St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-14
How British Cities Man
age Public Utilities
One of the Most Tremendous Industrial Revo-
luions Since the Birth of Modern Civilization
Bv FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS
Copyright 1904. by Frederick Upham Adams.1


dividual effort made so lamentable |
failure as in Great Britain. | do not |
mean a failure in a dividend paying |
sense. but a failure to keep anywhere |
near abreast of the mechanical, inven- |
tive and engineering progress Of the |
age. The rapid development of ma
chinery and Of processes had the same |
effect in England as elsewhere-viz, the |
formation of large corporations, some |
of which secured monopolistic control |
in various fields. Gas plants, water
works and street railways were thus
constructed and operated. At the in
ception of these enterprises there was
no demand for public ownership. 1t |
was not until Travelled Englishmen de-
clared that such properties were far
below the standard of efficiency and
economy established in other countries
that there was a clamor for improved
service and reduced rates.
Then 1t was that the inertia Of the
English and Scottish capitalists reveal
ed itself. These placid men could see
no reason why they should change.
They smiled at the assertion that there
was anything to learn from what had
developed in the United States and in
other countries which had mania for
tearing down old things and erecting
new ones in their places. George Fran
els Train had landed in England and
performed the miracle of introducing
horse cars, or "tramways," as they
| term them. Was it not enough to
| adopt one American device without at
tempting to follow the hazardous ex-
periments of cable cars and electrical
traction? They would not listen to any
demand for modern methods.
In taking this attitude they were in
exact accord with other property own
ers whose money was invested in enter
prises not so public in their nature. The
| landlord whose buildings were devoted
to offices did not tear them down and
erect new ones when reminded that
New York, Chicago and scores of
American cities had revolutionized
that type of architecture. The dens
off Fleet street and the Strand were
good enough for Dombey & Son, and
the squalid quarters of the Cheshire
Cheese served to meet the demands of
Samuel johnson and Oliver Goldsmith.
Why tear them down in imitation of q
nation which was woefully lacking in
antiquities and traditions? Some Of
| toIe vytoldad tn q T1nnIIlar dom nd
for elevators, so they put them in and
called them lifts" but absolutely re-
fused to consider any such wild eyed
scheme as a system Of plumbing which
would provide hot and cold water In
rooms occupied by their guests. Nor is
there hotel in Great Britain which l
have seen or heard of that has adopted
this modern Improvement"
With these and a thousand other ex-
amples to fortify his course, it is small
wonder that the English investor in
street railways, gas plants and similar
quasi public enterprises declined to
yield to the growing demand for bet
ter service He was equally deaf to the
representatives Of private manufacture
ers who urged that by the introduction
of electricity and other innovations
an increased efficiency could be OBJ
tanned which would show in increased
dividends. He would not listen to 6
word of it. That which had been goo(
enough for his father was good enough
for him.
Such was the attitude of the private
capitalist in Great Britain when thu
public ownership movement had it
birth, and such is his attitude at thu
present moment. He does not believt
in any novelty not of his own inven
ton, and he has neither the taste no
: the talent for invention. He therefor
stood still, and the public ran over him
: I am unable to find any record that tn
English capitalist offered any decides
b opposition to this tragedy. Certainly b
y did not become excited over it. Tha
+ would not have been in good form. Fl
: simply waited and watched the process
) sion pass. Public ownership became
L recognized institution without his SAM
) ton, assent, dissent, comment or e.
: element.
Il England has adopted public owne
: ship for the simple reason that privat
" capitalists refused to properly manag
l. private monopolies. There was no sci
Il timent about it. There was no appet
to high economic ideals. There was I
Is academic discussion Tt did not eve
lc form a partisan issue and was rarely
Il plank in local platform.
ts And despite all this there has BET
- accomplished one of the most IRENE
Z. dous industrial and economic revol
g tons since the birth Of modern civi
% zation.
ID