New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-03

and power are supplied at low rates for a large
metropolitan era. FOR ordinary purposes the
| charges are I'd. per unit FOR the first two
hours and ID afterward; and I'd. with
I'd discount for power. With 100 arc
lamps in the streets and with over six hun
/ bred private customers the enterprise has been
successful from the outset surplus Of t2o63
| for the first year having been converted into
| f7.745 for the second year. and the construc-
ton OF a new station being required by in
creasing business. municipalities like Birming-
ham. which have made large investments in
sewage farms. may be induced by the con-
sIicuous success Of the Shoreditch dust destroy
to abandon enterprises OF doubtful utility
and 10 obtain cheap supply of electric energy
for lighting and for tramway traction by the
destruction OF street refuse and house sewage
The dust Instructors have fulfilled the con-
fdent prediction OF Lord Kelvin made when
the works were opened, and the financial opera
ton Of the Shoreditch scheme has been highly
satisfactory.
The provincial cities and towns have expert
mented in various ways with electric supply.
and are now in position 70 PROFIT by wide
range Of experience. The Glasgow Corpora
ton after starting with high tension station
substituted for II a low tension continuous cur
rent system, and eventually established an eX-
tensive and costly plant for the purposes u
lighting and traction The average price for
lighting is 2S4d. per unit. Edinburgh. with
smaller plant, reduces the price 10 215d for
large consumers Of light and TO lid for motive
power and heating. Birmingham bought out
the property Of a private lighting company
twelve years ago. and at heavy expense has
heen converting the system 10 higher voltage.
improving the mains and extending the cir
0f1fT -
tsining in Birmingham. has been undertaken
on large scale from the outset al Manchester
and Stafford. and small balances have been
available year by year FOR the relief Of local
alton. The necessity for introducing electric
traction in the municipal tramway services has
been OF determining influence in the provincial
towns IL has forced the local governing bodies
10 municipalize the tramways and TO control the
electric supply, and while the outlay for i'm
proved plant is enormous. and there cannot he
a wide margin for profit until the cost Of ,ha
undertakings is fully Hquidated through -Le
gradual operation Of sinking funds. facilities
are offered for cheapening both traction ard
lighting and absolute control Of future source
OF municipal revenue is obtained. Municipal
socialism when carried out with English eau
ton ana conservatism. is an investment which
is likely 10 prove highly advantageous IN the
course Of generation OF half a century Elec-
trio supply is one OF the resources upon which
the municipalities can safely depend In the course
OF time as an instrument for easing the burdens
of local taxation. Carping critics like the writer
OF the series OF pessimistic articles in The
Times are complaining OF the increase OF
local Indebtedness and Of the introduction OF
improvements before the need for them is ur-
gently felt: but there is no evidence outside Of
the maze Of misgoverned London that the bur
dens Of taxation have been increased bv well
ordered municipal enterprises of a progressive
character. The tramway service. gas and cleo
tric supply. and housing and Improvement
schemes. are self-sustaining branches Of seIen-
tifc local government. and the time is coming
when all these sources OF revenue will WELD
large returns l. y F.