a pri-
VAte corporation. That now goes to re-
duce the faxes Of the citizens Of the cities
which will name. 1t was my good for
tune to spend three months last winter in
Europe and while there, l devoted such
part Of my time, as / could spare inyesti-
eating municipal affairs. Among the cities
] Investigated to a greater or less eI-
tent, / can name Christlana, Norway
Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden; COpen-
hagen, Denmark Berlin, Germany Amster
dam, Holland Brussels, Belgium Paris,
France; Liverpool, England, and Glasgow,
Scotland Each Of the cities named own
nearly all Of the monOpolies named above.
Time will not permit going into details on
all the places named, 20 l will select Glas-
gov and Amsterdam. l select these cities
for two reasons, one is, that they are
among the pioneers that have adopted
municipal ownership and the otner Is for
the reason that both the Scotch and the
Dutch are known to be conservative and
weigh every enterprise well before they en-
bark in It. ] will not go into detail as to
the various items that cover the expenses.
As stated before they cover everything that
q private corporation would charge up as q
part Of the expense
GLASGOW.
Following is the report for the year end
ing May LIST, 1900 the last Obtainable
when was in Europe:
WATER WORKS.
Cost Of plant. &1O,646, 1850
Revenues derived $1,O61, sOO.65
REPenses Of all
kinds ......... ,913,17O.65
Net proat ....... 14s.G3OOO
GAS WORKS.
t,Sst OF plant ..... ST,c04, $4,000
Reyenue derived .S3,S5O,O1O.3O
Expenses Of all
kinds ........ 3,459,s30.72
Net profit ....... 59O,242.S2
STREET CAR SYSTEM.
Cost Of plant...... s4Cs5 1890
Revenue derived. $2,S49, s15 80
HIpenses OF all
kinds ........ 2,l2G,7 10.34
Net profit. ...... 223.1O5.16
At the time, the report ! have quoted
from, the city Of Glasgow had Just estab-
Ilshed q municipal telephone system. The
only report Of the same which was obtain
able was the price charged for the service.
For an unrestricted service. including Glas-
gov and thirteen nearby cities, the fee was
$685. per annum. II restricted service
is wanted It Is $3.50 per anudm and an
additional two cents each time you call
up Central Office for connection.
The municipal lighting plant had just
been established and showed very little
profit The charge for service, however.
IS very low as for example an eight candle
power ineandeseent lamp is but sl04 per
year For power for manufacturing and
FOR other purposes the charge is from TO
I cents per kiIlowat and for meter rates,
from 8 to cents for same for lighting.
In making computations have ealculst-
ed the British pound sterling at $500.
AMSTERDAM.