Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-17

ssmi-manthly meeting. At half-pasi
three o'clock, a quorum being present,
the Board proceeded to business. The
reading OF the minutes was dispensed
with for the present, and the Secretary
read the following message from the
Mayor
MAYORS MESSAGE.
MAYORS OFFICE, CITY HALL
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March Is, 1853.
To the Honorable Board of Aldermen:
After an absence of several weeks, I
regret or. my return to find our inan-
cisl wants still unrelieved and loudly
claiming attention.
While in New York, Baltimore and
Washington City, it was my pleasure to
meet and nver with many of the
holders Of our securities, and to find
them actively sOlicit0us for our prosper
ity, and willing to lend liberal assistance
towards the Improvement of our credit,
both at home and abroad, which all con-
cede is too low il Memphis is to assume
the rank among cities to which her Hat-
ural advantages entitle her.
1t may be said that selfinterest inspires
this wish for our prosperity, which, if
true, is legitimate and c~ommendRble,
and might be profitably initiated by
those in our midst who would ruin 8
4 u WA4Ch IL DElBuiA De LuGiE DIluG ~
sustain.
At no period OF our history has enter
prise and capital looked SO inquiringIy
towards Memphis as at the present, and
the low standard Of our credit is the only
contradiction to the generally received
opinion that 3 brilliant future is before US.
The Importance OF improving, or st
least sustaining, the city's credit, wss
clearly recognized in your determination
to order an additional issue OF city bonds,
which, it will be remembered, was re.
Iuctantly agreed to as the only measure
lett to protect the honor, IS well as the
credit, CT the city. To meet the SEEM
ing objection to an increase of the city's
bonded Indebtedness, and bridge ove
the few months that must intervene be-
fore we reach q cash basis, arrangements
were perfected by which loans were
placed, some at as low rates as seven per
cent. per snnunl, with 3 margin of bonds
to Insure payment at maturity but in
compliance 18th the caprice Of a few
self-c0nstituted guardians Of the city's
interests, the more expensive mode OF
funding according to the letter rather
than the spirit Of the law, must be OBJ
served.
AS the silly ostrich hides his dimln-
utive head beneath 3 leaf and deludes
himself with the belief that mis- huge
body is concealed, SO have those de-
eeiyed themselves, who under the false
p~TetenCs of preventing fiscal corrup-
ton have sought to thwsrt your plans
for protecting q credit, tnC5 hoping to
break it down, to enable them to pay
their past due taxes, or to eever short
sales Of scrip, with q deprecated evil
dence of city indebtedness.
Tfa EIpOaGz If THAR snhnnIoa uO7lT
compel the issuance OF scrip to meet the
pressing wants OF city employees, la
b0reTs and other creditors, who in their
turn, with little demand for their scrip,
would be forced to sell it st the pur-
chassr5' own pCles for the benefit Of these
delinquent taxpayers.
The ~forbear&nce Of these needy credit
ors under all the circumstances, has been
truly eomnendable, and will, I hope,
strengthen your determination to re-
dress their wr0ugs by paying them ct an
sATly day ia money which is their due,
instead OF scrip which would put them at
the mercy Of the spectators.
4 resolution was passed. a. your last
nesting f3rbidding the use Of bonds ex-
espt At par, which but for the fe3t that
8 mere resolution is as 3 dead letter
against d lay, Or ordinance, would posi-
lively prevent the completion OF your
DlzGs 20 pay the debts now DUE. To SvOid
even the appearance OF vaciIStiOn ia
your purpose to protect tbs city credit,
I raspsctfGliy recommend the repeal OF
sal resolution.
A. che Of your recent meetings q Pc
titiJa TO open the alley between Wssh-
iEgtOn ana Poplar and eas5 of High
street, was granted, hut no provision
made for the legal condemnation of the
ground 20 bo appropriated. To avoid
future complication l would recommend
inst the legal condemnation be provided
for bsI0r3 action is taken in the premises.
! herewith present icy fnsl action the
report Of the Commissioners seleeted 20
assess the damages 70 the I2lbert prop
erty,n by the extension through said
property Of fernando street into,UniOn.
also present p communication from
+. d. Baugh, ESQ, Z Of the water
works Commissioners, TO which l ask
yUur attention, and such action thereon /
rs you may deem advisable,
l am convinced that 3 clerk OF assist-
ant is absolutely essential to TIE prompt
AID thorough performance of the duties
Of the city Tax Collector, and recon-
mend that tae RaEe be granted.
also present q e0GAruicati0n from
the Sanitary Sergeant OF the Metrop0li-
tan Police, and recommend com APPLIANCE
with his suggestions.
Yours, very respectfully,
JOHN W. LEFTWICH, Mayor.
The accompanying documents we're,
Ia substance, 81 fellows
f. d. Bsugh, City Comptroller, SUBJ
mits report OF Special Committee, ap.
pointed to examine the different plans
l4id down by the City Engineer, in his
report on the water works and sewer
age, sud recommends q committee be
appointed to ascertain the most feasible
plan OF carrying is out, COZ, mittee 50 re-
port at the nexs meeting, and the work
to get under way immediately.
The Sanitary Police report Rotten Row
50 ia q most filthy and hoTrid condition.
The report prays that it be declared a
nuisance by ordinance, and abolished or
shut up.
On motion, the message was received
and 6led, and ordered published, along
with the accompanying documents.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS
being next in order, tbs City Engineer
reported and submitted profiles OF cer-
tain streets, and recommended the grades
laid down on the maps OF same be adopt
ed. Also recommends that $500 De
placed to the credit of Geo. Humphrey,
" LII sun LIZ PAX AAitO hlo WILLINGNESS I
to sccept ss full Compensation for s lot
taken from him on AlsbSma street.
Received and filed.
r. J. Morgan, City Attorney, reports
in favor OF accepting the proposition of
w. A. Bedford, made at the last regu-
lar meeting, TO donate a square for a
Public PARK. Received and fled.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Alderman Cartwright stated that he
had received q message from the Chair
man Of the Finance Committee, who
sent a report but was unable to attend
himself The report Is in substance as
follows:
The committee report that an album
dance OF money had been offered them
on bonds as cOllaterals, ct from seven to
ten per cent. Der snnum Interest. They
had hoped TO have paid of the fremen
and Others before this time. The money
was ready, and the City Treasurer held q
check, and, indeed, wss Oh his way to
draw the money, when be hoard that
that the city had been eoj0ined from the
uss of bonds, and that he had thought it
best to wait and find out the truth of the
Tumor.
The report goes on to say that the