"Moreover, there was a strong public feeling in favour of the Corporation working the tramways. The company service was not efficient; it was dear, and their bad treatment of their employees had roused general indignation.
"So the Corporation decided to manage the tramways, and the day after the company's lease expired they placed on the streets an entirely new service of cars, cleaner, handsomer, and more comfortable in every way than their predecessors'.
"The result of the first eleven months' working was a triumph for Municipal management.
"The Corporation had many difficulties to contend with. Their horses were new and untrained, their staff was larger and new to the work, and the old company flooded the routes with 'buses to compete with the trams.
"Notwithstanding these difficulties, they introduced halfpenny fares, they lengthened the distance for a penny, they raised the wages of the men and shortened their hours, they refused to disfigure the cars with advertisements, thus losing a handsome revenue, and in the end were able to show a profit of £24,000, which was devoted to the common-good fund and to depreciation account.
"Since that time the success of the enterprise has been still more wonderful.
"The private company during the last four weeks of their reign carried 4,428,518 passengers.
"The Corporation in the corresponding four weeks of 1895 carried 6,114,789.
| In the year 1895-6 the Corporation carried | 87,000,000 |
| In the year 1899-1900 | 127,000,000 |
| In the year 1900-1 | 132,000,000 |
| In 1895-6 the receipts were | £222,121 |
| In 1899-1900 the receipts were | £464,886 |
| In 1900-1 the receipts were | £484,872 |
| In 1895 there were | 31 miles of tramway |
| In 1901 there were | 44½ miles of tramway |
| In 1895 the number of cars was | 170 |
| In 1901 the number of cars was | 322 |
"The citizens of Glasgow have a much better service than the private company provided, the fares are from 30 to 50 per cent. lower, the men work four hours a day less, and get from 5s. a week more wages, and free uniforms, and the capital expended is being gradually wiped out.