The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-05
GLASGOW MAKES GOOD
ON PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Its Ownership of the Stree Rail-
way System Proves to be
Great Blessing.
Low Fares, Good Service, Good
Pay and Strikes is the
Record,

In recent years Glasgow has be-
come the Mecca of students Of munic-
ipal government. The elimination Of
the public-service corporation from
It's affairs has brought about a high
standard Of political bosses, and en-
abled men Of high ability and probity
to be elected to it's offices. Since AL
bert Shaw pronounced Glasgow to be
the model city Of the world, no writer
upon municipal matters in this ,Oun-
try feels that he has perfected his
study until he has visited that splen-
did example of city which minds
It's own business"
Glasgow began the operation of it's
municipal tramways July 1, 1894. Each
annual report since that time has
shown profit from operation, besides
other substantial advantages to the
people. The lowest fare charged by
the company that formerly operated
the tramways was 2 cents. The city
made the minimum 1 cent. The wis
dom of this action, and the advantage
of the service to the people, is shown
by the figures of the passengers paying
this fare, numbering 56,788,872, or 3005
per cent Of the total carried during
1908; 57,501,0S3, or 3o.43 per cent dur
ing 1904; 5S,540,o26, or 1913 per cent
during 1905; and 61,05S,S60, or 29.35
per cent during the past year.
The fares charged and the distane-
es passengers were carried by the
former company were: 1.12 miles, 2
cents; 1.8 miles, 3 cents; % miles, 4
cents; 1926 miles, 6 and 7 cents. The
charges of the municipal tramway are:
81 miles, 1 cent; 2.2S miles, 2 cents;
3.44 miles, 8 cents; 4.57 miles, cents;
5.74 miles, cents; 6.86 miles, cents;
So miles, cents; 9.14 miles, 8 cents;
1913 miles, 9 cents; lila miles, 10
cents; 1898 miles, IL cents. It will
be noticed that the city carries a pas
senger double the distance for the
same money that he was carried by the
company. While the greatest distance
a passenger could ride under COM
pany operation was 3.25 miles, the city
has extended the lines each year until
today a passenger can journey 1898
miles.
The beneficial effect of this munich
pal policy Upon the SAN tary and gen-
/ serals q s:l health condit of the people
tistics,. which show chat during 1881,
with 40 miles Of trarnway under op-
GRAFTON, 24.7 per cent of the population
lived in one room, and 44.7 per, cent
in two rooms. The extension of the
tramways opened up large tracts Of
land, and enabled the workingman to
move his family from the congested
and high priced apartments within the
city to the cheaper lands, with a result
that during 1901, with 13O miles Of
tramway in operation, the number Of
persons living in one room was re-
duced one-half, or to ~ per cent Of
the population, and the number liv-
ing in two rooms to 25.5 per cent Of
the population.
study Of the Glasgow report and
comparison with the report Of the
United Railroads of this city may be
of interest to our readers. The gross
capital invested in the Glasgow tram
ways is $14,411,038. The net debt now
owing, $S,399,711; the gross amount Of
debt paid through the sinking fund
since the construction of the tram
ways, $2,413,359; the gross amount Of
revenue contributed towards capital
account $3,597,975. It should be re-
membered that the net debt is the total
sum upon which interest payments
are to be made, as there are no stock
holders, controlling fictitious capital,
standing between the people and their
property demanding dividends.
Just what the capital invested in the
United Railroads property of this city
may be, probably no one knows. How
ever, the history of some of it's under
lying companies may give a fair idea
ber 7, 1895, will be found statement
that the Market Street company was
capitalized at 100000 Of stock and
100000 of bonds. That when the
assessor taxed it on 100000 the
president Of the company, Col. c.. F.
Crocker. appeared before the Board Of
Equalization, and swore that the road
cost only $1,600,O00; and that for
twenty, years dividends were paid up
on the stock and interest on the bonds.
Some years ago we were informed by
a former official Of the City Railroad,
which. was constructed by Woodward
in 1869, and later extended on Mission
street from the Ferry to Twenty-sixth
street, and to Bush and Dupont streets
that the original investment in this
property was $4,000. All of the i'm
provements and extensions were paid
for out of the profits of operations,
besides which the company paid good
dividends. During 1874 the company
sold six car tickets for Is cents. To-
day the fare is 5 cents. About 1888
the road was sold to the Market Street
company for about $1,500,000. During
1902 the United Railroads~was formed
and purchased the various railroads
operated by the Market Street, Sutter
street and San Mateo companies. The
total stock and bonds issued by these
companies was less than $36, 200, 900.
The United Railroads Immediately is
sued additional stock and bonds, max
ing the total covering the property,
$50, 100000. In addition to this, last
hn oo,,, m :, - 3e1S,a.l l<o ,,4<o a..