The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-10
BY JUpSON .GRENELL.

prOOaDle that the STATISTICS Iurn1Sned
by Glasgow officials have been more
quoted than from any other municipal!
ity, but, after. all, figures are not every
thing, and, as has been before remark
ed, while figures do not lie, liars some
times figure. So shall not weary the
reader with statistics. Suffice it to say
that the reports are all in; favor of
municipal ownership from the financial
standpoint. But there are other things
to consider as well as money, and it is
necessary to view the problem form all
sides if one desires to come to a cor
rect conclusion. 80: j.
After talking with city officials and
intelligent citizens In this city; in Liv-
erpool, Manchester, Oldham, Leeds,
Sheffield, Birmingham, Bradford, Sal
ford and London. England; in Berne
and Lausanne, Switzerland; in Frei-
burg, Germany, and in various other
localities; after viewing the magnif1-
cent plants some Of these cities have
installed and noting how the public is
being Accommodated; and, keeping in
mind also the financial side. I can
truthfully say that the street car prob
lem has been solved in Europe over
whelmingly in favor Of municipal own
ership.
Universal Approval.
have failed to find in a. single city,
where municipal has followed private
ownership, even a respectable minority
Of citizens favoring the private monop-
oily of city tramWays. Municipal own
ership is as yet comparatively young,
while the private company with it's
long monopoly has every advantage
that experience could give; but only
occasionally was the private monopoly
content with normal profits. Possess
ing good thing" they worked it for
every penny it was worth, until city
after city tired of the exactions i'm
posed. and either bought or fired them
out, and these municipalities have
since reaped the reward of their right
eous indignation.
During the past five years hundreds
turned into the treasures Of municipal
corporations by the cities tramway
officials; cars run oftener and more
rapidly; seats are provided at all
hours for 95 per cent of the passen-
gers; and employees are much more
sOlicitous to give satisfaction than
they ever were when In the employ of
a.. private street car company. While
occasionally a. particular line of a sys-
tenn fails to meet expenses, the public
is reconpensed I'M other ways and the
apparent loss is an actual gain: !;
Short Hauls the Rule.
Glasgow has been held up as a mod
Ell for cities contemplating owning
fact, we'll worth studying, and a sup
erintendent would be wise indeed
could he not add to his general knowl-
edge of street car matters by an in
vestigation here. Still, in my opinion,
both Liverpool and Manchester are
not one whit behind Glasgow in their
conduct Of their municipal tramways.
There is in every instance wise SUI
pervision that looks after the accomo-
dalton Of the public while not neglect
ing economy. The men are not over
paid, the supplies are purchased in a
competitive market, and the cars are
neither extravagantly nor parsimoni-
ously furnished.
that probably in no city in Europe
are the conditions just the same as
those of American commercial GEN.
ters. Go far back enough and 1t will
be seen that most continental NUM-
cipalities were walled towns. for pro-
lection against foreign foes. In con-
sequence they are compactly built,
and even in such great city as Paris
with its 100000 inhabitants-the
area Of which is about the same as
Detroit, Mich, with 100000 population
the suburbs are quickly cached,
making long hauls the exception.
Most English cities were never
walled enclosures. but the land laws
have had the effect Of insuring COM
pactness, so that Glasgow, Liverpool,
Manchestsrh, Birmingham, Sheffield,
ETC., all with populations running into
the hundreds Of thousands, comprise
areas Of from 10000 to $1,000 acres
only. Paris covers less than $4,000
acres. OF necessity, then, the hauls
are Short the great bulk OF the street
car riding public pay the minimum
fare demanded for the shortest ride.
The "Zone" System
In no English city owning it's own
street cars and tracks did find one
fare, charged different length hauls.
The zone" system prevails, passen-
gers paying according to distance
travelled. It has been said that the
American public will never consent
to be "bothered'' with this way of
collecting fares; that the average
American citizen prefers the one.
price way; and that the sytem would
financially ruin any road, adopting 1T.
These are not valid objections against
the ''zone"~ system that are not more
than offset by the simple fact that
under it each passenger pays for just
what he gets, and that he Of the short,
haul is not mulcted for the benefit
Of the suburban passengers. Ina:short,.
the zone" system is: the most equit-
able possible way Of 1 charging \ Tor
street car rides. and the syten1s .is as
easily laid out and managed as is the
system OF a merchant. 4 who, II selling
cotton cloth BY the. yard, charges III
fiSNvS, -.