New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
ADVICE FOR CHICAGO.
Mr.. DGIrympLe's Mission to america
Hints from Scottish Municipalities

American cities with expert knowledge on tho
art Of local government Glasgow has received
this tribute from the new Mayor Of chicago
who has asked permission 10 borrow the ser
vices Of the general manager Of tramWays TOT
thirty days: but the principles Of municipal
ownership and operation OF street railways nave
been adopted so generally from the metropolis
Of the Clyde that Scotsmen consider them thei
own The tramway undertakings owned by the
local authorities IN Scotland represent capital
outlay OF "a 343 1855 for construction and H.
s23123 for operation: and in the course OF a
wear over 2O0OOOOOO passengers are carried 10y
Them. against 100000 by private corpora
lions The Glasgow idea that tramways must
always be owned by the local councils and iaal
they can ordinarily be operated as oranch OF
The n,,blio service has been taken up deliberately
and cautiously by one municipality after an
other; and the results are closely watched, espe-
cisJlv as electric traction has involved costly
reconstruction and a great increase in outlay
Naturally members Of town councils here ana
IA other Scottish cities have heard with satislac
ton the tidings that the Mayor-elect Of Chicago
has considered It necessary to call upon Gas
row Official for expert advice as though ne were
a consulting engineer. AS they say themselves
1T shows that the old country can teach
progressive. enterprising country Ike America d
T-yv things" Yet they are surprised that a local
hnanc8er rather than a tramway manager was
not United 10 Chicago. This is because eX-
perience has taught them that the municipaliza-
ZION Of 4rarnways is not difficult matter so far
as details OF organization, equipment ana man
ee.ment are concerned. These are mastered as
osspv as any other details OF local administTa-
4fon. What is tentative and controversial IS the
financial side OF municipal tramway undertake
tngs. and this IS the chief matter with Whlch
members Of town councils are now concerned
IL zaerw,af7 nA
rervssfve town Of Aberdeen has followed Glas-
-, A ,rar1vraV service. as in every other
1-s1cb of municipal work. II provides an cleo
sr,c 4ranv-av service as II does water. gas ana
u,,rolies OF ele.tric light and power; and Whlle
4hs MANAGEMENT OF the streetcar service mas
f,een q simple matter since the policy Was
sdOuted seven years ago. the financial oetaAls
have been most troublesome. The service IS
eTcsIlent for seven routes with an aggregate
length OF over fourteen miles. There are Ten
,ns1n+e services between the Bridge OF Dee and
the Bridge OF Don. between Markets. ana -" oou-
side between easiest and Mannoheld, between
,-asfle-s4- and Bayvie7y, between easiest and
TsoEemount. on a circular route. and during the
summer between Market-st- and the links ana
bsfhing station Since the introduction OF electric
mower the number Of passengers has Increased
from 100000 10 100000 and the revenues
from E3l.5OO TO $4,000; and these results are
considered satisfactory for city Of l6oooV
population. with an average fare Of penny
Aberdeen has cheap and rapid transit; arc, as
the power is supplied by the electric depart
4nent the service IS fairly economical, the cost
per mile averaging sixpence halfpenny. Yet
members OF the town council tell me that the
avnersnseut OF municipal management has been
a hazardous one owing 10 the large investment
Of CAPITAL and that IL has only been within the
last year that they have begun 70 hope for a
surplus, which nay eventually enable them u
contribute 10 the retes. With a percentage 81
81 OF receipts 10 capital. and a percentage OF
rs Of expenses 10 receipts, The surplus remains
stationary, at about E14.231 and when interest
and repayment charges are met. this is held
over as q provision for depreciation and reserve.
and there are no profits yet available for the
relief OF taKpayers. The members of the council
are now hoping for a larger surplus with increase
Of population and traffic, but they are cautious
in their forecasts. The Dundee municipality.
which also owns and operates its tramway ser
vices has had a similar experience. The surplus
there is about 1900. and no contribution is
made 10 the rates
Mr.. James Dalrymple the general manager
Of the Glasgow tramways. was promoted to his
present post a few months ago when Mr.. John
Young accepted a lucrative offer from the
Yerkes interests IN London. He has spent hts
life IN the public service and is familiar with
the Office routine and details Of management Of
the Glasgow service and. while he is a cour-
teous, efficient and alert official he has not yet
had az opportunity Ger Tivaling his predecessor.
man OF remarkable energy and force Of char
acter. 1Ir. Young was called the direction
OF the trauEays IN 1892. after he had been
superintendent OF the Cleansing Department for
Seventeen years. 6ud he organized tie corpora
iion service al a c.Ia.s when negotiations with
zario1ls cclg..ar Is we've uroken OF for the re-
newal OF leasea. and wien public sympathy was
excited by tha Grievances Of the Etreetcar en-
ployes. who were both over worked and under
paid. The town corporation had originally con-
structed the traInways AID had leased them TO
operating companies. but 81 the expiration Of
he leases which IN the course Il tNeaJy-l hree
years has yielded q total profit Of EG3c.S 20 the
Glasgow treasury the council ordered us own
supply % tramcsrs and LO-ses ara created 4
municipal service without purchase o. plant.
leases and goodwill OF the private corporations.
Iesis vas great undertaking, AM r vas fol-
sowed hy arothe1-tne INTRODUCTION o. a COM
rlete electric system Of urban and suburban
transit. III. Young was tie executive head
who Superintendent both OF these revolutionary
movements. and ne made q unique reputation
IS an organizer and systematic Official. He was
favored from the outset ~ having the force Of
public opinion behind HIM for the private cor
poratiors had not treated tts operatives fairly
and had refassc ~ ,e-ise wages or to shorten
hours when cit toends ranging from to II
per cent were available for stockholders. He
could have given Mayor Dunno fun information
respecting the salutary results Of municipal
management in the removal Of the grievances q
The working force ana the public and in the i'm
provenent OF local transit. His successor, Mr..
Dalrympe, has received his information ar sec
ond hand as a subordinate and has been general