MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF HEAT, LIGHT AND

INTRA-MURAL TRANSPORTATION.

BY BRONSON C. KEELER.

The more carefully that one considers the subject, the clearer it becomes that every business, in its nature a monopoly, is properly a governmental function. Specifically is this true of the municipal ownership and operation of water works, gas works, electric lighting plants, street railways, heating and cooling plants, and telephone lines. It is a curious fact that when Laissez Faire opposes progress, the objections which it urges against the change are precisely the objections to which it is itself the most amenable. The assumption by municipalities of these works would not be paternal; the present system is the paternalistic one inasmuch as it is a confession that the people are not capable of attending to their own affairs, but are compelled to throw themselves helplessly into the hands of their superior fellows. Neither would it produce corruption unduly. The present system of private ownership is what brings about the corruption in city government which so alarms us. Even an occasional instance of corruption in municipal government is no argument against the public control of these franchises. The only cure for license is liberty. Show me a case of flagrant dishonesty in municipal affairs and I will show you an instance of where the city has farmed out to private enterprise a function which belongs to the city itself.

But the most futile objection is that it tends towards Socialism. The objectors forget that government itself is a socialistic scheme. The time was, if a man considered himself aggrieved by another, he took a club and made the settlement of the difficulty a matter of private enterprise. Civilization has changed all that. Our courts, army, navy, post office, mints, assay offices, hospitals, steamboat inspection, maratime regulation, signal service, lighthouses, river commissions, taxes, registrations in bankruptcy, national banks, national parks, schools; fire, water, sewer and street commissions; our city comptrollers, auditors, treasurers, registers, inspectors of weights and measures, recorders of deeds, boards of public improvements, harbor and wharf commissions, park commissions, our public buildings, inspectors

of boilers and of elevators, our boards of health, jury commissions, inspectors of milk and of plumbing, the police patrol, the quarantine and smallpox hospitals, insane asylums, houses of refuge; our lumber, grain and insurance inspectors; the militia, and all such things are socialistic. The cry of socialism is raised too late. It should have been commenced about four centuries ago. Lord Salisbury said recently with much truth and significance that the time had gone by when men were to be deterred from investigating economic theories by being called hard names. Sometimes an absurdity appears clearer when studied in another rather than in ourselves. In Germany, government performs all the functions which we see it perform here; and in addition the imperial, or as we should say the federal, branch owns and conducts the railways, telegraphs, telephones and express business; besides life, accident, sickness and old age insurance. The several state governments own and operate banks; iron, coal, peat, salt, copper, lead, cobalt and silver mines-the largest silver mine in Europe, the Himmelsfurst, being one of them-they also own and operate lime quarries, blast furnaces; metal, smelting and ultramarine works; forests, saw mills, lotteries, irrigating works, pearl fisheries, watering places, vineyards, wine cellars, mineral springs, breweries, drug stores, hotels, fire insurance bureaus, daily newspapers* and porcelain factories.† The municipal governments own and operate water works, gas works, street car lines, banks, fire insurance, pawn shops, forests, lotteries, quarries, clay pits, eating houses, hotels, saloons, theatres, markets, bath houses, cemeteries, cattle yards, slaughter houses and wharves. All this is done successfully, and with the full consent of the ruling classes. Yet the men who desire to extend this system are forbidden to assemble. Karl Marx, their first great teacher, was driven from home and died in a foreign land. His disciples have been hunted through Europe, and his followers have been shot down in the streets of the great cities. There is no country in the world in which the saying "To accept a principle and to damn the advocate" is so exemplified as in Germany in its relation to Socialism. It is time that we cease to be frightened by this bug-bear. If it be economically sound as a theory, it will live in spite of our opposition; and if not, it will die despite our efforts to keep it alive. The only rational course is for us to consider it philosophically.

Without discussing further the theory of municipal functions, let us consider the practice; instead of debating what ought to be done, we will review what has actually been accomplished in this direction.

*The Leipzig Zeitung, not an official organ merely, but a daily newspaper like the Chicago Tribune, is owned and conducted by the government of Saxony.

+The famous Dresden china is made in a factory which is, and has been for one hundred and eighty years, the property of the Saxon state. It is the finest and the largest porcelain factory in the world, employing eight hundred persons. So, too, the famous Sevres china and the Gobelin tapestries are made in factories which have for nearly two hundred years belonged to the French government. In that time generations have lived and died, kingdoms have come and gone; and revolutions, republics, anarchy and empires have followed in the fantastic whirligig of fate, but the porcelain and the tapestry factor. ies have gone right on.

There were in the United States February 1, 1889, about 1,700 water work plants, and reports from 1,634, show that of this number 715, or 44 per cent., were owned by the cities in which they were located. Without exception, all the large cities own their plants. Private ownership obtains only in the smaller cities. The reason for this is, that in the denser communities the social unit is more sharply outlined, the social organism is more distinctly evolved, and therefore the social functions are more easily recognized. Very rarely is it the case that cities having a population of 10,000 or more have water works owned by a private company. To learn which is the preferable system. one needs only to go to two adjacent cities, one of which has private works and the other municipal-like Fredonia and Dunkirk, N. Y., or Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Ill., or to any city like St. Paul, in which the works were originally owned by a private company, but are now owned by the municipality—and make inquiry. He will be told that under municipal ownership, better service is had for less money. This was long since recognized in Europe. Across the water, London is the only city of any size in which the water works are owned by private enterprise. All through the United Kingdom and on the Continent, municipal ownership is the rule-in Germany every city owning its works, and private ownership being unknown-and the opposite is so rare as to even cause remark. How well the principle is recognized in this country, is shown by the storm which was raised a few years ago in Chicago, when there was a proposal to permit a private company to erect a high-pressure plant-a thing much needed-in the heart of the city. And why should the theory not be equally true of lighting plants?

The principle is tolerably well recognized, taking the world all through. More than fifty cities in the United States, own their electric lighting plants, either wholly or in part, prominent among them being Aurora, Ill, Bay City, Mich., Hannibal, Mo., Little Rock, Ark., Michigan City, Ind., and Topeka, Kan., not to mention Chicago, which is within the personal acquaintance of the reader. In Europe the municipal ownership of electric lighting plants is far more common than it is in this country, and the results are equally satisfactory. As for the municipal ownership of gas works, the most satisfactory argument will be to give a complete list of all the cities in the world, which owned their gas works on January 1, 1890, with the prices of gas so far as they were obtainable. Such a list is here given, and if after reading it, any man declare that municipal ownership of gas works is an "experiment" or "impracticable," he must be hard to convince :

UNITED STATES-Philadelphia, $1.50; Richmond, Va., $1.50; Alexandria, Va., $1.62; Danville, Va., $1.50; Charlottesville, Va., $1.50; Wheeling, W. Va., 75 cents; Bellefontaine, O., $1.00; Henderson, Ky., $1.50.

ENGLAND AND WALES-Aberavon, 95 cents; Ashton-in-Makerfield, $1.08; Atherton, 80 cents; Abergavenny, 78 cents; Audley, 90 cents; Bangor. $1.20; Barrow-in-Furness, 84 cents; Batley, 78 cents; Bethesda, $1.50; Beverley, 90 cents; Bingley, 68 cents; Birkenhead, 70 cents; Birmingham, 52 cents; Birstal, 78 cents; Blackburn, 74 cents; Blackpool, 68 cents; Bollington, 80 cents; Bolton, 64 cents; Bradford, 53 cents; Bridg

north, $1.14; Brighouse, 50 cents; Briton Ferry, 72 cents; Burnley, 54 cents; Burslem, 76 cents; Burton-upon-Trent, 68 cents; Buxton, 76 cents; Bury, 58 cents; Carlisle, 60 cents; Carnarvan, 96 cents; Chorley, 78 cents; Cleckheaton, 69 cents; Clitheroe, 84 cents; Cockermouth, 95 cents; Colne and Marsden, Lancashire, 68 cents; Congleton, 75 cents; Conway, $1.08; Coventry, 72 cents; Darlington, 52 cents; Darwen, 78 cents; Denton and Haughton, 80 cents; Devizes, 80 cents; Dewsbury, 72 cents; Droitwich, 94 cents; Dukinfield, 80 cents; East Dereham, $1.08; East Retford, 80 cents; Evesham, $1.00; Ellesmere, $1.18; Festiniog, $1.32; Fenton, 48 cents; Halifax, 52 cents; Haverfordwest, $1.20; Haverhill, $1.30; Haworth, 78 cents; Hereford, 84 cents; Heywood, 90 cents; Hinckley, 90 cents; Hindley, 86 cents; Horncastle, 76 cents; Huddersfield, 63 cents; Ilkeston, 62 cents; Keighley, 60 cents; Knaresborough, 60 cents; Lancaster, 60 cents; Leeds, 42 cents; Leek, 58 cents; Leicester, 56 cents; Leigh, 72 cents; Lincold, 64 cents; Llandudno, $1.14; Longton, 72 cents; Lynn, $1.00; Lytham, 84 cents; Macclesfield, 72 cents; Malvern, 96 cents; Manchester, 64 cents; Mansfield, 76 cents; Marple, 80 cents; Marsden, Yorkshire, 80 cents; Maryport, 72 cents; Middlesbrough, 62 cents; Middleton, 90 cents; Millom, 80 cents; Milton, 90 cents; Mossley, 74 cents; Milford, $1.08; Newbury, $1.08; Neath, 90 cents; Nelson, 66 cents; Newcastleunder-Lyme, 72 cents; Newton-in-Makerfield, 54 cents; Nottingham, 52 cents; Oldbury, 63 cents; Oldham, 54 cents; Oswaldtwistle, 66 cents; Padiham and Hapton, 75 cents; Penrith, 74 cents; Ramsgate, 76 cents; Ripon, 80 cents; Rochdale, 78 cents; Rotherham, 54 cents; St. Mary Church, 96 cents; St. Helen's, 70 cents; Saffron Walden, $1,10; Salford, 72 cents; Silsden, 90 cents; Skelmersdale, 90 cents; Smethwick, 60 cents; Southport, 66 cents; Sowerby, 70 cents; Spalding, 90 cents; Stafford, 72 cents; Staleybridge, 76 cents; Stockport, 60 cents; Stoke-upon-Trent, 51 cents; Stratford-upon-Avon, 76 cents; Stockton-on-Tees, 60 cents; Suttonin-Ashfield, 80 cents; Teignmouth, $1.00; Tipton, 52 cents; Tow Law, 95 cents; Tredegar, $1.08; Tyldesley-with-Shakerley, 82 cents; Ulverston, 90 cents; Wallasey, 72 cents; Walsall, 50 cents; Wantage, $1.00; Wombwell, 78. cents; Workington, 70 cents; Ynyscynhaiern, $1.30; Warrington, 84 cents; Wells, 80 cents; West Bromwick, 52 cents; Widnes, 48 cents; Wigan, 67 cents.

SCOTLAND-Aberdeen, 90 cents; Alloa, 90 cents; Alva, $1.20; Arbroath, $1.00; Ardrossan, $1.00; Burntisland, $1.20; Broughty Ferry, 95 cents; Dumbarton, 84 cents; Dumfries, 90 cents; Dunbar, $1.50; Dundee, 88 cents; Elgin, $1.40; Forfar, $1.05; Glasgow, 72 cents; Gourock, $1.10; Greenock, 90 cents; Hamilton, 80 cents; Inverness, $1.00; Johnstone, $1.05; Kilmarnock, $1.00; Kirkintillock, $1.00; Paisley, 72 cents; Perth, 90 cents; Peterhead, $1.43; Port Glasgow, $1.08; Renfrew, $1.00; Wishaw, $1.00.

IRELAND-Belfast, 72 cents; Limerick, $1.14; Newry, $1.00; Newtownards, $1.10; Tralee, $1.20.

PRUSSIA-Berlin, $1.08; Cologne, 82 cents; Wiesbaden, $1.62; Breslau, $1.15; Stettin, $1.50; Danzig, $1.15; Magdeburg, $1.75; Goettingen, $1.22; Elberfeld, $1.48; Altena, Andernach, Apenrada, Barmen, Bielefeld,

Bochum, Bonn, Boppard, Brandenburg a. H., Braunsburg i. Ostpr., Brieg, Bromberg, Bunzlau, Burg b. Madgeburg, Charlottenburg, Delitzsche, Demmin, Duisburg, Dulken, Duren, Dusseldorf, Eberswalda, Eckernfærde, Elbing, Emden,* Emmerich, Eschwege, Essen, Euskirchen, Eilenburg, Finsterwalde, Forst, Freiburg i. Schl., Fulda, Furstewald, Glatz, Gnesen; Gorlitz, $1.62; Gottesburg, Graudenz, Greifswald, Grottkau, Guben, Gumbinnen, Gutersloh, Hadersleben, Hainau, Halberstadt, Halle a. S., Hamm, Hanau, Hattingen, Havelberg, Heide, Herford, Hildesheim, Homburg v. d. H., Horde, Husum, Huckeswagen, Insterburg, Jauer, Julich, Kassel, Kempen a. Rh., Kempen, i. P., Kiel, Kirn, Koblenz, Koesfeld, Kolberg; Konigsberg i. Pr., $1.35; Kœslin, Kottbus, Kreuzburg i. O.Schl., Krotoschin, Krossen a. O., Kulm, Landeshut i. Schles., Laubau, Leer, Lennep, Leobschutz, Liegnitz, Lippstadt, Loewen, Lowenberg i. Schles., Luben, Lunen, Malstatt-Burbach, Memel, Menden, Merseburg, Minden, Montjoie, Muhlhausen i. Th., Mulheim a. Rh., Munster i. W., Namslau, Nauen, Naumburg a. S., Neisse, Neumunster, Neuruppin, Neustadt i. O.-Schl., Neuwied, Nienburg a. W., Oberlahnstein, Oels, Ohlau, Oschersleben, Osnabruck, Paderborn, Perleberg, Pless, Posen, Preetz, Pritzwalk, Pyritz, Quedlinburg,* Rathenow, Ratibor, Rees, Remscheid, Rendsburg, Rheine, Ronsdorf, Rybnik, Sagan, Schænau. Schrimm, Schwedt a. O., Schweidnitz, Schwelm, Schwerte, Schwiebus, Siegburg, Solingen, Sommerfeld, Sonderburg, Sorau i. N.-L.; Spandau, $1.50; Spremberg, Sprottau, Stade, Stargard i. Pom., Steele, Stendal, Stolp, Stralsund, Strehlen, Striegau, Thorn, Tilsit, Tondern, Treptow a. R., Torgau,* Uetersen, Verden, Wandsbeck, Wattenscheid, Weissenfels, Werl, Wernigeroda, Wetzlar, Witten, Wittenburg, Wittstock, Zeitz, Ziegenhals.

BAVARIA-Rosenheim, Deggendorf, Landshut, Duerkheim, Frankenthal, Germersheim, Ludwigshafen, Lambrecht, Pirmasens, Speyer, St. Ingbart, Amberg, Weiden, Ansbach, Fuerth, Nuernberg, Weissenburg, Aschaffenburg, Schweinfurt, Wuerzburg.

WURTTEMBURG-Calw, Aalen, Crailsheim,* Ellwangen,* Gmund,* Heidenheim, Heilbronn, Hall, Ravensburg, Ebingen, Kirckheim unter Teck, Nurtingen, Rottenburg, Tubingen, Boblingen,* Cannstatt, Esslingen, Feuerbach,* Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart,* Ulm. The prices range from 95 cents to $1.56 per thousand feet.

SAXONY-Every gas making plant in the kingdom belongs to the city in which it is located, private ownership being unknown. The price in Leipsig is $1.20, and in the other places it is about the same.

BADEN-Karlesruhe. $1.21; Mannheim, $1.21; Heidelberg, $1.42, Freiburg, $1.35; Sforzheim, $1.21; Baden, $1.62; Badenweiler, $1.62.

There are some other cities in Germany which own their works, among them Hamburg and Lubeck. Hamburg leases the operation, the revenue in 1887, therefrom, being about $765,000, with the price of gas $1.20. Lubeck also owns its electric lighting plant, and the United States consul writes that both works are operated by the city with great profit.

HESSE-Darmstad, $1.48 to $1.75; Mainz, $1.35; Giessen, $1.48; Worms,

*The operation of the works is leased.