St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-14
How British Cities Man
age Public Utilities
London Is the Greatest Landlord In the World
.The Great Housing Act" 81 81 % 81
BY FREDERICK UPHAM ADJ ANS
copyright, 1904. by Frederick Upham AdamAl

by q number Of Objectionable ones. a
year ago parliament constituted struc-
lures housing thirty persons as an
area of disturbance instead Of twenty
houses. This amendment is REINFORCED
by power to widen old streets or to cut
new ones, with the right to purchase
all abutting property and rebuild there
on.
Inasmuch as there Is absolutely no
limit to the borrowing power Of the
London county council for the purpose
Of executing reproductive enterprises,
it is difficult to fix the possible bounds
Of its operations. 1t has not the slight
est difficulty in floating enormous bond
issues and is authorized to make them
redeemable at the end Of eighty year
periods. A recent issue Of $10,OOO,OOO
of 3 per cent bonds sold for $9,9OO,OO0.
The taxpayers are not disturbed, since
there is no charge against the rates.
The buildings thus far erected show a
handsome profit. A few OF the great
private landlords are disposed to fear
the threatened competition and to re-
sent the rigid supervision exercised by
the housing committee, but despite
their vast wealth and high standing !
they do not seem to have an influence
much disproportionate to their num- |
bers.
London is composed Of the square
mile called "the city" and twenty-elght
surrounding boroughs. Each of these
has mayor and board OF councillors
and aldermen, and all are empowered
under the housing act to engage In
such enterprises, subject to the general
SUPERVISION of the London county coun-
| ell. Although it is only three years
since the boroughs have had this right,
An enormous amount of work has been
accomplished. Battersea has erected
dwellings for 1900 Of its population
At an expense of $780, Bermondsey
has erected four blocks of model dwell
ings for $50 persons. Camberwell has
provided accommodations for ,242 per-
sons at an expense of about $5O0,ooo.
The most extensive Of the borough
schemes is that undertaken by Shore
ditch. which is pushing work on three
large estates which its council has pur-
chased or condemned. For this work
there has been appropriated more than
S1.5O0,0OO. Houses and cottages are be-
ing erected for fully 5000 persons. The
borough supplies electric light to Its
tenants. The rate for two room nat
ia 16 cents a week and for three rooms
20 cents q week, with larger apart
ments in proportion. The buildings al
ready completed house 1000 persons
who pay from $1.50 to So week for
these fats. The borough derives prof
it both from it's rents and it's electrical
service.
. The boroughs combined have expend
ed or appropriated nearly &,Ooo,oo'
Q and are or will accommodate more
Il than $4,000 of their inhabitants. I'M
:. map of greater London is honeycombe'
i with these municipal dwellings, ant
q from all indications the work ha
y scarcely begun.
y But the activity Of the boroughs
/ insignificant compared with that OF tn
IS all powerful and aggressive Londo
Re county council By far the larges
II housing scheme ever undertaken by
'e private or public corporation is thu
at which is in progress in Tottenham,
suburb six miles from the heart
n London. There the London count
g. council is creating new town Whic
OF will have a population of 10000. Aft'
u prolonged negotiations the council pu
he chased from private holders a tract
Il 225 acres at price Of $1,000 an acr
'e, Through it runs the river Moselle, al
90 In every respect the location Is a d
lie lightful one. In the center there Is
We served a space for stores and publ
Id buildings, including fine library q
la mated by Mr.. Passmore Edward
From this center streets and bou
nd wards will radiate in all directions.
en- will be city Of cottages, each with
by garden and it's share Of the spacic
the courts, parks and open sections cal
by circuses.
no. The estate is divided into two trat
ass The one nearer thescity consists OF
lch acres and has frontage Of a III
to more than half a mile. Work is raE
&c ly progressing on this section. Tn
md will be ALSO isolated cottages for
on estimated population of $4,000,
eat 1000 more will be provided for in tie
ments over the stores. For this h
wer undertaking there has been set as
.ars the sum of 100000. 1t Is planned
ellis complete this work in 1907.
4