The History of Birmingham, Vol. III., 1885 - 1899. By C. A.
Vince, M.A. (Cornish Brothers. 12s. net.)—Mr. Vince, in continuing the work of the late Mr. J. T. Bunce, bespeaks the patience of his readers as having to write on a subject of less developed interest than that which occupied his predecessor. The period 1851-84 was of crucial importance. It saw Birmingham rise to be the best administered town in the United Kingdom. It has not lost that reputation, but the process of maintaining does not lend itself to the art of the historian as does that of attaining. Per- haps the most important incidents are the unsuccessful effort to make a "Greater Birmingham" and the successful water scheme. Birmingham very possibly will see cause to be thankful that fears
and jealousies, in themselves, it may be, not very creditable, hindered the town from assuming overgrown proportions. An experiment in finance deserves mention and possibly imitation,- i.e., the issue of £10 mortgages. Might it not be an improvement to guarantee a minimum interest, and divide among the mortgagees a proportion of surplus income ? What a difference it would make in economical management of gas, water, dc., if every householder had a direct interest in the results ! The municipality is not Socialist. It rejected the proposal to limit the hours of labour, and refused to formulate a plan for finding employment. On the other hand, it adopted a "fair wages" clause.
Previous page
