Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
Copyright, 1902 by Frank G. Carpenter,

downright, 1902 by Frank C. Carpenter.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.)
LONDON, September 1.-London is rap
idly changing. The old city is putting
off its old clothes and buying new. It's
streets are being widened many OF the
old buildings have been torn down, and
there is a fair possibility that the day
Of the American skyscraper may come.
for flats are going UP in the fashionable
section.
An army OF workmen Is now busy on
the Strand AS saw the street ten years
ego. it was so narrow that two omnibuses
could hardly pass. To-day it is being
changed into a wide avenue which shall
run from Trafalgar Square to Hoiborn,
not far from st. Paul's Where Lie two
streets come together about three miles
OF buildings are TO be torn away, and this
space Will be leased out by the city
Tor new business houses.
In tearing down the Strand. the owners
Of the various properties have had to be
bought out. In many places the Buildings
nave been replaced. The Gaietv Theatre.
yor instance had a new structure erected
for il below and back Of where the old
theatre stood, and the same is true CT
other institutions. The work is going on
In the very heart of London on some of
the most costly ground in the world. The
city fathers have had to plate the soil
with gold to get it, and when the i'm
provement is completed 1t will, it is esti-
mated, cost at least SIS, 100000.
The American Invasion.
/ have already written something about
the American invasion of underground
London. / have told you of the Tuppcnny
Tube Line which is now carrying millions
from one part Of the city to another at 4
cents per trip II is mighty iron tube
with railroad tracks in it, running far
below the city under the streets. 1t cost
more than 100000 mile to construct,
and the electrical equipment was put in
by the General Electric Company, of New
York. ] have spoken of Mr.. 1erkes
great schemes; which are now fast ap-
preaching completion. These will honey
comb the soil under the city with similar
tubes and the Westinghouse Company
will build the machinery.
Other schemes are now proposed for
American enterprise above ground Amer
ican goods are already sold in all parts of
the Strand. The American flag and the
Union Jack are painted on many OF the
shop windows. and American drugs,
American notions. American shoes, and
American tobacco are to be had every
where. The Westinghouse building on
the corner OF Norfolk street and the
Strand, is one of the finest of this part
OF London. and there is now talk of an
enormous American department store on
the crescent-shaped area which is to be
vacated by the joining of the Strand and
Iolburn.
American Department. Store.
I understand that an application ha.
already been made to the London County
Council for this space. The parties have
asked to lease it for 999 years. and the
Council is considering the advisability Oh
giving them lease for ninety-nine years.
If ii does so the Americans will have
of ~ la n
London and will erect a store which Will
Dc a surprise to the London shopkeepers.
At present there is no such thing as
great department store in London. There
IS man named Whitley at Bayswate1.
who calls himself "A Universal Provid-
err He started business in small way
and added to his establishment until he,
has what the London people consider
something great. Peter Robinson has b
smaller establishment on Oxford street,
but neither of these can compare with
the mammoth department stores of New
York and Chicago. So far London has
had no good rapid transit system. and it
may be that that has retarded the day OF
such stores BY the new underground
electric routes one will be able to so to
any part of the city within few mo-
ments at cents per trip. and the shop
ping possibilities will be greatly increas-
ed. / understand that both John Wanna
maker and Siegel. Cooper & Co. have
been considering such enterprise. but
as yet nothing has come to a mater,a,
head
How London is Governed.
From what I have said about London's
city improvements you will see that the
government here Is something of an insu-
tuition. This is. you know. the capital of
the United Kingdom, the seat of Parlia-
,nent and the residence of the King and
royaI family 1t has all the chief OFF,
Gals of the government, but its own adj
rninistraiion is separate and apart from
these 1t is difficult to understand ii, for
the town has now dozen or so mayors
and maze or other authorities, Not
long ago it had 500 separate authorities.
each exercising some sort Of control, but
most of these were swallowed up in the
London County Council AT present there
is a county government, city govern
ment, and a borough government. The
borough government might be called
ward government, for the city is divided
into twcnty-seyen boroushs. or wards,
each Of which has its own mayor, its
cwn Council and a certain class OF off,
Gals.
London County Council.
The general government, however, is
the London County Council comprising
1877 members of whom nineteen are alder
men This council practically governs
London It fixes the taxes and SPENDS
tho money, and that right royalty too
Last year It's expenses amounted TO w.
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