The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-18
MUNICIPALUNACY.
BY JOHN KHNDRIcK BANGS.

Judging from the reports that reach
~ from various parts of the country as
to the condition Of civic lighting COM
panies and wllted water plants, we
shall soon be relieved OF the stigma
placed upon us by the British visitor
TO this country who declared that we
had no impressive ruins to attract the
traveller. Would 1t not be a good plan
for some munihcent millionaire to buy
up few Of these. transfer them to
the banks Of the Hudson and thus put
that beautiful waterway into the run
ming In the matter OF legendary inter
est with the Rhlnel A few moss and
Ivy covered ruins of this kind would
add much to the scenic beauty Of the
picturesque river and doubtless inspire
our literati with CHASTITY legendary
lore that will make those old stories OF
the Rhine look like a mark and a half
Here indeed is q chance for Mr.. An
drew Carnegie to do something to beau
tify his adopted native land and to all
the shelves OF his many libraries as
well with good reading at one fell
swoop.
The increase Of the public debt Of
Birmingham. England, from $4,000, 900
in the early seventies Of the last cen
fury to $75,OO0.OO0, according to the
last available figures, shows how com
pletely municipal ownership wipes out
a debt Of that kind Alongside of $751;
100000 a paltry sum of $40OO,0O0 is
not only wiped out, but actually an
initiated.
The police OF Chicago were assessed
In the last elections to pay the ex-
penses Of the municipal ownership
campaign. This is another point In
favor OF comprehensive SYSTEM Of
public ownership. After awhile, with
the mOtormen, conductors, watermen,
gasman, ditch diggers, linemen, cleo
tricians, and so on. to assess for sim
liar purposes, the public will doubt
less enjoy free elections. One might
almost hope that such a fund as this
would wax so great that after elections
are over there would be balance left
to declare a municipal dividend with.
The byproducts Of the municipal own
ership idea grow daily more and more
interesting not to say alluring.
1t is nonsense to say that municipal
ownership breeds socialism. On the
contrary. 1t is driving people back to
indiyldualism. In some European
cities people who used to patronlze the
trolleys now walk because they wish
to get where they are going along
lines OF least official resistance. And
In Valley City, N. D., the quality Of the
service Of the public gas plant has
driven a number of business men to
install gasoline lighting systems Of
their own on their premises.
Muncie, Ind, has abandoned her
lighting plant but consoles herself
with the thought that her bonds re-
main. AS the poet said, or would have
said IL he had thought of It:
Old ties are hard to sever.
Other ties endure forever.
=
The city fathers Of Brunswick. Mo-.
have just done a good stroke Of bust
ness In selling its lighting plant for 80
cents on the dollar. taking pay in
light and water. 1t is fortunate II
wasn't a municipal bakery. 1t would
be hard to pay for that by sending
large drafts OF rhubarb pie and cream
cakes to the city treasury, to say moth
ing Of the risk Brunswick would incur
Of a sudden attack OF civic indigestion
running into chronic appendicitis from
overindulgence in doughnuts. Opera
lions upon the body polite are danger
Gus things, since the patient is apt to
experience Ill effects from taking gas.