New-York tribune., 1912-03-17
COUNTY OF LONDON CREATED.

COUNTY OF IONDON ChERl GO'
simultaneously a measure was enacted,
known as the local government act,
Transforming the metropolis into
county. entitled the County Of London,
embracing an area of about eighty thou
sand acres, in which the City Of London
figures only for 673 acres. The newly
created county took in nearly the whole
of Middlesex. and also considerable
slices of Surrey, Kent and Essex, with
| population of over five million, which
must not be confounded with the greater
| London, lying Immediately beyond the
county limit, and which, with popula-
tion Of about three million more, brings
the grand total Of the population Of
greater London TO something over eight
million, in which the City itself is repre-
sented by some twenty-three thousand,
as compared with fifty thousand in 1881.
The reason for the decrease Of the resi-
dent City population is to be found in the
rapid extension of business premises.
The local government act Of 1888, be-
sides creating the County Of London
brought into existence the London
County Council as the central admin
istrative body, possessing not only the
powers of an ordinary county council.
but also extensive powers of town man
agement, which had been vested in the
extinct Metropolitan Board of Works
Finally, in 1899, the London government
act was evolved, bringing into existence
twenty eight metropolitan boroughs, the
twenty-ninth being the City Of London.
London's government, therefore, as
now constituted, consists Of the County
Council, headed by a chairman, and com
prising 11S councillors, elected trien-
pially, the City OF London having a
slightly larger representation than the
other boroughs, and a sort OF upper
house, consisting Of nineteen aldermen,
holding office for six years. The electors
consist of householders male and female,
whose names appear on the rate books
Then there come the metropolitan bor-
| oughs which each have mayor, ten
aldermen and not more than sixty coun-
| cillors, the City of London, however re-
| tanning its oldtime court Of aldermen and
| Common Council.
POWERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
The underlying idea of the London
County Council is 10 trespass as little on
the authority of the borough govern
ments as possible, merely exercising a
9eneral supervision. and in the event of
abuse instituting certain disciplinary
measures. while in extreme cases that
department of the national government
known as the Local Government Board,
IA :, hich all the municipalities Of the
limited Kingdom are subjected, is called
unon bv the County Council TO intervene.
Thug the County Council has no i'm
r,ediate charge OF cleaning of streets, re-
moyai of refuse, lighting arrangements
and enforcement of sanitary laws. All
these are dealt with by the boroughs
The County Council, however, manages
tho rretropolitan fire brigade and has
charge Of the main drainage system, not
onlv ~ the County of London itself, but
.loo of greater London. 1t is the CEN
trail authority for tramways' and is ac-
ou,rine the lines as fast as the law gives
opportunity. It carries out the building
laws. builds and maintains various
bridges over the Thames, also the
Thames tunnels; builds artisans dwell
ings and municipal lodging houses and
maintains a free ferry across the river at
wooIwich. by means Of which five mill
ion passengers are conveyed over the
Thames every year. It licenses all tho