11. What village authority has the power to establish fire limits, employ an attorney, regulate the village water supply? 12. Name the executive officers of the village and one duty of each.

13. Compare the chief executive officer of the village with the chief executive officer of the town and county.

14. Who tries persons charged with the violation of a village ordinance?

15. What are the duties of the village attorney?

16. Show why it is better to separate the schools of a village and their management from the village government.

17. Give the powers and duties of a board of education and the method of their election.

18. Show how an abundant and pure water supply increases the value of property.

19. What is a franchise, and how is it obtained?

20. Why is it better for a village to limit its franchises?

CHAPTER V

THE CITY

General Statement. A city might be called an overgrown village. At one time it was a village, and in the early beginning probably a very small settlement. What has been said in the chapter on The Village applies equally to the city. The organization and government are similar. The city, therefore, might be characterized as an intensified village. Like villages, cities are usually located in the neighborhood of some natural advantage, such as water power, mineral deposits, excellent sea or lake port, or navigable river. Since our cities were located before the days of railroads, canals, steamships, and electricity, the reason for thus selecting a spot favored by nature is even more apparent than under present conditions. In the study of your city it is well to note these natural advantages and to learn as much as possible about its early history. Learn also about its government, its various activities, what persons are responsible, and to whom they are responsible, for the faithful discharge of the duties connected with these activities, how people get appointed or elected to the positions which they hold, how delinquent officials may be made to do their duty, the methods used in governing other cities in short, ascertain in detail those things which lead to an intelligent understanding of the conditions in your city, why they exist, and how they may be continued or changed.

The Street. The streets and the parks of a city are owned and cared for by the city, and include most of the unoccupied space within the city limits, except vacant lots here and there which are private property. It will be seen, therefore, that the street in a city is more emphatically the center of all city life—that is, of traffic, travel, utilities, etc.—than in the village or in the country, because of the difference in density of the population. Every one is interested in the streets of his city in having them well laid out, well paved and curbed, properly bridged, cleaned, and drained, provided with suitable gutters, sidewalks, sewers, etc. It is our duty to know how these matters are brought about, how permission may be obtained to use the streets for private gain as well as for public good, for what streets may be used below the surface, on the surface, above the surface, who pays for all of these things, how the money is obtained, and the many other interesting details about our streets which demand constant care and expense.

How Streets are laid out: New Problems. There is little or no difficulty experienced in the matter of laying out streets or putting through a new street in the early beginning of a city. Later, however, when the city has grown and the property becomes exceedingly valuable, difficulties arise which did not before exist. In the case of difficulty, however, at the beginning or at a later period, the process of taking private property for public purposes is the same. This process is called exercising the right of eminent domain (see p. 97). Art. I, sect. 7, of the constitution provides that private property shall not be taken for public use without due process of law and without just compensation. Due process of law would be for the city to present to the supreme court a petition.

to have the street put through in the desired locality. The supreme court would appoint three commissioners, whose duty it would be to take evidence as to the need of the street and the value of the property. If the street is ordered by the commissioners, the property is said to be condemned and may then be used for the public good. The owner of the property is awarded suitable damages; that is, he is paid for his property. These proceedings are frequently referred to as condemnation proceedings. It not infrequently happens that streets are laid out by the owner of the property, who also provides proper drains, sewers, curbs, sidewalks, lights, etc. at his own expense, knowing full well that these improvements will increase the value of his property and make it more salable. It sometimes happens also that if a city will agree to make the above improvements through private property, the owner will give the city the right of way through his property, since the value of the remainder will be increased. In these last two instances condemnation proceedings, with the attendant expenses, would be unnecessary.

Use of the Streets. Streets and country roads are used primarily for travel and traffic. These streets are expensive, and their first cost for grading, paving, etc. is borne by the abutting property. Along them we have the right to pass for the ordinary purposes of social and commercial life, but we have no right to interfere with the same rights of others. We would not, therefore, be permitted to drive through them at a high rate of speed, to make a speech on a street corner, or to organize a parade, without first obtaining permission from the proper officer. In congested centers, convenience and safety require that we observe traffic regulations and pass down the righthand side of the street. Streets should not be paved