Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-16
Pavement.

less popular than IL has been.
Nicholson Pavement.
Eds. Appeal. Memphis is surely the
best abused city in the universe-abused
for the mud and filth Of her streets, and
abused by the blunders Of her council
governors, the Board Of Mayor and Al
dermen. Money has already been
squandered enough t. have paved many
Of the streets in the most substantial
manner. How often has the grade been
cut and filed, changed and altered by
that rare specimen Of science, the City
Engineer, In many streets, where ma
ture made the earth solid, and where We
might enjoy a passway at least a. good
as the natural road, great heaps Of pure
clay have been thrown from ONE con-
venient contract for grading or eXcava-
ting d collar, 10 be worked into thorough
mortar or cut into mud-holes, without
bottom or sOundings. For these beauti-
ml improvements, the taxpayers have
had to foot the bills for many years, and
to keep the streets perfectly horrible these
mortar beds are replenished from
year to year by a change of grade.
Then came the graveling process at an
expense Of hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars. Heaps OF gravel thrown upon the
loose clay and mud, this, Of course, must
fail 10 make u good street, because the
foundation being Of sand, is itself with
out foundation, resting As il does upon
mud. Now, as if to cap the climax of
folly and extravance, it is proposed 70
put down in some of the principal streets
what Is called the Nicholson pdrsHleHt,
and thus grind the taxpayer 10 MI the
cofftrsof some smart contractor. That
il will not answer, that il Is a failure, we
have occular demonstration. Look at
the precious experiment in front Of the.
| Commercial on jefferson street. The
material is Of wood and must decay, es-
pecially in this moist climate, and wear
into holes. 1t is more expensive and not
a whit better than a good plank road.
All such experiments have been tried
in the older cities and abandoned.
| Nothing IS found to supply the
place Of solid blocks Of stone.
II gravel is used it must have a stone
foundation. When will our people learn
wisdom Better have what we attempt
TO do, done well, Better have 800 yards
Of stone pavement for a beginning, than
five miles Of the Nicholson experiment :
1t is perishable decay is stamped upon
every block it has been weighed in the
balance and found wanting. We are
willing to be taxed, when we get some
thing substantial in return. We would
be willing to pave at our expense,
in the best manner, if such was the ordi-
nance Of the city. It is useless; expert
ments we oppose
MANY OLD CITIZENS AND TAX PAYERS
Legal Intelligence.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT AND Dis
TBICT COURTs.-In the case OF Moore *
Co. rs. Hicks, the motion for leave to file
amended pleas was argued, and disposed
Of; the Court holding that, a set-off
AtuAAAE4 vi q LHIN AtuAA AoA AE lACaAAEAf a.
such in an action on a contract. The
motion for continuance on the ground Of
absence Of important Witnesses, was al
lowed. The motion for an injunction
to e1join suit at law, in the
case OF Cockrell as. Vance, continued
from yesterday, was taken up and ar
gued by counsel. Peabody It a., CS.
S0uthwOrth. This case being in judg-
ment, the notes filed As EXHIBITS were
withdrawn by leave Of the court.
Vance rs. Merritt, continued by con-
sent TO the next term Of court. Major
James .. Pierce, Mr.. c. w. Heiskell
and J. +. Bigelow were admitted and
sworn as attorneys and proctors of
the Court. United States as. one thou
sand five hundred bales Of cotton. This
came up on motion for leave to detach
United States revenue stamps to the
amount Of ninety dollars, from a bond
filed in the cause by owners of the cotton,
for its release. The Collector had refused
TO approve the bond unless 50 stamped,
and it was shown by a decision Of the
Department that a stamp o. only twenty
five cents was necessary. Motion al
lowed. The argument commenced on
Wednesday in the case Of Cossett, Hill
* Co. as. Gossett, was concluded. Mr..
Henry G.. Smith for plaintiffs, and Mr..
Humis and c. W. Heiskell, for defend
IA The argument will be concluded
to-day.
CHANCERY CoURT-This Court stands
adjourned 10 Saturday morning, the 18th
inst, in order 10 keep the minutes open
for DEGREES and orders. The final adj
iournment of the term will take place on
Saturday.
CRIMINAL COURT.-Business in this
Court is suspended until Saturday, when
an important question will be argued,
viz: Whether the keeping and using a
" keno bank" is gaming" About
seven hundred eases Of indictments for
gaming depend upon this question, and
able counsel viii give the matter a full
investigation and argumenton both sides.