The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-03
PUBLIC. OWNERSHIP IS 7
SUCCESS N BRITAIN
Smaller Cities In England
and Scotland Lead the
World.
Much Attention is Being Paid
to the Housing Of the
Poor.

In his pursuit Of big things. the
American is apt to neglect the cities
Of medinum size in Great Britain, and
to concentrate his attention on Lon
don, Glasgow, Birmingham or Liver
pool. This is a mistake, for among
the cities of 100000 or 100000 popu-
latlon there are instances Of munich
pal enterprise not excelled by any
metropolis, such a. one is Hudders-
field, Yorkshire town Of 100000, sit.
uated in the midst of the British tex:
tile industries.
Every municipal monopoly is under
city management. The waterworks
have been satisfa ctorily maintained
for years. In 1872 the gas works were
taken over, the object being to reduce
the price Of gas and increase it's use by
the poorer classes. To this end the
department introduced penny in the
slot meters, which have been so well
received that about one fifth of the
population is now supplied in this way
When this Weter is used a stove Is
supplied and fixed" free of charge.
Not one penny need be invested, ex-
cept for the thirty foot of gas sold for
two cents. This is a great boon to
the poor. who find it very difficult to
save enough to purchase fittings out
right. Stoves alone may be rented
for 10 per cent of cost price per year,
and the department has it's own stores
containing styles to suit the poorest or
the most faEtidious. The price Of gas
has been steadily reduced until now it
is rs. Sd. (06c) for lighting, and Is
(49c) for heating and trade purposes.
Public Street Railways.
AS to street railroads, they, in con-
dition, are above the normal hours
are short (eight per day.; fares are
low; all of (which go to increase the
expenses of operation. That the sys-
tenn is generally used and meets a
want is shown by the fact that over
100000 passengers are carried an
nua1ly-equal to the population of
London. Every man, woman and
child rides upon an" average Of forty
three times per year-a wonderful
record for a city Of 100000 population
A unique feature is the letter box
attached to each car, into which one
can deposit his mail without extra
charge, except when the car is stop
ped for that purpose; then two cents
must be paid. This is greats,~eon-
venience to all. especially those living
In outside districts, for letter boxes
are not 80 plentiful as with U.S.
The housing of the poor has always
received marked attention. The first
model lodging house built. by city
was constructed by Huddersfield as
far back as 1853-about twenty years
before Glasgow built a similar one
Separate departments are provided for
| men and women at six cents each per
night, and another portion Of the house
! is allotted to married couples A me-
chanics home, intended for a bette,
class than the nomadic lodEer, sup
plies accommodations for ten cents pc,
night. A grade higher are the arts
ans dwellings, Of which there are one
hundred and sixty, constantly occu-
pied, and of great benefit to the work
Ing classes.
City's Health Well Guarded.
zThe city's health is as we'll gunard-
ed as it's industrial life. There is ar
ample municipal bath, the charges
varying from two to twelve cents
Parks and RECREATION grounds, where
musical concerts are given during the
summer, afford the poor classes album
dunt fresh air and sunshine. The city
also maintains public halls, mum.
cipal hospital and sanitar1um, a pub.
Ito library, art gallery, refuse de-
stroyer, sewage disposal works, and &
technical school in addition to the
schools maintained by the schoo
board. Markets and slaughter houses
are owned and controlled by the city
annually yielding a considerable rev.
enue. And, finally, there is a munich.