St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-07-05
How British Cities Man
age Public Utilities
How John Jasper Blacksmith, of London Lives In Com
fort In Corner House Rental of $2-88 Per Week
BY FREDERICK UPHAM AID A NJ
Copyright 1904 by Frederick upham Adamal

In the place OF these Olu STRUCTURES we
have erected model ones which accom-
modate 1862 persons. Houses and
cottages for TOPS persons have also
been completed at an expense exceed
ing 100000. In addition to this plans
have been prepared and land purchased
for 10,430 new tenements and 900 lodg-
ing rooms. These will afford accom-
mediation for ,055 persons, and the
total cost including the land, Is esti-
mated at $16,OOO0O0. 1t will thus be
seen that the London county council
has provided and Is providing for 49,
40 tenements and 1,84S lodging house
rooms for OF, 1872 persons at total out
lay of 1904, 080 These tenements
contain one, two, three, four, five and
six room apartments"
All of the fragmentary statements
and rumors concerning the extent of
the housing scheme planned by the
London authorities sink into insignif-
canoe compared with the plain facts
and figures. 1t is not a reform; 1t is
revolution.
Closely allied with the task of hous
ing the working classes of London Is
the problem Of providing cheap and
rapid transportation for those who live
in these suburban houses built by the
municipality. English capitalistic stu
pidity we'll nigh reached its limit at the
hands Of those men who found them
selves the owners Of street railway
franchises and plants.
While private enterprise in the Unit
ed States and In other countries was
eagerly pushing the work Of discard
ing horse traction for mechanical and
electrical the somnolent owners Of
such properties In Great Britain were
blind and deaf to the splendid progress
attained by inventors and engineers.
Realizing that there was no hope for
an awakening from this trance, the
London county council was not slow In
taking advantage Of an act passed by
parliament In 1870, which provided
that where the owners of a tramway
(street railway in any district are not
the local authority, such local authority
within six months after the expiration
of period Of twenty-one years from
the time when such owners were en-
powered to construct such tramway
and within six months after the ex-
pirat1oE Of every subsequent period Of
seven years may, with the approval Of
the board of trade, require such pro-
motors to sell them their undertaking
upon terms Of paying the then value
exclusive of any allowance for past or
future profits Of the undertaking. Of
the tramway, such value to be In the
case Of difference determined by a
referee appointed by the board of trade
on the application of either party"
There were fifteen private street rail-
ty of London. The first one which had
its franchise expire was promptly noti-
fed by the council that its plant would
be purchased. The company made a
claim for 100000. The county. scoffed
at this price A referee was appointed
and awarded the company $4,000.
The company appealed to- the high
court, which set aside the award. The
council appealed, and the court Of ap-
peals affirmed the referees award, and
their decision was confirmed by the
house Of lords. That settled it This
was In 1894.
The tramways act did not permit the
local authorities to operate street rail-
ways. 1t was therefore necessary to
lease the line for short period, which
was accordingly done, the lease expir-
ing in 1900 The council then proceed
ed to purchase other plants as the fran
chises expired and also introduced a
bill giving them power to operate lines.
Parliament passed such an act in 1885,
and on Jan. l, 1899, the London county
council came into formal possession Of
a large share Of the mileage of tram
ways within its jurisdiction. The last
private franchise will not expire until
1910, but the lines are small and Of no
consequence compared with the stu
pendous problem of constructing and
operating new arteries Of transporta-
ton.
In no modern utility is London SO
woefully deficient as in street railways.
1t has only 115 miles Of tracks, Of
which the county council owns eighty
eight miles. OF these forty eight are
north Of the Thames and are leased I'M
til 1910 to the British traction trust.
The county now considers that 1t made
mistake in making this lease and is
negotiating for its purchase. There
are forty-eight miles south Of the
Thames, Of which the council owns and
operates forty miles. The remnant of
private lines is purchasable in 1905.
London's lack of progress In street
transportation is best evinced by the
fact that the first electric tramcar was
driven from Westminster bridge to
footing on May 16, 1903. On this date
tens Of thousands Of miles Of electrical
railway were IN paying operation in
the United States, and such municipal.
dt1es as Manchester and Glasgow were
swelling their treasures from the re-
ceipts of publicly owned electrical
street railways.
London has only one mile Of tram.
way to every 10000 population. Glas.