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f rbm'two, tx three yeaVs, and the city
is arranging to purchase the entire
system and ' to own1 and operate it
thereafter. In some of the suburbs
electric lines have been constructed
and are operated in-connection with
the Melbourne system. .
In Sydney, the largest city in Aus
tralia, having a population, with its
suburbs, of three-quarters of a mil
lion; the entire 'system is owned and
operated by the state-'df New South
Wales, which is practically equivalent
to municipal ownership by the city
itself. The general manager of the
lines is English, Tom Johnson by
name, but claims no relationship with
Cleveland's former mayor, who ha'd
much to dcAvith advancing the cause
of municipal ownership in the United
States. He not only manages the
street car system of Sydney, which is
equal to that of any American city,
but directs .and manages all the
steam railroads of New .South Wales,
which are also owned by the state.
Tn 'WTollIn trtrm Now "Zonlnrir? tTio
'second city in size in that country,
the entire system of street cars is
owned and operated by the city, and
has been, for a period of years. The
quality and standard of the service is
high, and eaual to that of any Amer-
ican city of equal population of which.
I have any personal knowledge.
In ChristchurcK, the third city of
New Zealand in population, the street
car system is and, has been munici
pally owned and operated for some
.yearspast.' The general superintend
ent of the system -informed me that
he had no more trouble with his em
ployes than did any similar system
"owned by a private corporation.
Dunedin, the fourth city5ofiNew
Zealand, has. owned and operated its
electric and cable street - cars for
many years. The city is" built upon
several hills and the service, was pro
nounced satisfactory 4y-the leading
citizens and taxpayers with whom I
conversed.- '
' Having i given t , briefly conditions
which I found existing inEnglish
speaking countries abroad, I cannot
help- noting the 'wonderful progress
that municipal ownership is making
in the United States. The fight for
municipal ownership of the new sub
ways to be built in' New York City
has -finally resulted in a compromise,
and New York City will invest the
colossal sum of $163,000;000 in the
dual ownership of a system of sub
ways. The Interboro Rapid Transit
Co. and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Co. will also invest a like sum.. Thus,
$26,000,000 will be expended for the
new subways, which are needed :to
transport the people of the metrop-
olis.
Chicago, the second city in Amer
ica, which now receives 55 per cent
of the profits of the street car system,
is negotiating for further extensions
on a basis of receiving a large sUm
annually for a period of years, which
will eventually result in the city own
ing the entire system of street rail
ways and subways.
Within recent months San Fran
cisco has finished and has now in
operation her first municipally-owned
and operated street car line, and is
rapidly pushing to completion a sec
ond line. One of the leading citizens
of Sah Francisco, who violently-opposed
the building of the first line,
told;me recently that he was convert
ed absolutely to.'the nlunicipal owners
ship. of street car systemsr..because
by living on the new municipal line
In San Francisco he could testify that
its equipment and management were
second to none.
The Ohio constitutional convention
of l9i2 enacted amendments which
made it possible, for the cities of Ohio
to'ownand operate street car systems
find other 'public: utilities. The legal
interpretation" of the.amendment. dif
fered, and the Supreme Court ef Ohio
now. has a test case under considera
tion. If the .Supreme Court of Ohio
declares the amendment legal, Tole
do. Cleveland. and other :Ohio cities
t
