New-York tribune., 1905-08-15
LANCASHIRE'S BRIGHTON.
zduertiang as a Resource of Mu-
nicipaI Socialism.
Rlacknonl. England. July 81.


Brighton 50 long as the municipality resins the
how II has only one industry. the entertain
rnert OF the industrial class in Lancashire ana
Yorkshire. and Il has developed with exceptional
energy and enterprise its resources as a SEASIDE
resort Il has = permanent populatloh OF MY
thousand. but on every summers DAY as many many
Hs one hundred thousand visitors are Aooeo- No'
content with expending S2oeoeoo on espla-
rsdes piers and sea defence works. the munich
ralitv has ordered an additional investment Oh
S1750OoO IN lengthening and widening the pa
80 g., that brighton may have no advantage
g. attractions. II has lighted piers. esplanades
ana streets with electric and gas plant ana eS-
tabHshed municipal trans on circuit OF Ten
miles After running up local Indebtedness OF
over SSO0OoOO with sinking fund OF SlVo'-
90 in Improving the estate, Il ad"ertlses the
seaside resort AZ the expense OF the rateoavers-
TIE municipality has authority 70 levy spe-
ria rate of twopenoe for general advertising
snd there is no complaint from taxpayers, since
,ps r~7sne-1rv Of the town depends upon en-
-e-r-sse fr making its attractions known far
ers wide and drawing in swarms of hoioay
visitors day and night These advertising
charges co not now amount 10 more man
81 465 annually. for Blsckpool Is without
r4val on the Lancashire coast for the pleasure
trsaic of the working classes
II order 10 meet the interest charges and gen
era expenses Of managing so large an estate
nearly every interest in the town Is inunIc-p@--
ized Water. gas. electric supply u4iH"0s =
markets. slaughter houses and sea water WORKS
sre owned and managed by the nuhlC4I"'''s
Fven the cemeteries are conducted by the loca-
authorities bur little Is said about them in the
4,-ta1 7iseu1ents since the resort is repre-
sa--e5 as SO fnviEorating and salubrious that II
Is in7poitic 10 suggest that anybody ever uieS
here except from old age. From al these sources
especially from gas electric lighting ana lhe
--arr service there Is an annual surplus income
NJ So 600 which is turned into the town treas
NV and j. regarded as equivalent 10 = saw
n o.. pence IN the rates. Yet when al lhese
scononaies are practised in consequence OF nluilc
,rsl ownership the general taxing rate amounts
- Sc ad The corporation property Is valued
=. over $4,000. and the borrowing powers
- basn so largely used that additional I'M
movements can hardly be considered Tor a long
-,a-ios HAPPILY for the enterprising council Inc
vork OF rlinistering TO the pleasure or the Lsil-
casbire working class has been carried so laI
that the enlarged pronenades can ne leII DE- 'iieS
are AL that is necessary is series OF OIo-
v-srnrnes which viii keep the excursion trains
IN motion; and, with motor car races, Alumlna-
lions local fessvities and an increasing variety
os side shows there is no lack OF excite
-7ent and Eayety II is the corporation OF the
town that keeps the ball rolling
The Lancashire Coney Island is a long stretch
Of sea beach with three piers. well constructed
promenade along the front and busting streets
behind filed with shops, theatres and SIDE
shows A lofty tower is ahame with electric
lights at night: there is a wheel with mighty
span: an enormous winter garden accommo-
6a1es thousands Of saunterers, and scores OF
theatres and music halls offer entertainment OF
high and low degree. from Nine BeTnhardt ana
Mrs Patrick Campbell in romantic drama 10
the fat woman and the living skeleton IN thelr
silent pose OF torpid content or penslVe melsAi-
rholr There are hotels Of every grace anu
there are lodgings for the humblest pleasure
seekers A medley of fantastic architecture
vs~isb Daint and flashing lights Blackpool is
not picturesque until the hundred thousahu ulp-
rars have been emptied into il from excursion
trains and are disporting themselves IN Ihe
streets and Oh the sands Then II is wonder
eul scene Of surging throngs and rollicking good
nature for the industrial classes Of the norIh
Go NOT snare themselves when they have hol-
dav but 90 everywhere and do everything win
spsssion for amusement and frenzy Of excite
rnent which one would hardly expect from the
stord csrerorn faces. When the thousands Of
bsrhers have grown weary Of the low line OF
sur sud the yellow sand there are the merry
Eoroun5s and the steam whirlig1gs, the shooting
galleries and the peep shows, the hawkers
stalls and the concert halls; and when night
comes on The high tower flashes it's electric
fires and the town hall and the theatres are
slIlantIy Illuminated, ana mobs Of shouting
jewellers and dancers take possession Of the
streets and sea front. II the griny factory
towns OF Yorkshire and Lancashire one feels
the v-ea-isorae throb OF the ceaseess activity Of
tbs Industrial world and is overwhelmed with
the consciousness OF the tireless energies Of hu-
raanity. Blackpool. with its enjoyment Of every
passing hour in idle pleasures. seems 10 lie out
side the circle OF carking cares and endless
labors Il is a short journey from Manchester
or Leeds or Preston. yet there is a radical
change OF motive like the transit from work
ing planet 10 world Of incidence lulled by
Iy5isn measures.
Amazing as is the night life OF this Lancashire
watering place with It's brilliancy OF color and
It's bewiIdering variety. the day scenes are even
more eKhilsrating in this fortnight Of festivity,
when the opening of new promenades is cele-
brsted and motor races ambitious as those
o. Brighton are run. The town corporation has
expended great deal Of money in improve
rnents and advertising and il feels under obliga-
ton 10 convince the ratepayers that penny
turned Is q shilling earned. and that there is
something IN Blackpool besides heavy taxation.
80 there are festival programmes. with oratory
a. civic banQuets with professions Of illumi-
mated tramcars with the Oldest electric car In
England under the direction OF the Oldest driver
and The oldest tranway manager. with excur-
sons along the Lancashire coast. with special
Trains from all the large towns IN Lancashire.
WIN nluminations OF the principal buildings.
a'a with motor racing new course. With
afaf bora and