THE GREAT PAGEANT STAGE AT NIGHT The St. Louis Pageant and Masque HE accompanying illustrations show night and day views of the great stage of the recent Pageant and Masque of St. Louis. The beauty of the production and its magnificent proportions can be merely indicated by any photograph. There were 7,500 persons in the cast, while the audience was never less than 100,000 persons at a performance, and estimates place the largest crowd between 150,000 and 200,000. The scene of the Pageant and Masque is perhaps the most perfect natural amphitheatre in existence. There were seats for approximately 50,000 persons. These seats extended up the hillside, fan-shaped, only about half the distance, leaving stand ing room for 150,000 additional persons. The distance from the stage to the top of the amphitheatre was probably 1,000 feet or more. The natural acoustics of the place were such that most of the speaking parts were heard by those standing near the crest of the hill. The stage itself was nearly 600 feet from end to end, and 200 feet from footlights to sounding board and background scenery. Not the least noteworthy feature was the manner in which the crowds were handled. With approximately 500,000 persons attending the four performances, not a single arrest was necessary or made, and no one was hurt. The crowd was orderly, impressive and impressed. AMERICAN-LA FRANCE AERIAL TRUCK IN ACTION AT A RECENT FIRE IN FLINT, MICH. BELFAST, IRELAND, MORTOR-PUMPING ENGINE, WITH WHEELED ESCAPE, A TYPE UNFAMILIAR TO AMERICAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS The five-ton truck shown above on this page is of valuable service to the city of Pittsburg. The city buys all the hay and oats consumed by the various divisions at market quotations on the Grain Exchange. This feed is then delivered in proper proportions to some sixty engine houses, the Divisions of Highways and Sewers, and the other city departments by means of this truck and a wagon. As the city expends about $100,000 annually for feed the truck is kept constantly in use. It has been in service for about two years; it cost the city $4,000, and its upkeep, considering the hills over which it is compelled to travel, has not been excessive. MOTOR DUMPING-TRUCK, SHOWING ADAPTABILITY FOR CARRYING ASPHALT Important Features of St. Louis' New Charter A 158. By Edward Flad Ta special election on June 30 a new charter was adopted by the city of St. Louis by a vote of 46,839 to 44, In place of the old dual legislative body, with its obsolete system of checks and balances, the new charter provides for a single Board of Aldermen consisting of 28 members and a President. Each alderman will receive a salary of $1,800 per year in place of $300, the present salary of members of the legislative body, and the President of the Board will receive $3,000. A much larger measure of home rule than heretofore is secured to the city. It will have the power to own and operate street railways or any other utility of service to the city; to condemn private property for park or boulevard purposes, assessing the benefits against the property affected; to engage in social service work, such as free legal aid, free employment bureau and municipal lodging houses; and, in fact, will have the broadest powers possible under the constitution or laws of Missouri. Under the new charter city employes will be appointed by the merit system. Provision is made for the appointment of an Efficiency Board of three men, charged with the duty of submitting applicants for positions to competitive examinations and certifying, to the appointing officer, the names of the three persons standing highest on the appropriate eligible list. The appointing officer selects any one of the three to fill the vacancy. He has power to discharge arbitrarily, with or without cause, but the discharged employe may, at his option, require a written statement to be filed. setting forth the reasons for the discharge. The initiative, referendum and recall are provided. For the initiative, a petition signed by 5 per cent of the registered voters is required, or by 7 per cent if the vote is to be taken at a special election. To invoke the referendum, the corresponding percentages are 7 and 12. For the recall the petition must be signed by 20 per cent of the registered voters, including not less than 20 per cent of the registered voters HOW THE NEW CHARTER ORGANIZES THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. LOUIS |