Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-07-11

m~inistration consists of something
more than collecting revenues and pay
ing expenses.
Dusseldorf perhaps Is a good illus
tration of city building in Germany.
Fifteen years 8 1t had attained a
population Of about 100000 after CEN
turtles of existence. It had a slightly
location on the banks Of the Rhine in
the midst Of q good agricultural coun-
try. but had neglected The opportunities
to push to the front until the council
called as burgOmaster q man named
Wilhelm Mark, whose success in an
other city had made him we'll known
as a city builder. He remained at the
head of the city government for a dozen
years n during that time converted
the city into n Of the most beautiful
places in Germany and SO acknowl-
edged by Germans, and made it the
commercial center of the district, COM
manding the trade Of the Rhine, and
the equal, IL not the superior of any
other German city in arts, science and
educational advantages, and today the
population Is about $50. 600. He was a
man who unselfishly devoted himself
to h work unhampered by petty
fidence of the council and the people.
He convinced the council that the
proper way to build a city was to plan
for a half century ahead, as the city
was a permanent institution and laid
out the work accordingly. 1t would re-
quire an immense amount of money.
which could be secured in long time
bonds, and only the interest to be pro-
vided for within the life time of the
man directing the improvements, but
the growing population made that light.
AS an investment 1T would pay a 100
fold and In the pleasure of a residence.
the advantage could not be calculated.
Tho ,,,nrnv u,oc Furnished FOR tho
Germans are more broad minded h a
they are given credit for by The funny
newspapers. 1T would be impossible to
state all he accomplished with the aid
Of the government which built the sta
ton and other buildings which were
permanent art exposition building,
museums and city administration
buildings and a dock with electric ap-
pliances for quickly loading and UNI
loading vessels. with immense ware
houses ornamental al we'll as useful.
prise may be gathered from the fact
that the expenditure for this purpose
alone was Over $4,000 0 1t stopped
the trade of the Rhine at Dusseldorf
and as an investment paid for itself
many times over. He bought factories
and brought enterprises to the city
the great steel works among the num-
Der. While developing the commercial
interests he was improving the physical
conditions. The new laid streets and
parks were kept clean. Boulevards
were extended for a long distance be-
yond actual needs. The banks of the
Rhine were walled and the marshy land
caused by overflows reduced and made
into beautiful parks and vacation
grounds. Promenade made walks were
extended for miles along the river and
pleasure crafts also furnished oppor-
tunities OF outing for citizens. Inn
mense tracts of wooded land as well as
farming land were purchased for parks
for use of the city and sanitary houses
erected for the workmen at moderate
rents. His entire thought was given to
betterYnent of the city and The city OF
Dusseldorf Is the .show'' place of. Ger
many and a model for city building. In
| addition to these improvements he also
purchased for the city the street rail-
ways, gas and electric plants n ran
them in the interests of he citizens.
Nearly every city in Germany owns
the street railways and public utilities
that the general government does not
control. Germany is cited as an In
stance where municipal ownership Is a
! success. 1t Is unquesttOnably a sue
cess. 1.-The reason Is" said my Ger
man friend, that the management Is
divorced from selfish interests. We en-
ploy expert b~urgomasters and nave q
council of business men to supervise
matters and there is efficient and hon
est administration. but If 1t was in New
York 1t would be different"
With the Germans 1t is a cold busi-
ness proposition to manage q city n
personal selfish interests are not
favored. Their system seems cumbrous
for cities without public utilities to
manage, but the Germans seem to feel
there is safety In numbers in councils.
Nauheim, Germany. May 20. 1913.
0AIAA11E IG