Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-09
re.onvrieht 1904. by Frederick upham Adams.l
VII

~ BIRMINGHAM owns its gas plant
~ and has operated it successful
p ly for more than third of
century. A private company
controls the gas in Liverpool, and 1t
will be several years before the city
can acquire possession of the fran
chise. On the other hand, Liverpool
operates it's tramways. while private
company operates those Of Blrm1ng-
ham, leasing them from the city.
1t is rather singular that of the ten
most popular objects Of municipal own
ership in Great Britain not city has
undertaken the entire list The ten
have in mind are as follows:
Flrst.-Dwellings for the working
classes.
Second.-Tramways.
Third.-Gas works.
Fourth.-Electric lighting and power
plants.
Fifth.-Markets.
si4th.-Telephonee.
Seventh.-Hsths and washhouses.
Eighth.-Refuse and sewer disposal.
| Ninth.-Cemeteries.
| Tenth,-Works department.
All Of these, with the exception Of
cemeteries, are reproductive insttu-
tons and in Great Britai4 are tech
nically classed under the head Of ing
nicipaI trading" In the above list 1
have placed only those utilities which
are practically municipality unknown
in the United States and have not In
eiudsd waterworks for the reason that
a large percentage, if not the majority,
of cities in this country and Canada
clearly recognize that the water supply
should belong to the city and be operaf~
led by 1t. Glasgow comes the nearest
| Of any city to complete municipaliza-
tIon, but as get IT maintains no burial
grounds.
I had an interesting talk with Sir
Samuel johnson on this subject. For
thirty odd years Sir Samuel has been
town clerk of Nottingham, and II
should be understood that the town
clerk is the principal officer In British
town or city, having vastly more pow.
er and influence than the mayor or any
elective official. He usually holds his
place for life, and most town clerks
live to good old age. It would be diff
cult to find higher type Of the court
lily, old fashioned English gentleman
than Sir Samuel johnson, and his Off
cial life goes back to the days before
: the present scope Of public ownership
was dreamed Of.
: why is it." asked, "that there Is %
little uniformity Of actiec among your
cities in the matter of municipalities
ton? II public ownership be good
thing, why do your cities omit certain
enterprises and take up othersf II II
be practical for Birmingham to own its
gas works, why is 1t not equally 90 fol
Liverpool and for all other citiesr
when our young folks get married
and start housekeeping" said Sir Sam
uel, after pause, leach couple pro
ceeds to At up its house according to 1T
! tastes or MEANS One may buy piano
another begin the collection Of libra
Try, third may put all of Its surptui
: earnings into land, while others vii
: concentrate their energies on obtaining
5 possession Of various comforts and lux
uries. But all have in mind the eventu
al ownership Of everything which vii
Iconduce to happiness and prosperity
LIT is the same with our cities. Their
: are good and sufficient reasons VIII
they are compelled to watt before the
dare assume certain responsibilitte
Glasgow's proud position has been al
l. tanned from the fact that she starte
g on this work many years before tn
8 other cities did. In many instances "
j. are hampered by leases and franchise
q granted to private companies and mus
wait until these expire or pay extos
= tionate prices for their surrender. Hs
k cry city In Great Britain knows that
" should own it's gas and electric ligh
y ing works, and every one has sue
D Ownership in contemplation. 1t Is M
/. a matter Of principle, but Of expedtenc
3, lin other words, Of money. Come ove
= he poured out another cup Of tea, ''com
+ over again when you are as old az
o am, and our successors will show 70
d the municipal edifice of which we AZ
Q building the foundation"
When Joseph Chamberlain becam
Q mayor Of Birmingham in 1873 he ~
i, about to purchase the gas and wate
lie supplies for the city. Several pr
II vious attempts had been made, but Il
v conservatism Of the taxpayers and Il
D. influence Of corporate interests ha
is been sufficient to defeat his less enc
If getic and resourceful predecessors. NJ
h. Chamberlain made an exhaustive stud
,r of the subject and presented II so +
vorably to the council that the measul
passed by vote Of "a to 2. The pu
E chase price was in the neighborhood ,
$1O,O00,OO0. The city Immediately redu
q ed the price of gas from IS to 10 cen
thousand cubic feet, and the wisdo
Of Mr.. Chamberlain's policy was show
in profits of $4,000 for the first yea
10 Since then the rates have steadily bee
- reduced until they now stand at
~ cents, and at this lo's rate last year
81 profits exceeded $2sOOO0 after settiI
~ aside large sum for sinking fund az
- depreciation.
- The tangible result Of the publ
~ ownership Of gas works in Birmingha