New-York tribune., 1902-12-26
ENGLISH TOWNS.
Orderly Development Of Progressive
Government.


aucted effectively and systematically. In recent
Io.ters written from the Midland counties and
vorkshire 1 have illustrated the operation Of
-nunIcipal trading in cities with population ex-
,aeding 10000. such Leicester, Nottingham,
ebedield, Leeds Bradford and Hull, where wa
.s- gas electric lighting and power, tratnways
ond other services are ordered for the collective
heueht Of the ratepayers. If still larger centres
NJ population, such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Bir-
ru,ngham Manchester and Stafford were con-
sIsered, the results of the extension of munich
nel ownership would be even more obvious
htb in the direct relief TO the rates from surplus
earnings and in the indirect benefit to the COM
rnunfty from cheap tramway fares, reduced
charges for gas, water and electric lighting ard
the Improvement Of various services Another
group OF municipal boroughs could be formed,
embracing towns with a population ranging
from 1900 to 100000, in which the principles
Of coilectivism have been applied with energy
snd efficiency, among them being Huddersheld,
Btrkenhesd, Blackburn, Bolton, Oldham, Burn
ley Cardiff, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Brigh-
ton II this letter. however. I shall restrict the
exanina ton of the results Of municipal owner
ship TO towns which do net exceed 10000 in
incubation. The profits from the various ser
rices undertaken for collective benefit cannot he
large when the number OF tramway passengers
and gas and water consumers is small; but the
industries are remuneratiVe when conducted
with sagacity and commercial efficiency, and tire
burdens Of local taxation are lghtened.
Darlington, In the county Of Durham, IS one
of the best examples of profitable municipal
trading on a small scale. The town is i'm
portant station on the Great Northern line
above York, and has special industries. carpets
and woolens, which employ q working popula-
ton Of $4,000. With a ratabie valuation Of
about $4,000, Il has introduced free public
libraries and baths established q technical col
lege and municipalized water, gas, electricity,
tramways markets and cemeteries. While large
investments have been required for gas, electric
and tramway plant, the interest and sinking
fund payments have been made, and the local
rates for district and borough have been re-
duced fraction over penny in six years.
During that period over S352,O0o has been
.sned as the net profit of various municipal
undertakinss and this surplus IN aid Of the
rates is Increasing year by year, until II now
amounts to S69, ,475, which is equivalent TO a
rate Of one shilling eightpence and farthing
per pound These earnings. quoted from Inc
Municipal Journal" are mainly derived from
the water and gas services, which have been
conducted economically under municipal con-
trol since the rights. of local companies were
purchased half century ago. The supphes
of electric light and power were lntrouuceu
three years ago, and after being source OF
slight loss TO the town corporation are nc"
completelv seIf-sustaining. The purchase Of the
.r,-vzsvs Go also 2 recent transaction, and their
re-e1uipruent with electric traction is in prog
ress.
Excellent already are the commercial re-
sp1+s of municipal trading in Darlington
there will be a larger balance on the rieh'
side of the annual account when tran"ays
and electric supplies are IN WORKING vi
der With these remunerative services ana
with the technical college and free pup
lie baths and libraries, It is one OF the pest
1nverned among the minor English toWns aho
tbo +axnavers are not overwhelmed with nlu-
n;cinaI Indebtedness and expensive rates. 1a2es
are in fact, kept down by the profitable returns
:. 80, i,yee+rnents for the benefit OF the COM
munity.
7,,-+o-on- Trent the brewery town, with a
nonula+ion of about 10000 and ratable valua-
ton of over 81 100000, is superior in resources
to Darlington but its record in local govern
rnent IS less brilliant. It has owned the mar
bets gas and electricity supplies, out not lhe
wafer works and service. and consequently Il
has not been in favorable position for re-
ducing the rates. The new electric plant .
barelv self-sustaining. and the gas supply 's
the orl,, +r,stvvorthy source Of municipal profit
the last five years, and this is equivalent TO an
animal saving of nearly sevenpence 70 the pound
in the annual rate The general rates during
the same period have run up ninepence. OWING
"a increased requirements for street improve
raeuts. the establishment Of a sewage farTn anu
enlarged school and county expenditures
A considera BILE investment has also been mace
in workrnens dwellings-one of the least refiiuii-
eratiye of municipal undertakings IN hnsiahu-
ana the financial results are not yet clear Inc
corporation scheme involves the constructor @ TO %
l51 dwellings at estimated COST oL Sio''00''
and when conpleted and all the cottages are oc-
cupied st an average weekly rental oI '7@
fhillings there Will probably be an annual loss
ofs7 16o Measures Of this kind, like the estao-
,isbroen+ of free libraries, technical schools and
baths. are adopted from phianthropic motiVes
and are designed to minister 20 the welfare OF
The community.
Other towns in the industrial North may De
mentioned at random as highly successiui III
conducting their municipal services Bury, IN
Lancashire, with a population unoer oo'o"o'
has n1,,nicipalized its markets, water, gas ana
electric supplies; Is gradually carrying out
scheme for the purchase of Its tramwa!s anu
their conversion into an electric system nae
opened an art gallery and a public library anu
by virtue OF re1nunerative investments is easing
the burdens OF taxpayers. The corporation OF
Blackpool holiday resort on the Lancashre
coast, with a permanent population or 4o'ooV
has expended over 100000 on marine paraoes
ana seawalls and has planned another series OF
beautiful promenades at an estimated expense OK
S1,7500o0; and with the municipaiization OF me
gas, electric lighting and tramWay services II
has developed all the resources or Vaiua"1e
public estate. Warrington is another Lanca-
shire town which OWNS its water. gas ana elec-
tic lighting services, and operates Its tram
~ the most EXPENSIVE