The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-18
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
 ROOMS IN THE SOUTH
Lighting and Water Plants Operated by Cities-Pub- lie Gas Plant Is Pride
 of Richmond
After Trip Through 13 States In Berth 13, Mayor Buckingham Returns to Bridgeport Healthy, and Happy.

Bridgeport Healthy, and
 Happy.
 Mayor Buckingham, wearing a broad
 smile, and fresh for business, after a
 days trip through the South, and a. stay at New Orleans, was back at his
 desk in City Hall, this morning. The
 mayos appears to have put on extra
 flesh. He said that Southern hospi-
 ta1ity is splendid and that there are some fine cities in the south. but he could not find any that surpassed Bridgeport in a general way. Some had worked out detailed Improvements but as a whole they did not surpass this city. he said.
 All the 13 states visited by the may quite at home
 In all southern cities he said, there is strong feeling in favor of muni- cipaI ownership of public utilities. The
 mayor made special investigations in cities where lighting and water plants were being operated by the public. He done in every case and the people much pleased with the results of pub lie ownership.
 In New Orleans he found that the city had installed an asphalt plant for making repairs upon it's asphalt pave ment, with the result that $50,0OO had been saved in three years.
 In Richmond he. found a municipal 1y operated gas works of which the people were very proud. He also found a new pavement in use, mix ture of asphalt, concrete and crushed stone. It is laid in sheets and marked off into squares, making very fine appearance.
 He found the southerners great low CTS of trees and in Richmond the au- thorities keep planting them along the sides of streets, and in no instance is a tree cut down without another is planted in it's place.
 Mayor Martin Behrman, of New Or leans, who is serving his second term, extended unlimited Inequalities to Monday, at noon, Mayor Behrman re- ceived the Arab Patrol, at City Hall. A large number of city officials were present. Cigars and champagne were served. Mayor Buckingham took, in- stead of wine g. glass of filtered Mis- sissippi River water, from the city's own filtration plant.
 Among souvenirs given to the visi- tors were blue tickets. issued by the chief of police, which permitted the Bridgeporters to pass through any police line which was found establish ed during the celebration.
 / In a trip about New Orleans the sections occupied by it's 350O00 popula- t1on were all visited The city covers a Bridgeport made Locomobile. In the French burying ground the mayor was impressed with stone marked TT. F. MeNeil, 1821-1887. Born at Edin- boror, Scot1and.'' The grave was that of an old sea captain. The mayor made note Of the inscription and will take the matter up with Senator Arch ibald McNeil of this city, whose family is of Scotch origin, and has included seafaring men in it, during genera tions.
 The mayor also noted that in New Orleans all sewers are laid, up to the house connection by the city, at the expense of the general rate. The city also does all sprinkling at the expense of the general rate.
 The Mayor declared the trip was the most enjoyable he had ever taken and the vacation the longest one he had ever had.
 The mayor had berth No. IS, on the car. He passed through 13 states, but no accident happened to him, al- though the entire party was in serl- ous danger at one time.
 About 15 miles outside of Richmond on Friday, the train, passed a freight. and a. piece of iron, projecting from a car raked the entire side of the special, tore every cinder guard and broke a dozen windows and a sash: party were showered with broken glass. On board the steamer. Satur- day, J. H. Richardson of this city went EG te cal door on sR4n tng o hinges The steward hearing someone at the door slid it open, taking one of MT R1ChardSOnS ringers 1nLO the SEOONS. The injury was very painful.
 Saturday while aboard the James, | town, they encountered the greatest storm the vessel had ever experienced forming his ablutions in his state | loom when a wave stove in the port | aole and gave MT: Kuteher and all @ of escorted to the boiler room to dry out. 1 After getting dry clothing he announc7 ed his 42d birthday and entertained | he Patrol 17nfil nearly Sunday ng.
 Prior to embarking on the James town at Norfolk. Albert J. Merritt was appointed commodore and made the l following appointments:
 Kingston, starboard lookout; Stacey, | captain of the head; Northrop. coal Mayor Buckingham, wireless operator; Wooster and Englehardt. musicians: George Smith, cook; R. I. Smith. chief yeoman: Frisbie, cooks mate; Wallis. ships painter: Parker. chief nnachin- st; Schussler, powred monkey: flaw son, captain the marine guard: kutch- er, chief of the wine mess; Frost, | chief electrician; Richardson, oilers mate and wiper: Hill. gun pointer; side cleaner; Warnes. hospital stew ard; Parrott, in cooks galley; Bowers, shief watch of the .scuttleboat; Lynne, "a ptain of, the anchor watch; Strong, chief master of arms: O'Brien. wine eoy-.
 Owing, however to the roughness of ,he voyage the crew and officers fail d to appear in the morning and were discharged from duty.
 The only member that delighted in he roughness of the trip was Albert T. Merritt. who is member of the 1avaJa militia, and during the worst If the storm rode in the pilot house. Colonel J. H. Wade and Fred Strong stood next to Merritt and suffered no ead effects; as to the rest, perhaps charity hould prevent any further