Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-24
OUR PRINCIPAL STREETS.
Their Horrible Condition at
Present.
Is there no Remedy, il so, why
is il not Applied?

So much has been said Of late, and
well and truly said, too, Of the horrible
condition of our principal streets, with
out any visible good effect, that it seems
almost useless to complain. The apathy
into which the powers that be have fall
len seems TO have effected the tax-pay-
ers somewhat, for they submit as quietly
81 lambs being led to the slaughter.
Taxes are assessed by the authorities
and paid by the people almost without "A
murmur, for the proper maintenance Of
the streets, and still it is not done.
DAYS, weeks and months pass
away, and still matters do not
improve any. The fact that we are to
have a pavement shortly is no excuse
why pits and holes, traps for omnibuses
aud Wagon wheels, should be allowed
to remain in their present ~disgraceful
condition. The sewers in many of the
streets are allowed tG choke up, which
causes the cutters to remain filed with
stagnant water, which of itself is enough
to breed cholera or some other fatal
disease. To pa~rticularize the localities
| where these grievances exist is needless,
almost every street or byway needing
attention and repairing. Even on Second
street, between Union and Gayosoi one
Of the principal t~horOughfares, there is q
place where teams get stalled almost
every day. One of the best pair of
horses belonging to the Southern ex-
press company with great difficulty,
after a half hours labor, got out of
the mire. Matters will 90 on in this
way until some accident happens
to life or property, when 40 doubt a suit
at law against the city will be instituted.
Are the citizens willing to submit
quietly to this state of affairs? If so,
let it be. But as a stranger remarked in
our hearing a few days since, the people
of Memphis are the most gullable in the
world, or they would never suffer such
Outrages in their midst. That the streets
are sadly neglected, cannot be gainsayed.
Why is it so? Is the street force not
sufficient to do the work, in connection
with the chain-gang, or are the fourteen
or sixteen carts, paid by the city, so busy
hauling dirt from a lot on the corner Of
Poplar and Bull Run streets, the property
Of one Of the aldermen of the third
ward, I'VE do not mean Alderman
Amis), wkere a cellar for a found
is being dug by the chain
gang TO grade Exchange street extended,
which will greatly enhance the value Of
the property owned by another of the
city fathers. We repeat the force of the
city are so busy with these matters that
those more urgent cannot be attended
to. II ii is necessary for this work TO be
done to enhance the value OF dldcrnlaHic !
property, why make a whole meal Of it.
Do Il little at a time and give other p0r- }
ions Of the city their share, not Of the :
spOils or perquisites Of Office, but their
.ust dues, q. F. what they honestly :
for. What remedy the people have !
know not unless it be to petition the
:ity government for relief. That course :
night have q good effect, but judging J.
rom the experience Of the past few d
mouths, it is somewhat doubtful. The
,nly SURF way is to lay the neglect Of the 7
ervants of the people up till election a
and then ignominiausly expel the i
irones from the hive and have workers i
,nly to represent the interest OF those +,
Who pay the expenses, rich and poor o
like. .