القرن التاسع عشر ، رقم ١٨٢، أبريل ١٨٩٢ [و‎‎٩‎٤] (٢٤٤/١٩٢)

1892
LET LONDON
677
That it can be done is easy of proof, and tlie only way to prove
tlie safety, economy, efficiency, and permanent benefit of the policy
of municipalisation of monopolies is to take one from ont of the
180 provincial towns that have adopted this policy, and see how
the predictions of the Protheros have been falsified. Let us take
Glasgow as an average example of the reckless progressive and
socialist policy of making the ratepayer bankrupt, and what do we
find ?
Glasgow, in order to get its water, gas, markets, and tramways, in
the last thirty-five years has contracted a debt of 3,151,544^.
By means of that debt it now possesses assets of the value of
4,028,851^. 9s. 5d. ; it expends yearly a sum of 618,000?., and
receives a revenue of 700,000?.
Under the private ownership of its water supply, Glasgow citizens
had to pay a 14c?. rate for a restricted supply of diluted sewage.
Since the transfer has been made to the Corporation by purchase,
Loch Katrine has been drawn upon, and by a bold, generous, and
profitable scheme the 14c?. rate has been reduced to 6 c?. per 1?.
rental; and it is computed that the 6c?. rate is entirely neutralised by
the saving effected over the old system and supply, by the clean soft
water that saves its cost in soap, soda, and other ingredients not now
required for domestic and industrial purposes. Four hundred gallons
are supplied for 1c?.—7s. 6c?. per annum for a house at 15?. rental,
as against double that price in London.
Beyond this cheap, clean, constant supply from cloudland itself,
Glasgow—that was to be ruined by this enterprise—is rapidly paying
off its original debt from its net profit, after interest, depreciation,
and extensions are provided for; and its assets on the water supply
and works exceeds the rapidly diminishing debt by 600,000?. The
assets are 2,637,691?. 10s. 2d.', the debt 2,047,585?.
What a different tale does London tell from the municipal enter
prise of Glasgow on this question ! London has to pay a tremendous
price for its timidity in grappling with its proper work. London pays
1,700,000?. for water that costs the companies only 700,000?. This
surplus of 1,000,000?., or two-thirds of the London County Council's
rate-earned income, is the exaggerated rent of ability and interest that
private companies are allowed to take from Londoners for a water
supply that is rightly the corporate property of the people whom
they supply.
In the supply of gas by municipalities what do we find ? That
per ton of coal carbonised, and cubic feet of gas produced therefrom,
the municipalised gasworks all over Britain show a cheaper and better
result than private works. The price of municipal gas is less that
large amount spread over all the consumers which the shareholders
only divide where companies provide. The works of municipalities are
kept in better order and repair, the approaches are tidier and cleaner.