Horváth J. András: A megigényelt világváros. Budapest hatósága és lakossága a városegyesítés éveiben - Disszertációk Budapest Főváros Levéltárából 2. (Budapest, 2010)
Summary
Expedient financial sources were insufficient to fulfil the great task: make Budapest respectfiill physically and regarding human infrastructure similar to Vienna. The situation is easily perceptible by the fact, that Budapest with a slightly larger territory should have fulfilled more assignments, relied on fewer than half of available financial resources, than Vienna. The three most important tasks were determined by elementary school (1868), capital development (1870), and public health care (1876) acts. The urban governance had great difficulties to respond to districts demands, capital and the nationwide general public opinion. In spite of all that, the majority of aldermen identified emotionally with that regulation of the capital development act, which provided half of regular income for infrastructure. The city was unable to achieve this goal even with greatest efforts. Discussions on annual budgets centred on estimates of road construcion and paving, canalization, parks, public sanitation, public lighting. The situation was hard, difficulties were encountered to cover these expenditures. The council took the spontaneous demands into consideration. It was based for some extent on aldermen’s claims, as they were eager lobbying for their districts, in fulfilling their moral obligation. Investments rose almost to one third of total expenses (23,04%), mosty financed by loans, in smaller parts by selling properties, and by current expenditures, respectively. However, the municipality was proud that sacrifices were made in schooling, this only partly developed physical conditions; the bulk of means moped current expenditures up. All branches of city responsibilities were characterized by strong decreasing investment until 1880. Thanks to the borrowing of 1880 onward, this activity rose up until 1885. Then, Public Warehouses, Elevator, Holy Stephan Hospital being completed, a descent was recorded consequently. The period can be characterized by killjoy financial necessities; organs of the former city of Pest were in function almost in unchanged conditions; contraproductive sparing intentions; and continuous unfruitful reforms. Before 1893, mandated respectful honorary gentlemen attended the districts administrative duties. The situation was similar to those existing in England and Germany. A particular cult around the modem city was taking place as well, with the idea to involve higher circles of the upper middle classes into urban matters. 467
