The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-05
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IHXf&AA trolls tile gas in Liverpool. and
& A ss ~ viii he several years before
4hc citv can acquire possession OF the
franchise ON the other hand. Liverpool
MS its tramways. while private COM
many operates those OF birmingham,
leaaing them from the city.
Z II Is rather singular that OF the ten
most ,,opular objects OF municipal owner
sh,p IN Great Britain. not a city has I'M
s dertaken tho entire list The ten have
In mind are ais follows;
ID Dwellings for tho working classes.
(2) Tramways
"a Electric lighting and power plants.
(5) Markets.
(6) aTelephones ssIg 'e t5l
(T Baths md wash houses
(s) Refuse and sewer disposal.
t9) Cemeteries.
tfo) Works department.
All OF these, with tina exception OF
cemeteries. arc reproductive institutions.
and In Great BritainMare technically
classed under tho head OF Municipal
Trading" In the above list l have placed
Only those utilities which are practically
municipality unknown In the United
States, and have not included water
works for the reason that a large per-.
centage, IL not the majority. of cities In
this country and Canada clearly recog-
aiIze that the water supply should belong
TO the city and be operated by 1t. London
n Is tho only city OF consequence In Great
Britain which liz still at the mercy OF prI-
vate water supply plants, and 1t Is maxi
ing desperate efforts to dispossess the
holders OF the franchises. Glasgow comes
the nearest Of any city 70 complete
n1unicipali2ation. hut as yet 1t maintains
no burial grounds.
had an interesting talk with Sir Sam
ueI Johnson on this subject For thirty
odd years Sir Samuel has been town clerk
OF Nottingham. and IT should be under
stood that the town clerk is the principal
officer in British town or city. having
4 vastly more power and influence than the
Mayor orHany elective official. He nsu-
ally holds his place for life, and most
i town clerks live TO good old age. 1t
6 would be difficult to find a higher type
4 OF the courtly. old-fashioned English
i gentleman than Sir Samuel Johnson, and
his official life goes back to the days be-
fore the present scope Of public owner
ship was dreamed of.
why Is IT, II asked that there is so
little uniformity of action among your
cities In the matter OF nuncipaIization?
II pubic ownership be good thing. why
do your cities omit certain enterprises
and take up others? II II be practical for
Birmingham to own Its gas works. why
is 1t not equally so for Liverpool and
for all other citles2" l
When our young folks get married
and Ftart housekeeping" said Sir Sam
ucl. after q. pause. each couple proceeds
to III up Its house according TO its tastes
or means. One may buy piano. another
begin the collection of a library, third
may put all OF Its surplus earnings into
land, while others will concentrate their.
energies on obtaining possession OF vari-
ous comforts and luxuries. But all have
In mind the eventual ownership OF every
thing which Will conduce to happiness
and prosperity. 1t Is the same with our
cities There are good and sufficient
reasons why they. are compelled to wait
teforc they dare assume certain respon-
sihillties. Glasgow's proud position has
been attained from the fact that she
started on this work many years before
the other cities did. In many instances
we are hampered by leases and fran
chises grated to private companies and
must wait until these expire or pay ex-
tortionatc prices for their surrender.
Every city In Great Britain knows that
it should own its gas and electric light
ing works, and every one has such own
ershir In contemplation. 1t Is not a mat
ter of principle, but OF exped!ency--in 9th
or words, of money. Come over again.
he concluded with smile as he poured
out another cup OF tea, come over again
Il W1tn you are as Ol0 hS L am. ana Ctu +
SUCCESSORS Will show you the municipal
edifice of which we are building the
foundation
When Joseph Chamberlain became may
or Of Birmingham In 1913 he set aboutt
to purchase the gas and water supplies
for The city. Several previous attempts
had been made hut the conservatism of
the taxpayers and the influence OF cor
porntc Interests had been sufficient to de-
feat his less energetic and resourceful
predecessors. Mr.. Chamberlain made an
exhaustive study OF the subject and pre-.
scnted it 80 favoraby to the Council that
tho measure passed by a vote OF o. TO
q Tho purchase price was In the neigh
borhood OF 100000 The city imnle-
diately reduced the price of gas from %
to &c cents Thousand cubic feet and the
wisdom of Mr. Chamberlainfs policy was
shown in profits of 10000 for the first
year. Since then the rates have stead1-
4 ly been reduced until they now stand at
30 cents, and at this low rate last years
profits exceeded s2SOO0o, after setting
aside large sum for sinking fund ana
depreciation.
Tho tangible result Of the public owner