Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-08-05
NO.. II
City Ownership.

waiter =. Hamm, American consul
nt Hull. England, makes a very inter.
esting report Of the progress in that
ancient city since the inception OF the
policy OF the municipal ownership OF
street cars five years ago Up TO that
tine Hull had been considered one of
the most uninviting places In Great
Britain. 1t had no public improve
lnents, the streets were exceedingly
narrow and Ill paved. the street car
system was inadequate and antiquated,
and altogether conditions were so bad
that the place, althosgh the third port
In the kingdom, had such an unsavory
name that II was avoided by tourists
and was only visited by those who had
TO 20 there on business. But with the
advent OF the mayoralty of Sir Alfred
Gelder in 1898 new policy was in
Produced. The wand of progress SEEM
ed to pass over the city. and trans
formation has taken place. Broad ave-
nues have been cut from the business
center Of the city TO the corporation
line, many new buildings have been
erected, the streets have been paved in
the best and most enduring manner,
the car lines have been acquired and
modernized, an unfailing supply Of fl
tered drinking water has been intro
duced and the dock systems improved
and enlarged until the city today is one
of the best, II not the best, provided
with docks Of any city in England.
AS result the city's trade and popu-
lation have rapidly increased.
The city ownership of the street rail-
way lines has revolutionized the service
in the city. From being the most
antiquated they are now among the
most improved in England.
One Of the chief peculiarities of the
Hull tram system is the double decked
car. All the cars, of which there are
116 in number, are Of this pattern. In
adopting the double decker, however,
Hull has only followed the style in use
In every city In Great Britain and Ire
land. Recent statistics show that of
the 6,66O electric cars in use in the
United Kingdom 80 per cent are double
deckers and only 10 per cent single
deckers. III this way the seating ca
pacity Of the cars is more than dou-
bled, the upper deck accommodating
more passengers than the lower deck.
The Hull cars are of two different di-
mensions the smaller seating twenty
tive passengers below and thirty-fve
on top.
After careful investigation Mr..
Hamm concludes that the double deck
cars are suitable for American use and
enters into a rather extended argu-
ment in their favor
distinguishing feature of the Hull
tramway system is the cheapness of
the fares. These are penny q cents
on all lines and for all distances. The
financial results of this low fare system
are equally interesting. During the
latest twelve months reported on there
were ten miles of double track, or twen-
ty miles Of single track, In operation.
The gross income was about $445, 900.
The cost Of operation was about $685.
600. This left gross profit of $4,000
and, deducting interest on the invest
ment and the sinking sum, left a net
profit of $4,000, or an average Of
over $4,000 a mile of double track,
which went into the city treasury.
Mr.. Hamm closes his report with this
significant statement:
These are the results of the municipal
ization of city transit In Hull. They give
American cities a striking proof of the
mistake they have made in surrendering
their streets to private companies that
operate the lines for their private benefit
and often to the detriment Of the public.
If the advocates of the municipalization
of street car lines in the United States
wish a good object lesson on their side of
the question they cannot do better than to
study the Hull tramway system.
Utilities that are public in their ma
ture should be operated for the public
good rather than for private greed.
When they are SO operated, the worlds
progress, prosperity and happiness will
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