Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-13
WHAT ONE MAN DID

-HE death of Mayor Robert w.
Speer at Denver. which city is
- monument to his great execu-
tive ability and remarkable civic
vision, has called attention to the
importance of communities provid-
ing esthetic features which cannot
always be supplied from the public
funds. Under the leadership of
Mayor Speer the patriotic citizens of
Denver have made gifts amounting
to almost 100000 for the better
ment and Identification of that city.
In the opinion of the Telegraph
there are public-spirited citizens in
Harrisburg who would be glad to
contribute to such a fund once prop
erly organized and brought to the
attention of our citizens. Here are
some of the achievements of the
metropolis of Colorado under Mayor
Speer's Inspiration
Denver's municipal debt is less
| than that of any city of her size
in the country. The net public
debt at the close of 1917 amounted
to $4,000: or a per capita debt
The garbage of the city has for
twelve years been collected and
hauled away by private corpora
tion, without expense to the mu-
nicipality.
The Municipal Auditorium seats
12,5OO people. 1t cost $650,000.
The new pipe organ was paid for
by public subscription.
Denver has a system of Noun
tain Parks, with wild game pre-
serves. connected by a fifty-mile
scenic mountain highway. The
total cost of the system was $414,-
900.
The city operates a bakery.
which supplies its hospitals. poor
| farms and jails. If private baker
les ask unreasonable profits, the
| city bakery will sell bread to the
public.
Denver is the only city in the
| country which pays a premium
on a $1,000 policy of War Risk
/ Insurance for every citizen en-
gagged in the war.
Denver employs a non-sectarian
| city chaplain to look after the
welfare Of thoughtiess, depressed
and unfortunate persons. When
the public interest is best served,
he recommends clemency to the
courts and pardons to the Mayor.
|
sinking funds in Liberty Loan
Bonds, and gives citizens In the
| draft free instruction in military
| drill, conversational French and
rife practice.
600 a year for liquor. With prohi-
bition the masses are better OFF,
business has improved and Den.
yer will never return to wet"
| State.
4 ment was the first in the country.
| 1t controls three mines and sells
/ coal direct to the people. No city
l funds permanently invested.
Harrisburg has accomplished a
great deal through the consistent
pushing of a large group, of public
spirited men and women, but there
is still much to be done and only
through consistent and persistent eff.
fort shall we be able to maintain the
fine record of the city for municipal
progress and worthwhile achieve.
ment.
After all, 1t is not so much tn
method of administration or the
form of government which counts
as 1t is the sort of men who direct
the city's business. The people
sometimes appear Indifferent to the
welfare of their community, but thes
lapses are frequently the result o.
over-confidence in those charged
with public duties. 1t is only wher
the people awaken to the fact tha
they have been deceived that they
wrest power from those who have
misused 1t or have failed, through in
difference or neglect, to properly per
form duties incumbent upon them.
Denver entrusted her future to the
lamented Mayor Speer. Thrice h,
was chosen as the chief executiv,
and his death is mourned far ant
wide because he represented in it,
best sense the ideal of the faithful
public servant.