Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-21
SsT As this is time of unusual pros

g6y As this is a time Of unusual pros
perity, and taxes down to seven and
half per cent. per annum, we would sug-
cest TO the city fathers that it is an
excellent time to get up some new and
superior improvements in splendid style
To begin with, the much needed water
works ought not to fall behind the Croton;
for when we are doing good thing we
ought to do it we'll. And in connection
with this, the Bayou Gayoso ought to be
made a vast tunnel of stone, OF, say ten
feet diameter at the source and fifty
feet at the mouth. The bluff ought
to be all graded down, for at least
two miles in length, and paved well
with large stone, heavy stone break.
water being first placed above the navy
yard to arrest the course of the invading
Mississippi. 1t might be well also
to build suspension bridge across
the river to the thriving city Of
Hopefeld, which should have but one
span and be the most stupendous work
in the world. To subscribe few mil
lions now to the Pacific railroad might
be a good idea, as Fastening the coming
of the million of inhabitants which are
ON the way to this city, and especially
enriching those at present here. The
owners of real estate ought to be com.
PEELED to relay the sidewalks with marble,
repaint or stucco in oil the finest houses,
tear down and rebuild with stone all the
wooden and two story houses at once,
and build up with stone all vacant lots.
This would benefit their property" 1t
might be we'll, for the same reason, to
extend the Nicholson pavement not only
to all the streets of the corporation now
laid out, or to be opened, but alss few
miles into the country, which will cost
but SIG per foot to the owners of prop
erty and nothing to the city fathers,
the merchants, the bankers or
the bondholders. We will not stop
now to suggest all the improve
ments which ought TO be made because
they are improvements AS they pro-
gress the Aldermen will learn more and
more, and while they make beginning,
doing the little we have suggested,
doubtless think of plenty more to do
by the time that is done. We want these
gentlemen to wake up, and not to get
behind the times. The best time to
spend money is when you are most in
debt and have nothing to pay with. When
the United States was out of debt the
enterprise of Pacific railroad was
thought altogether Utopian and impossi-
BILE. But just so soon as the Government
got in debt three thousand millions, with
an indebtedness of two thousand millions
more on the part Of the individual part
ners Of the concern, the Pacific railroad
was fixed fact. When man is out of
debt he counts his dollars and gets
stingy. He has exactly 100000 laid
by and he thinks it will break him
to take one out Of the pile. And if
be has a few dollars over he thinks it
best to keep them together as a nucleus
for another hundred. But when he is in
debt hundred thousand or two the little
money he has will be freely spent as not
worth keeping to pay debts with, and he
can give his notes out with impunity.
Now, as our city is very much in this
condition, and as it will be easy to pay
of the present Indebtedness by running
in debt more, and having the requisite
enterprise, perhaps even before the time
of the arrival Of the destined million, and
as nobody can hope to get rich without
little nerve, we trust the City Fathers
will inaugurate such new measures of
improvement as are worthy Of our des-
tined greatness. We are bound TO be
nothing better than a little One-horse
town if we spend less than million or
two a year. We ought 10 spend five at
the very least The city can make by
it any way, besides growing into great
national importance, for it can pay of
The whole debt on twenty year bonds
and make them good by requiring the
amount 10 cash Of the real estate hold
ers, who will have no cause Of complaint,
because It will benefit their property.
Let the City Fathers wake up and swell
70 Dimensions somewhat proportional TO
the great work which is before them.