Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-13
MEMPHIS AND IFS STREETS
The Alleys and ByWaya.
Cellars UndergrOund---Amuse
mems and Beer Saloons,
etc, etc, etc.

The state Of the streets in Memphis at
the present time is no less creditable to
the board Of mayor and alderman than
it is TO the acting street commissions
and the force under the direction Of b a
oficisl. The slightest fall Of rain, snow,
or sleet, under the present management
Of affairs, makes the streets almost i'm
passable. The crossings are In such a
state that pedestrians almost always fear
to cross, often prefeFring to walk several
blocks before making the venture, Oh
the alleys and byways it may be said
that they are in a filthy condition and
| dangerous to pass through even in The
day time, being filed with offal and rub
Dish Of all kinds, and we may be led here
to inquire whose fault it is that these
state Of things exist. Surely, enough
money is paid by the city monthly to
keep the streets in good order. If the
labor is not done, whose fault is 1t?
Who is to blame? Answer, ye servants
of the city? Where does the funds ~
to? Where is the labor expendedN
( What are all the carts doing? Are they
grading some officials property or
working for the benefit of the city gen.
orally? Where is the chain-gang and
paid street force? The people desire to
know what they are doing, and why 1t
is that the crossings and street through
fares are allowed to remain in such a
filthy and almost impossible condition.
Do they want the citizens to establish
another Park ferry, or offer a eward
for a lost man a? which they may have
aust to do ere long, if the present state
of things continue. OF the underground
au.usements and cellars, beer sa-
looms, etc, for the disgrace OF
the city, and more particularly
Of its rulers, it may well and truly be
said there are too many. Still if this
evil is desired to be exposed or qusshed,
persons are met with the reply that these
places are licensed. What do the city
authorities license people to do? Well
may the inquiring citizen ask do they
give absoldtiOn for drunken orgies at all
hours of the night. Do they license pub
lie dances at the Gooi Idea? Drunken
waiter girls at the Cave? or the various
free music halls of the city? Answer
these questions ye guardians Of the pub
lie peace and morality. II they are re-
sponded to satisfactorily we will be the
first to make the "amende honorable"
In the meantime we pause. Again we
are met with the remark, let the new
board alone, they will fix everything,
only give them time. That is all very
well. They have had time, hut still the
evils are not remedied, but seem to be
daily growing worse. We do not desire
to find fault, but that such glazing evils
certainly exist in our midst, contrary to
the social and moral laws and habits of
our people, cannot be gainsaid, and in
the discharge Of OF duty as public jour
nalisis We are bound to expose them
As an instance, we cite an occurrence
(which should make every right-minded
man shudder with regret and fear which
came to our notice last night. A poor
unfortunate one of the class described as
" polite aud attentive lady walters" wa
a beastly state Of intOxication, reeling
from the Gave" and allowed to fall in
the gutter. Had it not been for a
gentleman in blue this creature might
been food for the scaveHger or the
gully rats. Who is answerable for this
fearful state Of affairs? Answer, all We
who are concerned, at the bar Of public
opinion.