New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-20
EXPERTS ABROAD.
Progress of tie Investigation Of Pub
he and Pirate O5Unership.
London. May 8.


private ownership in British towns have the vir-
tue OF rsricence There arc no premature DIS
closures OF opinion. They are making a close
study OF the plants and accounts OF twenty-fou-
street railway, electric light and gas undertake
sngs twelve under public and twelve under prl-
waite management, and they are awaiting the
arrival OF the main committee Of the National
Civic Federation this month before tabulatinG
the results or instituting comparison between
the two systems OF ownership. Their own work IS
20 be scrutinized by their American associates
ana a series Of visits paid TO various towns
where local authorities and company officials can
be consulted. It may be a month six weeks
before the labors OF the engineers and account
ants can be revised and completed; and when the
facts are summarized there will be various in
terpretations of them, for the committee includes
hearty supporters and strenuous opponents Of
what IS known as municipal socialism Mean
while. the experts on the ground are cautious In
discussing any branch of the subject. since they
know that their own processes are TO be in
vestigated and revised before any conclusions
are based upon them. II the commission does
nothing else. It VIII establish a new American
record for silence. self-restraint and moderation
IN controversial matters.
The scope Of this interesting and important
investigation can be readily outlined The gas
services of eight cities have been critically
amined. Glasgow, Birmingham. Manchester and
Leicester have been selected as representative
examples OF public ownership; and Sheffield,
Newcastle and the South Metropolitan. London,
have been taken as equally effective illustrations
OF private ownership. a fourth company remain
ing TO be selected. No complaint of the selec-
tions can 5e made by the advocates Of either
system for the undertakings are among the best
in the United Kingdom. The private corporation
in Sheffield has one of the most effective gas
plants in the kingdom, with every improved
mechanical device and every known economy;
and the price fo- consumers is exceptionally low
Jess than Is. Sd. The Newcastle private SER
vice is also most efficient. and the London COM
pany is well managed. On the other hand. the
municipal gas services Of Manchester, Glasgow,
Birmingham and Leicester are thoroughly profit
able undertakings. One-half OF the capital debt
OF the Manchester plant has been paid off, and
the interest charges have been reduced until
there is a net profit of 100000 available an
nualy for the relief of local taxation. The rates
are also materially lowered IN Liverpool and
Leicester by gas profits. and there would be a
similar result in Glasgow if the corporation had
not chea pened gas for consumers and also laid
aside abnormally large reserves for depreciation
Of plant Glasgow has the lowest gas bills in
the group OF four towns-about IS 1d-but re-
auctions could be made in the other three. if the
councils were not anxious to tighten the burdens
Of local taxation and to justify municipal trad
ing The quality is inferior, but gas is cheaper
in the kingdom than in America whether munic-
Fpal or company Altogether there is an excel
lent opportunity for an accurate comparison be-
tween the practical operation Of private and
public ownership OF the gas supply under the
most favorable conditions. The tests applied
In Atlanta and Richmond can be repeated on a
larger scale and with more decisive effect.
Electric lighting is subjected by the American
experts TO a similar examination under the rival
systems of ownership. The municipal supplies
OF Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and st. Pan
cras will be compared in detail with the private
services Of Newcastle and three large companies
here-the Metropolitan. the Westminster and the
City of London. Only two of the municipal
services-Liverpool and st. Pancras-nake any
contribution TO the relief Of local taxation; and
the operation of sinking funds has not been car
ried far enough to effect substantial reductions
ln interest charges. The working expense per
unit varies from Old. in Liverpool to 166d in
ST. Pancras; and the prices charged range from
1S3d TO 3.67d. in the same towns. The experts
viii have opportunity for making an eX-
haustlye comparison Of public and private plants
and Of the efficiency Of each service and the
charges to consumers. Experienced accountants
have been needed for the two services are con-
ton and renewal are much larger in group
than in the other The cost Of street lighting
must also be included. and the tramways cannot
be left out of account, since the combination of
the two electric services promotes economy OF
working Altogether it is a complex problem
which the American commission has undertaken
20 solve; and the labor involved by the exanlina-
ton has been arduous and perpleXing Incl
dentaIly there will be a basis for direct COM
parison OF plant service and prices between the
English group of eight and as many centres Of
population in America
4 third branch Of the general subject will be
the operation OF street railways by municipali-
dies and private companies. The municipal
group selected includes Glasgow. Liverpool,
Manchester and the South London tramways
conducted by the County Council: and the pri-
vafe companies are the London United Dublin
United and Bristol systems. with fourth not
yet selected. The Liverpool and Manchester
railways make considerable contributions to the
relief OF the rates; and the Glasgow railways
are equally profitable, although the results
not equally available, owing to contributions to
the Common Good Fund and the Councils ex-
treme caution in holding back reserves for de-
probation. These reductions Of taxation cannot
with fairness be left out Of the exhibit Of public
ownership; and when the comparison is COM
pleted between the municipal and private
groups It can be enlarged 10 include the
street railways OF American cities. The mileage
OF tramways in the United Kingdom is small in
comparison with that Of street railways in Amer
fca-33e0 against 10000: and there are as many
as seven gauges here. that railways in the
same districts cannot be operated in connection
with another. Long distance electric trac-
ton under American transfer conditions is Writ