Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-27

third of the amount Under private
gas cost consumers from
$1.25 to $1.50 q thousand feet, but this
has been steadily reduced until the
rates now stand at As cents for motive
power and 81 cents for lighting. When
the plant is fully paid for, which will
not be many years at the present rate
Of profits, the citizens of Glasgow will
pay not more than 80 cents for gas,
though it costs much more for oil and
coal in Scotland than in any part of
the United States.
It is nearly forty years since Glas-
gov startled Great Britain by declaring
war on the slums and tenements which
disgraced the city. The property own
ers refused to remedy conditions and
the city took radical steps. 1t pushed
through parliament bill giving it
power to condemn and purchase in
sanitary property. Armed with this
act, the city authorities of Glasgow
wiped out whole districts of insanitary
property, and the city started by con-
structing several model tenement
houses.
Glasgow now owns millions and mil
lions Of dollars worth of dwellings and
Is one Of the worlds greatest landlords.
Its competition with private landlords
is friendly, but wonderfully effective.
The city fixes a rate Of rents beyond
which others cannot go. 1t 1gidly en-
forces building and sanitary laws
which have greatly reduced the death
rate.
Glasgow has municipalized all the
common services with the exception of
cemeteries. 1t Is the owner of profita-
BILE markets and slaughter houses; 1t
maintains splendid system Of baths
and warehouses;; 1t possesses mag
pidcent art gallery and has built O
spsopiss palace which combines q
winter garden, art gallery, museum,
sledine rooms, theater and concert
hall, Il furnishes hydraulic power al
cost, q spends vast amounts on parks
music and entertainments. These and
ether functions are financed and man
aged by the elected representatives Of
the city.
| Party tines are absolutely ignored
when It comes to the election Of mem
bes Of the city council. The man wht
has served his people faithfully seldom
10 opposed when election day arrives
! The city hall Of Glasgow does not re
mind the visitor Of any civic structure
I IN the United States. No swarms Of
loaters, ward heelers and Office bro
kers or seekers bang about its entrance
or lounge In its halls. You are not per
m1tted to smoke Or carry lighted
cigar. One sees business men, archi
tech. engineers. bankers and other
who have occasion to VISIT the various
! Departments. The atmosphere Is tina
| Of well regulated bang or great mor
camille establishment It Is the bust
nass odace Of a municipal estate wortl
moro than 500, 100000,
There L. no army Of parasites draw
ing salaries for work which Is not per
i formed. There Ia no line Of cit1ssnl
ready to commit perjury In order tia
they may escape thadr fAir share OF tn
burdens Of taxation, There are no g,
hstweens employed by dishonest wealtl
to extort by bribery fevors from thos
who have taken an oath to faithful,
serve their city and community. Al
dsrmen meet In public to devise way
and means which shall promote tn
public good. There are no ward lead
ers. There is no gang. There is u
pull. There is no graft. The men a
the head Of affairs would no soone
think Of robbing their city than the
would Of stealing from their church Q
their club. ga:
Just glance at Edinburgh, theSm
beautiful city in Great Britain. Edin
burgh owns Its street railways, but II
stead Of operating them has lease,
them for a term OF twenty-one years t
q company witch pays rental Of
per cent on the capital outlay of SO 500
900 After paying interest, slnkin
fund and, other expenses the city ha
! "a. clear revenue Of about $27, 500 Thi
does not compare favorably with tn
record Of cities which operate thei
! plants, and there Is much dissatisfac
ton.
Edinburgh owns a fine system O
baths. It's electric light plant paid las
year q net profit Of 100000. In til
construction Of houses for the workln
classes Edinburgh has spent aearl
$lO0000O, and, while maintaining 10,
rent rates, there Ia a steady annus
profit to the city. The technical an
public schools OF Edinburgh are fl
: nous. Like most Scotch cities, 1t own
} it's markets and slaughtering bouse
, and has adopted modern methods fe
. the disposal Of sewage and stret
sweepings.