The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-02-23

ness. n city that was built like a
home, that had n communal bigness
of vision, that was planned by city
builders, and that served its people
as a father might serve his chill
dren, says Mr.. Howe. And have
seen such cities in Germany, the
nation which alone recognizes the
portentious significance of the
change which has taken place in
distribution of population.
"Of all German cities, think
Dusseldorf is easily the first. 1t
is not an old residence city like
Dresden or Munrich. 1t is a oom-
paratively new city like Cleveland,
Milwaukee, indianapolis or Kansas
City. Its population was but Co.
900 people in 1871. 1t now is 3O0,-
900.
Dusseldorf, too, is an industrial
city of mills, factories and work
shops. 1t is located on the lower
Rhine in the heSZEt of the industrial
region that has sprung into exist
ence since the Franco-Prussian
War. 1t might be as unalluring as
Pittsburg. 1t might be ruled by
business men in their own interest
as are most of our American cities:
it might be built without beauty
end suffer from corruption that has
brought shame to Pittsburg, Phila-
delphia, San Francisco Denver, Gin
cinnati and a score more. But none
of these things is true of Dussel-
dorf.
This industrial city Is one of
the best governed cities in the
world. 1t has dreamed dreams and
dared to carry them into execution.
1t is almost as beautiful as Wash
ington, as full of the joy of living as
Paris, and is managed with more
scrupulous honesty, more scientific
efficiency, and more devoted pride
than almost any American business
corporation. This city is built for
the comfort and convenience of it's
people. 1t is designed as master
architects might design the worlds
fair to which all mankind was in.
vited for education, recreation and
art.
But the thing that most distin-
guishes Dusseldorf is this--her peo-
pie and her officials Seem to appre-
ciate that congestion of population
has made it necessary for the city
to own many things. And these
German citizens understand, too.
that the things the city does not
own must be regulated and controll-
ed to prevent them harming city or
citizens.
Dusseldorf does more things for
its people than any city | know. 1t
owns its street railroads and the
controlling interest III a system of
interurhan railroads; it owns it's
harbors and docks and its slaughter
houses, its gas, electric lights and
water plant; it operates three sep
arate banks and loan enterprises, a
large wine business, several restau-
rants and milk depots; it owns and
rents suburban villas and large
apartment houses; it is great
land speculator and city land own
er; ii possesses city art gallaries,
an opera house, mesums and expo
sition hassl, and indirectly owns the
leading hotel in the city. 1t has
public baths and cemeteries and
pawnshops.
Dusseldorf has made beginning
az homing its people. Il is the own
er OF suburban villas and model
tenement houses and is a stock
holder in Il scheme of cooperative
apartment houses in which the
workmen are joint owners.
The country villas rent for from
six to seven dollars month. A
three or four room apartment in the
city rents for about the same sum.
The rooms i'll the latter are twice
the size of those of the tenement
house in America. and all of them
have outside air. These apartments
are as clean and sanitary rs can he.
Ihe cooperative departments are
built about courtyards which serve
as Fairgrounds and are surrounded
~ flower gardens. There is free
water and scullery with every flat
or three rooms or more
''In order to secure an apartment
in one of these desirable buildings.
the tenements must become share
holder in the company. buying five
dollars worth of stock. The ten
ants are not the recipients of char
ity On the contrary they are part
owners and cooperate in the man