Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22

spondence Of The Bee.)-BeTltni Is
the best managed city In Europe.
EH II has uniformly the best build
~ ings and the best streets. The
streets are wide and well paved. Asphalt
has been put down on most OF them, and
you can drop your handkerchief almost
anywhere without soillng It. There is no
rubbish to be seen. II you throw a scrap
OF paper on the pavement u policeman may
order you to pick 1t UP, and II you leave
a pile OF dirt in your yard you MAJ be
arrested.
The town is watched and everything is
made pleasing to the eye. All plans have
to be submitted to the city architect and
every signbOard has to be approved be-
fore IL can go up. You cannot build a dog
kennel without the approval OF the city
fathers. and they regulate the width OF
every wall, the height OF the ceilings and
also the height of every house. The re-
suit Ia that the most OF the buildings are
uniform. They are all flats, and you can
ride for miles past yellow structures OF
Ave stories. most OF which have stores
below and apartments above.
The Germans believe in the city owner
ship Of public works and Berlin is inter-
csted in all sorts OF undertakings. She
owns the market halls and cattle yards.
She has savings banks and loan Offices and
more real estate than any individual or
corporation in Prussia. She owns gas and
electric works, and lights not only the
streets, hut also private houses, for a con-
sheraton. She runs an insurance COM
pany. and forces every property owner 10
take out an insurance policy to prevent
loss In case of Gre. At the same time by
her building regulations she sees to 1t that
her losses are as few as possible. and the
rogt.1N q that The tnanr0nRo DANA ri m ont
makes money. Indeed. every department
does comparatively well; the city pays all
OF her own expenses and comes out a
million dollars or so ahead at the end OF
the year.
Still Berlin carries the interest upon n
large public debt. II owes $685. 200, 900.
which is a little more than one-hfth the
debt OF New York, SIS .O0O. 00O more than
the debt of Philadelphia and a little less
than three times as much as is owed by
Chicago.
The difference between Berlin and the
average American city is that Berlin gets
tho worth OF It's money. Its public build.
ings are well put up and there are few
public jobs. OF late the parks have been
greatly improved. New roads have heen laid
out in the Thicrgarten. a wooded pleasure
ground OF 500 acres In the heart OF the
city, New statues nave Deen put up lnclH
and among others that OF the Alice of
Victory which is lined with marble figures
and busts OF German heroes.
Berlin is building pleasure grounds for
the children in eve.y quarter OF the city.
1t is gradually remodeling the old streets
and the day will com when IL will vic
with Paris as the most beautiful city of
Europe.
Berlin is now the third city OF Europe.
London is first. Paris second. Berlin third
and Vienna fourth. Berlin proper has over
1900, 900 inhabitants, but with the suburbs
It has more than 1000. 900 and 1t is a q"es-
ton whether the Greater Berlin is not equal
to Paris in si$e.
The town has been booming since tho
Franco russian war. IL had 500, 600 In 1860,
and at the time OF the war only 100, 00D,
After that the government got tie big war
indemnity. The French pulled s 1000. 0CO. O0O
out Of their wooden stockings and handed II
over TO the German ~victOrs. and much oil
this money came to Berlin. The people
fiOcked In from all parts OF the empire
to see IL they could not get their share
OF Il, and Berlin grew. II has been grow
Ing over since. and Notwithstanding the
hard times It Is growing today. 1t nov
covers twent " Ave square miles in the Spree
valley and is reaching out in every direc.
ton.
A similar growth has taken place
throughout the German empire. Nearly
every city has put on tho seven-leagu
boots OF modern progress and has built