The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-21
MODEL TOWN IN GERMANY
William F. Curtis in Chicago Record Harald

William F. Curtis in Chicago Record Herald.
 4 LTHOUGH Dusseldorf, Germany,
 A dates back to the year 1159 1t has 4 X the reputation of being the most progressive city in Germany, excepting Berlin. The progress of Dusseldorf is due to the public spirit of the people, and they have undertaken several enter prises that are unique in municipal ad- ministration. No city in Europe, unless 1t is Vienna, has gone into municipal socialism so thoroughly or extensively; nor has any undertaken to develop so many new ideas, for the benefit of it's citizens.
 Dusseldorf is regarded by many theor- ists as the best governed town in Ger many, and while many of the autocratic features of administration would not be tolerated in any city of the United States. our municipal officials might re- ceive many valuable ideas by the study of the system which prevails there. The city Is about the same size as Minneapo- lis, New Orleans, Milwaukee and Los Angeles, and has several of the physical features of Cincinnati and Louisville. It is situated on a navigable river and it's commerce is similar to theirs, while its industries are akin to those of Cleve- land, Detroit, Newark and Indianapolis. Dusseldorf is growing as rapidly as our most enterprising American cities. In 1871 it had only 6s,0O0 inhabitants; in 1881 it had reached 122,ooo; in 1900 the census showed 252,0Oo inhabitants, and | in 1910 more than 300,000.
 Dusseldorf might easily have been as unattractive as Cincinnati. It is not fashionable residence city, like Dres- | cen, Munich and Hanover. It's popula- | tion is composed largely of mechanics and other wage earners, while their em- ployers reside in convenient suburbs. | Notwithstanding these conditions, and | for the welfare of what are called the | working classes" the successive muni- cipal administrations in the last quar- | ter of a century have made it almost as beautiful as Washington, have pro- vded the people with the best possible | services of water, light, sewers, pave- ments, parks. transportation facilities, police. fire departments, schools, art gal leries, museums, playgrounds, prome- nades, model tenements. and everything else almost that is required to make up an ideal city. The comfort and con- yenience of the people have been stud fed rather than economy, and the cost has been charged to posterity.
 These things cannot be done without money. and a debt of s2S,500,0Oo, or | nearly $100 for every man. women and child in Desseldorf, has been incurred. This debt represents s7 per cent of the cost of improvements that have been made. Only a little more than 12 per cent of the Improvements have been paid for from the current revenues. ( The debt is twice as large as that of | the average American city, and the | taxes are so high that property owners would refuse to pay them in America They will average 10 per cent Of the gross revenues and incomes of business men and property holders. A man own ing houses and lots worth $10ooco. | which bring him an income of 5000, will be assessed $500 a year direct taxes I without re1ereHc0 tO 8des cicSeAA~ A'o~~' water, insurance, repairs and other ex- | tras. A professional man who makes an income of $5Oo0 is expected to pay at least $500 a year taxes. If 1t is s1oooo. he IS expected to pay 5000. Corporations are assessed in a similar manner, and there is very little complaint. People generally admit that the rich are paying their share oP the cost of the improvements which have made Dusseldorf a model city, that the revenues are honestly and impartial ly disbursed for the general welfare. It is the almost unanimous opinion that the s2s, ,oOo, 900 represented by the municipal debt was well invested.
 The city owns and operates it's street railways and e system of interurban roads; it owns and operates gas, electric light and watsr plant; 1t owns and | manages an extensive wine business and . brewery 1t owns and operates lsun4
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