New-York tribune., 1902-12-03
MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.
ILLUSTRATED BY THE PRACTICAL
ACHIEYEMENTs or NoTTINGHAM-
~ ENhMPi.E OF ALL-ARoUND
EFFICIENCY.

Nottingham, November IS.


land under enlightened administration is Illus
trated in Nottingham. An old Saxon borough
10 which William the Conoueror impaired stra-
tegic Importance by the construction Of castle
On a hill it for centuries royal station
and the chief stronghold Of the Midland coun-
ties: yet fifty years ago it was hardly larger
in area than IL had been in 1884 when its first
Mayor was elected. During the last half CEN
tury its area has been multiplied by twelve and
its population has been increased threefold.
until there are now 100000 inhabitants and H.
600 acres within the city limite The growth
cf this ancient town on the edge of Robin
Hoods forest is recent, like the development of
American towns, and is attributable in large
mart to the energy and practical sagacity of the
local administration. The first notable enlarge
rnent came from the inelosure Of over one thou
sene acres of pasturage land. and after three
decades there were dozen suburbs TO be at
sorbed and the open fields separating them were
laid out in streets and continuously built up
With the exception Of the sites of the Saxon and
Norman boroughs, Nottingham is as as the
average American town. and has required
nroportionally large outlay for drainage, paw
ing water supply, the introduction of gas and
electric light and the adoption OF an electric
.rsmway service. Municipal enterprise has been
substituted for company promotion, and all
these services except street paving and drain
see are sources Of revenue Of increasing value
The siurns OF the ancient boroughs have been
cleared and rebuilt and the narrow, winding
lanes straightened and broadened, and the city
has been converted into one Of the most health
ful and attractive centres of life in the United
Kingdom; and the intellectual requirements Of
q progressive community have been adequately
,set by the establishment of art and natural
history museums, free libraries, schools of de-
sign and technical training, and even munich
nal university. Achievements like these ought
not to be sceffed at and discredlted as Vagarles
of municipal socialism, which needs TO be regu-
lated and restrained by statutory limitations
upon local Indebtedness. Good local govern
ment is the chief glory Of modern England and
cannot be too highly extoEed.
Municipal trading is q phrase almost as mis-
leading as municipal socialism. Various indus
tries and services are undertaken in Noting
ham for the benefit of the public, and incident
auy there are profits from them which help TO
reduce the rates; but it is not trading IN the
ordinary commercial sense. Nottingham owns
its own markets, cemeteries, supplies OF water
gas and electric light and power, and the tram
.yay service is under municipal management;
hut it is not trading exclusively for preht. in
the course OF five years S420eOe has been turned
into the treasury the surplus derived from
these various undertakings after charges for
NO0--
" met; and the earnings will steadily increase
as the capifal invested in these enterprises-over
s1RO0N OOO-is repaid. Profit is not however
the sole object of these municipal services. The
collective interests OF the community are sys-
4ematicaliy regarded. The charges for water
are moderate not exceeding ~ cents per quar-
Ter for tenement or cottage with rental OF Sou;
and the Town Council is satisfied with smali
margin for the common good after the interest
T-TaeeT
charges Tor municipal gas range from 70 TO or
CENTS a thousand feet and the electric light
and power services are correspondingiy low
The tramways have been extended and electric
posyer has been submitted fer horse power
and fares have been lowered; the wages on the
men have been increased and their WORKING
hours reduced; and public comfort has peeh
promoted by improved accommodations All
these undertakings would yield larger financial
returns under ordinary business management
with profit and loss more carefully calculated
With reference 10 dividends. Municipal trading
is less commercial in it's aims than private en-
1ernrise 1t ministers to the comfort, welfare
snd convenience Of the public 1t is hnanceo
with caution and conservatism, repayment OF
capital invested being provided for WITHIN
thirty years, large percentages being written OIL
for depreciation of plant and reserves peiHe
accumulated for emergencies The prohls from
such undertakings as water, gas, electric hght-
ing tramways and markets are materially cut
down in consequence Of municipal management
,-et serve to reduce the burdens Of local taxa
tn, and prornise to become in time highly re-
munerative-
In addition 10 these self-supporting services.
which contribute substantial balances TO the
public treasury, Nottingham ministers TO the
intelIeetual progress Of the masses in various
WAYS II has an admirable free library system
hy which $4,000 books are lent in the course
Of year There is a large central library ana
reading room, with thirteen district horaries
and two book deliveries. These public libraries
are conducted as municipal institutions ana the
attendance at the reading rooms is large noth
in the morning ano at night. The historic cas-
lie WAS rescued from ruin by the Town couneli
twe1ty-eight years ago. and after being COM
pleteIy restored was converted into perma-
nent art gallery and a museum or oecoraufe
art On the lines of South Kensington Ihere Is
also natural history museum with large COZ
lecrjons. and there is a municipal school OF art.
where systematic instruction is given IN oesish'
with speeial reference TO lace making. the char
ecterietio industry Of the town. The municipal
council also supports college where over four
hvnares students attend day classes and over
s,xteen hundred receive instruction at night
This institution is aided by government grants
exchecuer contributions and private suoscrip-
tions: but il is conducted by a committee OF the
Town Council in which Oxford anc Cambridge
universities are equally represented IL Is d.
once a training college. technical school anu
an Institution for secondary educatloh III INC
highest sense and legitimate source oh pit
not only for the originator OF the pro9eci' 8it
Samuel Johnson, but also for the taxpayers oi
Nottingham, who have the unique oistiiio'ioi