New-York tribune., 1902-12-17


The Cobdenites would have an unanswerable
argument if its experience had been shared
on equally favorable terms by other ports and
manufacturing centres throughout the United
Kingdom The free trade shield has, however.
another side, as is shown by the decadence Of
West Indian commerce. the destruction OF the
sugar refining industry, the displacement of
domestic by German and American manufact-
ures in the home market, and the impoverish-
ment of the agricultural classes.
The success of the municipal industries in
Hull is unmistakable. The corporation has
tanned control over many medieval properties,
supervised the harbor improvement and has a
rent roll of $4,000 from ground rents.
farms, warehouses, docks and shops with
estimated value of over S3000000 1t also con-
ducts, for the collective benefit of taxpayers, a
series of self-sustaining and even remunerative
local services 1t owns and opera tes the electric
tramways, which have contributed S1S00OO in
three years to the relief of the rates, although
the wages of drivers and conductors working on
reduced time have been increased, fares brought
down to penny for any distance and the ser
vice greatly extended and improved The water
supply is so prudently managed that all addi-
tional expenditures for pumping plant and
mains are paid out of surplus revenues, al
though the charges exceedingly low. The
gas supply of two private corporations is dis
trtbuted by the municipal authOrties-a process
of semi mi-municipalization by which the price has
been reduced to consumers about eight cents
thousand feet in the course of five years. The
electric light plant is a municipal undertaking.
and promises to be remunerative. The munich
pality OWNS the markets, public baths, free
libraries, cemeteries and crematorium, and it
has founded technical school and maintains
school of art. 1t has also invested 100000 in
the Hull and Barnsley Railway. rescuing the
enterprise as the Manchester Corporation saved
the ship canal; and in addition to taking up
housing problem of exceptional difficulty. 1t has
kept abreast with the necessity for costly street
improvements caused by the rapid growth of
the city. The school board rates and sanitary
reforms have increased local taxation. but the
burdens have been lightened by remunerative
municipal enterprises and by sound financial ad-
ministration. Hull is excellently governed
town, and its commercial progress has been pro-
NOTED by the enlightened public spirit with
which local affairs have been administered.
One may sample many types of architecture in
this lowlying Yorkshire port where embank-
ments required for protection against high
tides and foundations. There is touch of the
italian Renaissance in the Town Hall, a faint
suggestion of Tuscan in Trinity House, fan
tastic reminiscence of Tudor in the new public
baths and glimpses Of Corinthian or what not III
the Royal Institution. 1he one Deautl1uI stIuCb-
ure in this tumble of architectural forms is the
parish church of Holy Trinity, in floral Gothic
with a noble decorated tower. The fat levels of
Lincolnshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire
seem to have put medieval architects on their
mettle, and to have inspired them with ardor for
building lofty towers which could be seen far
out at sea and over a wide expanse of country
Some of the most beautiful and impressive par
ish churches in England are found in these coast
districts. and nearly all have been ntegenty
and syrnpathetcally restored. Holy Trinity is
one Of them. and a few miles away are TWO
more, Beverley Minister and st. Marys, TWO or
the best examples of medieval parish churches
When these churches have been seen and the
public park botanical garden and promenade
pier have been visited, stroll remains through
High-st which may once have been quaint. but
is now souaIid and dingy. with the overhangng
story of the crumbling Kings Head Inn ana the
red facade of the Wilberforce house as the only
objects of picturesque interest and historic as
sociatfon Hull is not another Dordrecht in pro-
sale England as is Boston in Lincolnshire. 1t is
Yorkshire port where the movement of the
worlds traffic and exchanges can be felt ana
where uuaintness and picturesqueness are no
longer considered businesslke- 1t is VIDE
awake town where one may look for highly I'M
nro1,ed dockage plant and terminal facilities, or
for progressive principles of local government or
for A highly successful British trust in the OIL
cake trade but not for the treasure roVe OF
sentimental travel. l. N r