The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-06-13

lies only an hours ride from its older
rival, but it cost more to ship freight to
Liverpool than it did from Liverpool
to New York Threats, entreaty and
influence were all in vain. The fate Of
Manchester depended on securing cheap
communication with the ocean. Liver
pool was relentless. Manchester declar-
ed that she would cut her way to the
sea and become port. Liverpool snil-
ed The citizens Of Manchester form
ed canal company, raised $4O,OOO,00O
and began their titanic task. When
this amount was exhausted they Dor
rowed $10,0000O0 more When this
was expended they We're at the end Of
their resources. The canal was not
completed and no more private capital
could be raised
The city of Manchester came to the
rescue. 1t raised $25,00o,0OO from a
bond issue and became partner in
the enterprise The company could
not meet its interest, and again the city
came to its aid. The canal was opened
to traffic several years ago and has
done for Manchester all that its advo-
Gates claimed for it. The city now
has invested in the enterprise $4,000
900 and has bill before parliament
authorizing it to advance $10,000,000
more for the purpose Of deepening the
canal so as to permit the passage of
ships of the greatest draft. The mu-
nicipality is represented on the canal
board by eleven of its twenty-one mem
bers This stupendous work when COM
pleted will probably entail an expendi-
ture Of $1OO,OO0,00O and is likely to be-
come exclusively the property of the
municipality of Manchester. The city
has already made an investment larger
than any previously pledged by any
municipality in the world for a specific
business purpose.
Chicago's drainage canal was not de-
signed to yield revenue, but the Man
chester ship canal is primarily bust
ness enterprise. 1t may therefore, be
classed as the most conspicuous exam
pie Of municipal ownership in Great
Britain or elsewhere.
Even eliminating the ship canal; Man
chester easily occupies first place in
England in the volume of its municipal
work. 1t has constructed dwellings and
cottages for its laboring classes. 1t has
an extensive system Of baths and wash
houses. It owns three municipal ceme-
teries. with burial grounds set aside for
members Of the Church Of England,
Dissenters, Roman Catholics and Jews.
Manchester owns and operates success
fully an electric light and power gen
Grating plant. Its municipal gas works
turn a large annual revenue into the
city treasury. 1t owns $5,00O,000 worth
Of markets, which are large and
steadily increasing source OF revenue.
Its department for the scientific ham
ding and disposal Of refuse Is the most
extensive in the world and has brought
about huge manufacturing plant and
a farm of 3,0S1 acres, the whole CIV
ing employment to an army Of $500
men. Its publicly owned and operated
tramways rival those Of Glasgow and
excel those of the Scottish metropolis
In some particulars. 1t has well or
gained works department which ex-
ecutes most of the tasks formerly let
by contract, and it contemplates tele-
phone system, which when installed
will complete the list of the ten utili-
ties mentioned In the introduction Of
this article as the more popular objects
OF manipulation In Great, Britain.
Manchester has expended f$2,000,0O0
and more in erecting quarters for its
laboring class. Those first provided
and those now under way show in
striking contrast the development
which has been made along this line
in Great Britain. Electric transporter
ton had not then developed to point
where it was possible for the working
man to live in the environs of the city
1t was assumed that he was forever
fated to live in tenement houses, and
those who wished to make his life
more endurable bent their energies to-
ward planning and building the best
Of tenement structures.
When the time comes-and am
enough of an optimist to believe that it
will cOme-when every workingman In
Manchester, London, New York, Chica-
60 and all populous eenters shall be
able to rent or own house and a plot
Of ground, he will gaze with amaze
ment at such structures as now front
on Oldham road, Manchester. and the
gloomy piles which London has reared
In Millbank and other central sites
The tenement house is the worst single
feature in civilization which has
been unevenly developed from the rap
i'd perfection Of the machine There can
no more be model tenement house"
than there can be model death trap,
and tenement house Is tenement
house, be 1t next to a tannery with rent
rates Of $3.50 a week, payable In adj
vance Or dubbed an apartment house,
OF Fifth avenue with "suitesr calling
for the payment OF $4,000 a year.
When Manchester decided to erect
tenement houses her officials went
about 1t In no half hearted way. There
was district in Oldham road where
death reaped an annual harvest Of from
so to 80 out Of every 1000 who were
condemned to live there II was q vile