The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-09

l. spondent !. n. Ford, gives an ir
| teresting account Of how munich
pal progress is eXemplitied in the city
of Nottingham, England. Nottingham
is about the size of Detroit, or double
that of Scranton with Dunmore added
Originally it was II Saxon village with
| Norman trimmings and as late as fifty
years ago occupied only six square
miles. Since then it's area has been
trebled and its improvements have in
cluded not only developing the newer
portions, but also reconstructing the
older section. Slums have been torn
down and rebuilt in sanitary fashion;
crooked old streets and alleys have been
Strengthened and wdened; sewers and
puvements have been introduced, the
city has constructed its own markets,
cemeteries, water system, gas and cleo
trc lights and power plants and a
municipal tramWay or, as we would
say, trolley system. And, says Mr..
Ford:
"In the course of five years $72O,00O
has been turned into the treasury as
the surplus derived from these various
undertakings after charges for interest
and sinking funds have been adequate
ly met; and the earnings will steadily
increase as the capital invested in these
enterprses-over $4,000, ,0o0-is repaid.
The charges for water are moderate,
not exceeding AZ cents per quarter for
u. tenement or cottage with rental of
$50: and the town council is satisfied
with small margin for the common
good after the interest charges have
been provided for. The quarterly
charges for municipal gas range from
IS 10 81 cents "A thousand feet, and the
electric light and power services are
correspondence low. The tramwayS
have been extended and electric power
has been substituted for horse power,
and fares have been lowered; The wages
OF the men have been Increased ana
their working hours reduced: and pub
lie comfort has been promoted by i'm
proved accommodations,
LIN addition to these self-supportlns
services, which contribute substantial
balances TO the public treasury, Not
tingham ministers to the intellectual
progress of the masses in various ways.
it has an admirable free library sys-
tenn, by which $4,000 books are lent in
the course of II year. There is Il large
central library and reading room with
thirteen district libraries and two book
deliveries. These public libraries are
conducted as municipal institutions,
and the attendance at the reading
rooms is large both in the morning and
at night The historic castle was res
cuea from ruin by the town council
twenty-esSht years ago, and after being
completely restored was converted into
Il permanent art gallery and a museum
of decorative art. There Is also Il nat
ural history museum with large collec-
lions and there is n municipal school
OF art, where systematic instruction is
given in design, with special reference
to lace making, the characteristic in
dustry of the town. The municipal
council also supports u college where
over four hundred students attend day
classes and over sixteen hundred re-
ceive instruction at night. II is at once
Il training college, a technical school
and an institution for secondary edu-
cation in the highest sense
While mistakes have been made both
in planning and in administering these
public works, Mr. Ford says there has
been little extravaganza and no thiev-
ing or crookedness. The government of