The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-17
Texas, Sends to Germany
to Study Science Of Running City

all the larger cities continually extend
ing their powers injthat field Munich
pal savings banks are very popular In
Germany, where more than 20, 600, 600
people have deposits in these %institu-
lions aggregating $500, 00O, 900. Munich
pal markets, Fairgrounds, baths, en-
ployment agencies and lodging houses
are to be found everywhere and are
everywhere successful.
Science in City Planting.
The rapid growth Of German cities
and the expansion of industrial life
in those centers have produced what
Mr.. Putnam calls a new profession
that Of city planting, a science which
makes The general welfare
to private profit.
THE modern cities Of Germany
have been consciously planned by pro-
fessional skill, and their subsequent
and future growth has been and will
be On lines laid down in these compre-
hensive city plans. A man with $40
10000 could not go to Dusseldorf,
the chief steel and iron manufacture
ing city of Germany. and locate a
factory costing that amount on anv
spot where it would impair the health
of the property rights Of the humblest
citizen, or anywhere else, in fact, ex-
cept in. a section of the city set apart
for such industries.
Taxes Higher in Germany,
But in that section the investor
would find that the city government
had provided him with the best posi-
bic rail and river shipping facilities.
and adjacent to an industrial popula-
ton, ~decently housed, that was adapt
ed to his need"
Taxation in German cities, Mr.. Put
nam found, is generally higher thar
IN a mpTlrqn njtJn0 IF fh1 .axa z1z--
but the German city gets the benefit
OF money thus publicly appropriated
in far greater proportion than on his
side. He says:
THE German cities have been able
to get their huge municipal invest
ments 1ntelllgently and honestly ex-
pended because they have treated mu-
nicipal government Gas a profession.
and not in the American fashion as a
cross between ar exciting sport and
a scramble for the spoils of office,
Many of the German cities and the
imperial government as well, nave en-
tered upon the policy of a~ppropriating
for thep ublic treasures a portion of
land value Increment, and it appar-
emily is their purpose to extend this
policy until it overs all or nearly all
Of such increments socially created.
German Cities Large Borrowers.
Most public improvements, mo- of
a revenue producing character, have
been paid for by assessing a share of
the cost against abutting property
and from the surplus earnings of the
revenue producing public services"
German cities are large borrowers
but the money they borrow is always
put to work and is. made to pay divi-
bends to the city in the form Of earn
ings from public utilities-utilities
which in American cities pour profits
into the pockets of private owners. |
Thus the city of Bremen has not hest
tated to impose, in addition to an al
ready large public debt, q bond tax
amounting to, 1892 for each inhabitant
to enlarge and improve it's harbors.
Bremen, like Hamburg, owns it's docks
and water front and receives from
this source a revenue which in a few |
years will pay off the huge debts in
CURED to make that city a port of
world commerce.
The recommendations accompanying
Mr.. Putnam's report are, in brief,
that Houston shall go and do like
wise.