The Nineteenth Century , No 182, Apr 1892 [‎94v] (193/244)

678
THE NINETEENTH
April
Their employes are better treated than where private ownership
prevails.
Glasgow takes from its gasworks a yearly revenue of 483,000Z.
Its expenditure is 430,000Z.; its diminishing debt is 58O,O0OZ.; its
increasing asset is 780,000Z.; and all this notwithstanding it now
pays 50 to 75 per cent, more for its coal. Its output is 170 per
cent, greater than when under private control. Its leakage is 50
per cent, less, the illuminating power the same, and its price reduced
from 4s. Id. to 2s. 4c?., although wages have gone up and the three-
shift system has been introduced.
London, in contrast to this prosperity, allows its lighting to yield
over 1,000,000Z. profit to private firms.
On its tramways Glasgow has even a better record than on its
water and gas. The Corporation has built thirty-two miles which it
has previously leased to a company, but which will not be renewed
again in 1894; 3 per cent, has been paid to the Corporation for
redemption of the original debt contracted for building the lines ;
4 per cent, has been paid by the company for renewals ; 150Z. per
annum per mile has been paid by the company as rent. In twenty-
one years 490,000?. has been paid by the company, 150,000Z. more
than the total cost, exclusive of an average of 8 per cent, dividend
taken by the company in that period.
This latter fruitful source of revenue will henceforth be appro
priated by Glasgow, and good results will follow in better conditions
for employes, cheaper fares, and better communication, and, what
is equally important, single ownership of the roads and trams.
Upon the question of municipal lodging-houses Mr. Prothero is
equally unfortunate. It is true that the Council wisely decided to
build a better building than it originally intended—even common
lodging-houses should be well built and artistic—and if in so doing
it has not catered for the very lowest, who cannot afford to pay the
additional penny for a better class of accommodation, this can soon
be got over by providing another less costly building, which some
day must be followed by free nightly shelters for the absolutely
destitute, not as a matter of pauperising charity, but as a social
necessity.
In Glasgow the seven lodging-houses for men and women produce
a yearly rent profit of 4,164Z. 9s. 4cZ., or 4| per cent, on cost and
maintenance. There, in water, gas, tramways, and housing, in its
markets, and also in the Corporation widening, deepening, and im
proving the docks and adapting the river Clyde to its trade, the Pro
gressive municipal policy has falsified all the pessimistic predictions
urged against it. The motto of this enterprising city is ' Let Glasgow
flourish!'
This it has done, and its present municipal prosperity has only
been realised as it has taken the up-grade to Municipal Socialism.
The London Progressives, with sensible foresight and municipal