Albuquerque evening citizen., 1905-07-12
MUNICIPAL UNDERTAKINGS
IN STAlD GREAT BRITAIN
From New Ytrk Tribune

Harrogate near Yorkshire, offers illustration of
the English practical talent for turning everything
count 1t was an insignificant hamlet until the first of
the healing chaybeate springs was discovered early in
the seventeenth century, and although the wealthy class
es in the north promptly recognized the curative value
of the waters and two hundred acres known the
Stray set apart by legislative action for public
the growth of the sluggish until municipal
terprise was shown.
Smolett in his day. wrote of Harrogate as "a wild
common bare and bleak without tree shrub the
least signs of cultivation" That before Harlow Moor
had been purchased and improved the boys valley garden
laid out the storage sulphur reservoir constructed the
Montpelier garden baths opened and the entire
tenn OF medicinal waters brough under the efficient admin
israton of the civic authorities Harrogate town
as populous Doncaster and its resources as health
resort have been largely increased by municipal enter
prise The corpoatoan has invested 900 in the
royal baths and springs winter garden and kursaa and
concert and assembly rooms and it has improved the
parks and laid out series of beautiful walks and drives
Advantage has been taken every for attracting
visitors and mnistering to their pleasure and comfort
unity of direction has been brought about and the var
GUS sulphur electric superheated air. massage and
high frequency baths under the charge of a mun
cpa official, with medical advisers.
bennington in Warwickshire, conducts its pump
rooms, baths and mineral springs municipal under
taking under the direction of committee of the town
council and the same practice prevails at Bath where
large investments have been made in the grand pump
room, the Roman promenade and other improvements
The corporations of seaside resorts take equally
wide view Of their duties and responsibilities Scarbor
much to good local government natural advan-
tages The town council controls large
porate properties, and is able to keep taxation a low
level but it has hesitated make large investments
in electric plant and in public works which ncreas
ed the atractveness of fashionable resort The
marine driveway and .seawal around the CASTLE which
in the final stage of construction will
less than $400000a large outlay for single improve
ment in town of $4,000 population The council
considers keep abreast with the seaside
in the SOUTH and by its enterprise Scarborough
protected against competition enabled its
high reputation.
Torquay, with similar energy, has undertaken gas
water electric light and harbor works. has
iums opened, promenade piers rooms baths and
marine gardens.
Bournemouth corporation is equally enterprising in
laying underciff drveways, winter gardens golf
grounds and has not hestitated to onetenh of
the of the borough into pleasure grounds.
At Brighton, at least $1000000 has been expended in
recent in seawas promenades and parades the
'front.' and in improving Preston park and other pleasure
grounds In these and many other instances municipal
activity takes the practical form of administering the
local estate with enlightened sefnerest for the collect
we interests of the community The attractions of these
pleasure resorts plied by carefully designed i'm
provements, which sound business investments for
towns without industries of their