ANNUAL ADDRESS. IX. 



leases the Corporation becomes the owner. The value of the 

 municipal estate three years ago was two and a quarter millions. 



Another important municipal centre is Manchester, with a 

 population of 534,299, with a rateable value of £2,955,775 and an 

 area of 12,911 acres. This city possesses the most profitable 

 markets in the country, yielding in 1896-7 a surplus of £12,000. 

 The gas undertaking paid over in 1897 the sum of £40,000 in aid 

 of rates, and the competing electric lighting service, although a new 

 enterprise, handed over £10,000 as surplus profits. Tramways 

 and artisans' dwellings are also under municipal control, and other 

 services as in Birmingham are controlled. 



Glasgow is an instance of municipal development and to what 

 perfection civic administration can attain. The citizens of Glasgow 

 are subject to the influence of good government at every turn. 

 The Corporation has perhaps carried out bolder schemes and under- 

 taken greater and newer enterprises than any other public city. 

 The civic control embraces every service which contributes to the 

 health and comfort of the citizens, and is largely represented on 

 the Clyde Navigation Trust. Under the Glasgow Corporation 

 Loans Act the borrowing powers amount to £11,511,330. Sums 

 set apart as a sinking fund amounted to £2,473,712 in 1897, 

 having a net borrowing power of £9,037,618. Items of expendi- 

 ture are interesting in shewing the wide range of civic control, 

 viz.: — Police establishment £123,662, Cleansing Department 

 £112,586, Lighting £61,318, Fire Brigades £15,380, Sewers, 

 Bridges, Repairs £6 1,1 94, Hospitals £38,660, Sewage Purification 

 £10,313, General Sanitary Expenses £22,923. The sewage puri- 

 fication scheme cost over £600,000. The population is 715,579 

 and the rateable value four and a half millions. 



Edinburgh is another example of complete municipal govern- 

 ment. The population is 292,364, and the rateable value is 

 £2,241,730. In additing to controlling all services enumerated 

 in connection with towns mentioned, the civic body takes a hand 

 in the control of the University and Carlton Hill Observatory, 

 shares in maintaining a veterinary college, and is the governing 



