PUBLIC UTILITIES

The Utilities Magazine has suspended publication for the present, owing to conditions growing out of the war.

Arrangements have been made, however, so that special numbers may be issued at any time, if expedient, prior to regular resumption. The officers of the Utilities Bureau will therefore be glad to be kept informed about unusual conditions in any part of the public utilities field. Correspondence should be addressed to Morris Llewellyn Cooke, 401 Walnut Lane, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.

Spitzglass, J. M.)

Three-charge

system the highest development in public utility rate making. (American Gas Engineering Journal, March 23, 1918. p. 269-272.)

Paper presented at the annual convention of the Illinois Gas Association, held in Chicago, March 20, 1918.

Wilcox, D. F. Recent developments in the public utility field affecting franchise policies and municipal ownership. (National Municipal Review, March, 1918. p. 151-158.)

Report as chairman of the Committee on Franchises of the National Municipal League, at Detroit, Nov. 22, 1917.

PURCHASING

New York State. Commission to Investigate the Methods of Purchasing Materials, Supplies, etc. Report, Feb. 4, 1918. 1918. 9 p.

Recommends a centralized purchasing system for the state modelled upon that now in use by the Federal government at Washington, acting through the General Supply Committee.

Small, G. S. Organizing a purchasing department. Purchasing is not gambling in materials, but is an important function in manufacturing. (Industrial Management, March, 1918. p. 228-231.)

"If purchasing is properly done, materials are obtained when they are required, of the exact quality and quantity specified, and at the lowest price."-Editor's note.

SNOW REMOVAL

Biles, G. H. Methods of handling snow removal work in Pennsylvania. (Better Roads and Streets, March, 1918. p. 104. illus.)

TAXATION AND FINANCE

Massachusetts. Joint Special Committee on Finance and Budget Procedure. Report on state finances and the budget submitted to the General Court, Jan., 1918. 1918. 85 p. (House doc. no. 1185.) 352.23M4re

This is the main report of the Committee appointed May 23, 1917, to investigate the state budget and other financial matters, motor ve hicle fees, etc., and consolidation of commis sions.

Massachusetts now has no budget system. The one recommended for adoption is of the executive type; in other words the governor is made responsible for the entire financial pro

gram.

The Committee recommends a pay as-you-go policy for the state. "The theory that leans should be issued for every capital outlay," says the report. "is an exploded doctrine. A business organization as large as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making a consistent capital outlay each year, and this recurrent annual expense should be met from current revenues and not from loans. The failure of Massachu setts to maintain a pay-as-you-go policy in the past has resulted in placing our people in the unenviable position of sustaining the largest per capita net debt of any state in the Union except New York."

In place of the existing state government, which is carried on by 216 more or less inde pendent departments, boards and commissions, the Committee recommends a bureau system under which the functions of government are classified and duplication of effort and expense eliminated.

New York Tax Reform Association. The bill to limit rate on real estate and tax all personal property in the City of New York. March 8, 1918. (3 p.)

VF

Senate bill Int. no. 621, now pending in the Legislature, provides that the annual tax rate in New York City shall not exceed 17.5 mills upon each dollar of assessed valuation of real property and 2.5 mills upon each dollar of personal property. This circular summarizes the objections to the bill presented by the Association at the legislative hearing.

Zangerle, J. A. Untaxed wealth of Cleveland and why. An exposition of the difficulties of administering the general property tax laws of Ohio in Cuyahoga County. [1918. 66+ p. 336.29C6u

The author of this pamphlet is auditor of Cuyahoga County. He takes up one class of property after another and shows why all prop erty cannot be assessed under present laws at a uniform rate. His program for reform includes actual consideration in deeds, a corporate excess tax, a constitutional amendment to permit classification of property, taxation of improvements at 50 per cent of their value, a graded income tax, and local option in taxation.

Contents: Distribution-system nomenclature. Distribution loss and distribution loss factors. Maximum demand and demand factors. Diversity and diversity factors. Load factor, plant factor, and connected-load factor.- Load graphs and their significance. General principles of circuit design.- Calculation and design of direct current circuits and of alternating current circuits. Transmission and distribution. Lightning protection apparatus. - Automatic voltage regulators. Switchboards and switchgear. Characteristics of stations. Adaptability of steam, internal combustion engine, and hydraulic prime movers. Steam electrical-energy-generating stations. Internal combustion engine stations. Hydro-electric stations.

(Canadian Engineer, March 14, 1918. p. 231-232.)

Abstract from Journal of the Western Society of Engineers.

Schiefer, H. V. New York City has largest and best garbage-reduction works. (Engineering News-Record, March 21, 1918. p. 555-561. diagrs. illus.)

Describes the operation of the Cobwell system plant recently erected at Fresh Kills, Staten Island.

Smith, James E. Municipal waste disposal by cremation. (In: Illinois Municipal League. Proceedings, 1917. p. 125-136.) 352.1913

Clark, Evans. Data on salary grades and living costs of New York City employees with proposed resolution recommending a minimum salary of $1200 or its equivalent. March, 1918. 6 p., typewritten. (Socialist Aldermanic Delegation. Bureau of Investigation and Research.) VF

SEWAGE DISPOSAL

Fuller, G. W. The operation of small sewage disposal plants. (Cana

dian Engineer, March 14, 1918. p. 223-225.)

Abstract from paper read at a meeting of the New Jersey Sewage Works Association at Trenton, N. J., Feb. 15, 1918.

Michigan. State Board of Health. Sewage disposal, [by E. D. Rich and F. G. Legg. Nov., 1917. 24 p. illus. (Engineering Bull. no. 11.) 628.3M5

A non-technical discussion of the various methods of removing and treating sewage, prepared for easy comprehension by the ordinary citizen.

STATE POLICE

Committee for State Police. Powers and territory of the New York State Troopers. [Feb. 28, 1918. 40 p. illus. 352.35N7com

An unofficial account of the achievements of the New York State Police during their first five months of service.

STATISTICS

Secrist, Horace. An introduction to statistical methods. A textbook for college students; a manual for statisticians and business executives. 1917. 482 p., plates. 310Se2

"It is the primary purpose of this volume... to put the reader in possession of the information, tools and skill whereby he can, in a measure, not only pass upon the merits of the statistical approach to economic and business problems, and appreciate the problems involved in statistical studies, but can also undertake them independently."- Introduction, p. 6.

STREET RAILWAYS

Rugg, E. U. Street railway grants in Illinois. (In: Illinois Municipal League. Proceedings, 1917. p. 137146.) 352.1913 Wilcox, D. F. Killing the goose. An expert's view of rate raise plan. (New Jersey Municipalities, April, 1918. p. 103-106, 117–125.)

Reprint of an opinion rendered to the Newark, N. J., News regarding the application of the Public Service Railway Co. for an increase in fares. Dr. Wilcox, while not maintaining that no increase or modification in rates should be granted, denounces unsparingly the position taken by the company in "basing its claim...upon crude and incomplete figures... in the hope that a larger increase might be granted without serious investigation than could be expected if complete and detailed figures were presented." His analysis of the situation

shows the necessity for thorough investigation before any change in rates is allowed. It brings out many fundamental principles applicable in any locality where the question of increased fares is under consideration.

TAXATION AND FINANCE

California. State Board of Equalization. Provisions of political code governing taxes for state purposes, in effect May 11, 1917. 1917. 41 p. (Bulletin.) 336.29C2p

Revenue laws, in force on the first day of Jan., 1918; and citations from decisions of the Supreme and Appellate Courts affecting revenue laws. 1917. 534 p. 336.29C2

New Jersey. Governor. Budget message of Walter E. Edge...transmitting to the 142d session of the Legislature recommendations for state expenditures for the fiscal year beginning Nov. 1, 1918 and ending Oct. 31. 1919. Jan. 1, 1918. 136 p. 352.23N5

Pittsburgh. Mayor. Mayor's exhibit accompanying departmental estimates for budget of 1918. 1918. 13 p. † 352.23P6ex

Consists mainly of tables showing the receipts and expenditures of the city government during the years 1912-1918, grouped according to organization units, objects purchased, functions of government, etc.

of preparing against a recurrence of abnormal unemployment as a result of trade depressions and financial crises and submits to a searching analysis various proposals for prevention and remedy which have been made during and since the crisis of the winter of 1914-15.

"The Committee's Own recommendations contained in this report embrace action by employers, high finance, and government as well as action by the City of New York and the social agencies established in the city. They include proposals for the establishment of permanent machinery which will aid in the prevention of unemployment and in providing against distress resulting from it. Improvements are also suggested in methods of relieving distress when it is no longer preventable."

VENTILATION

New York City. Department of Health. Standards for ventilation in the City of New York, adopted Dec. 11, 1917. 1918. 1 sheet. H34.42st

Nygren, Werner. Development in heating and ventilation during the past five decades. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 44-45, 49. illus.)

WAR

American Association for Labor Legislation. Labor in war time; proceedings eleventh annual meeting, Dec. 27-29, 1917. 119 p. (American Labor Legislation Review, March, 1918.) 331 Am3 Liw

Illinois. University. Municipal war work, by R. E. Cushman. Feb., 1918. 16 p. (Bulletin, v. 15, no. 23.) 356C95

National Industrial Conference Board. Strikes in American industry in wartime, April 6 to October 6, 1917. March, 1918. 20 p. (Research report 331.89N21 no. 3.)

United States. Committee on Public Information. War cyclopedia. A handbook for ready reference on the Great War. 1918. 321 p., map.

356 Un3cy

Western Economic Society and City Club of Chicago. Financial mobilization for war; papers presented at a

joint conference...June 21 and 22, 1917. 1917. 157 p. 356W52

Includes papers by E. R. A. Seligman, E. Dana Durand, H. G. Moulton, E. L. Bogart, C. C. Plehn, Lucius Teter, T. S. Adams, W. A. Scott, and A. C. Miller.

MISCELLANEOUS

New York City

Brooklyn, "the City of Homes," now reaping the benefits from consolidation. Faith in the borough justified transit lines have been factors. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 28-29. illus.)

Davies, J. C. Transit lines versus real estate values. How improvements in methods of locomotion have enhanced property values - history should repeat itself. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 6-7. illus.)

Miller, C. C. Solution of city's transportation problems. How the future needs of the metropolis can be cared for through comprehensive tunnel system. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 4-5. map.)

Parish, J. L. A retrospect of Manhattan real estate. Growth of city during past fifty years-improved methods of construction influence development and property values. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 19-23. illus.) People's Institute, New York. Twentieth anniversary year book, 1918. 79 p. illus. 374.5P39

Proposed plans of Save New York Committee to create manufacturing center between Sixth and Eighth avenues, from 17th to 31st Street). (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3. p. 34-35.)

Shift of population in the five boroughs. Figures compiled show sections of city where changes have occurred will soon reach 6,000,000 mark. (Record and Guide, March 23, 1918. Sec. 3, p. 14.)