New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
FACTS ON MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
Figures from English Cities-The Situation
in Detreit.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; I deem It q good sign that Board OF
Aldermen has taken UP the consideration Of ex-
orbitant telephone charges and remedies for the
same. and in this connection permit me to state
few pertinent facts as to what other municipalities
are doing in the way Of owning and managing pub
lie utilities.
see by our consular reports that in Hull Eng
land, the municipaIization of such public utilities
as gas and electric lighting, water supply. baths
and streetcars has resulted in profit to the city
treasury and an important reduction in charges
TO the public. 4 two-cent fare carries one on the
cars IN any direction to the end OF the line An
exclusive telephone service in private house costs
less than SIS year. and in business Office about
IS more
Here. in my apartments. I pay over $50 a year.
and S2 Of this. the charge for Installation, is
imposition throughout. In Hull there has also
come. as in many other places large Increase In
The number OF subscribers. and as It has COM
ps'ied the National Telephone Company to reduce
its rates one-half the latter musi do the same II
demanded in all other large town., as condition
was made in the companys agreements that for the
underground permits granted 1t would give all the
towns equal benefits where any reductions were
made in any one town.
In Hull gas is sold at 4s cents per 1900 feet and
electricity at cents unit and this Is the object Of
the city, not TO make proht so much, but TO
furnish the public with the best service at the low
est possible price. Yes. and. IN other favored
places this public ownership and operation of pub
lie utilities has eliminated stock watering inposi-
tiens and no end OF political 1obbery and has in
creased the civic pride OF the citizens.
Now to sum the results 10 the workings
OF British municipalities that engage in many
kinds of reproductive undertakings. note in a
report OF 1884 that In the 81 municipal corpora
u0ns IN England and Wales Qeaving out Londonl.
wherein nearly S70o0o0000 Is employed in different
enterprises such canals. crematoriuu1s bridges.
marine lakes cold stores, racecourse. a cOndi-
donng house, an aquarium, slaughter houses. tee-
phones, weighing machines and places for sterilz-
mg mix, the net profit is nearly 81 0oo.00o. And
"nen the capital borrowed Is repaid these munich
paitieS wH have not only the profits. but also the
possession or the undertakings which produce therni
As the capital put In water supplies Is more than
double that OF gas, the profits on the latter are
more than -FOUR times those water. so these
cities make the gas pay for the water Here is a
Ing
One OF the leading officials OF Detroit Informed
the writer that their municipal owned lighting
plant. the second largest In the world. had now
about paid for itself, and the people viii have
both the service and the plant at no greater cost
than would have been the service alone had Il
been in the hands OF a private monopoly such as
we have in New-York. And, while cost Is saved,
fair wages are paid eight hours Is the working
public exploitation.
We all OF know only teo we'll that In all these
matters private ownership and operation aim al
DIVIDENDS. not service: al money. not manhood;
while the other and better system aims at service
justice and humanity first and profit afterward,
while at the same time keeping all the advantages
Of internal union and the elimination Of strikes snd
lockOUtS JOSIAH c. PUMPELLT.
Morntngsds Heights Jan. 2s. 1906