Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-20
EDGEFIELD.
Proceedings of she Board of Mayor
end Aldermen.

Proceedings of the Board of Mayor
end Aldermen.
The regular meeting of the Board OF
Mayor and Aldermen was held last evening.
Present-Msyor White and Aldermen
Lesseur, Glenn, Burns, Poston, Joseph,
Bartell and Jenkins
|. Aid Jenkins, from the Finance Commit
tee, submitted report from the Revenue
Collector, showing the following collec-
tons: For general purposes, $3.50; for
school purposes, $500. Report received
and fled.
Aid Jenkins presented memorial in
tended to be submitted to the next meeting
! of the County Court, on the subject of
| free bridge. The memorial is as follows
A memorial from the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen of Edgefeld, would most re-
| specially show, that said Board are desi-
rous that the Court would take such meas
ures, as in its Judgment will insure the
building of free bridge across Cumber-
land river between Nashville and Edgefeld,
The attention of the Court is most respect
fully called to careful consideration of the
following facts: The value of the taxable
property of the county for the present year,
as shown by the Assessors books, in the
Office of the Clerk of the Court, in the sum
| of $25, 1854, $50.
OF this amount the city of Nashville and
the adjoining districts, Nos. 8, 10, Is and
Is, contain property assessed at the sum of
IL, $40, 695. The property on the north
side of the river is assessed to the sum of
4,941, 305, making the value of the proper
ty %, 282, 900 Immediately interested in
the building of free bridge, and leaving
only property assessed to the value of g.
572, $50 in other portions of the county, or
that is to say, seven eighths of all the pro-
perry of the county is directly interested in
the building of a free bridge.
On the subject of the population of the
county the following results will appear
from an examination of the census returns
now on file in The Marshals Office at tie
Capitol:
Total population of the county .... So 1873
Population of Nashville and other dis
tricts before referred to in the value
oftaxable property, and Immediately
interested in the building of free
Drldge. 7.464
Leaving. ..................... o. .......... 1879
Or less than one-fourth of the population,
against more than three-fourths, who
would be benefited by this proposed free
bridge.
The people pay for crossing the suspen-
sion bridge from $50 to $25, 900 a year.
That sum would pay the interest on $780,
900 at ten per cent. per annum, or pay for
building a free bridge every five years.
From information now in the possession of
the board, it is believed that substantial
stone bridge can be built for 1925, 900, and
an iron bridge constructed on the site of
h. r11 g. A
bridge built of either stone or iron would
last for century, with scarcely any re-
pairs. --
But how can the money be raised to
build free bridge? Let the court levy a
tax of five mills on the dollar on the pro-
perty of the county, and it will furnish a
sum amply sufficient for the purpose, and
the tax Will be paid cheerfully and willing
ly. Or lei the court levy a tax of two
mills for three years, and issue its scrip re-
ceivable for taxes, and that will build a
free bridge If the court should not be
authorized to carry out the plan its judg-
ment should dictate as the best and most
feasible means for the accomplishment Of
its purpose, then authority can be obtained
from the Legislature, which will soon be
in session. Or should the court deem it
Opnb, IL Cdu buDllAAb LA4C uCollOu Vi lI66
bridge TO the direct vote of the people
The memorialists believe they represent
| the views of nine-tenths of the citizens of
Edgefeld, who are willing to prove their
faith by their works.
The bridge should lie wide enough for
two carriage ways and two foot-ways, on
substantial pillars and abutments, firmly
set, without any vibrations, and as free and
secure as the streets of the city. The sellers
of produce and manufacturers should have
free and convenient transit to market to
the railroad depots, and to their customers
in both cities. Manufactures are spring
ing up on 10th sides of the river, requir-
ing large number Of mechanics who need
houses, food and raiment for themselves
and families. They should be furnished
every facility possible for their comfort
and convenience, and the country should
make it their interest to live amongst us,
and help pay the taxes, and build up the
prosperity of the country.
The County Court is the guardian of the
rights of the people, and the rights of
property of the country. They can legislate
for the improvement of the country, and
| their jurisdiction is co-extensive with the
county on the subject of bridges, roads,
and all improvements of local character.
They are invested with the power to levy
and collect taxes, and appropriate the
money for county purposes. And we ask
emphatically, could more appropriate and
beneficial appropriation of the funds of the
county be made by the court than to build
free bridge? What other purpose would
accommodate SO large a number of per-
son-sso large number of tax payers?
Your memo-ialists ask that the subject
be referred to special committee of the
court, to take the same into ceasidera-
ton, and make an examination of the facts
herein stated, and of the proper action to
be taken by the court, and that said CON-
mittee make their report in the premises
to the next quarterly meeting of this court
The memorial, on motion of Aid. Joseph,
was adopted, with the request that the
Mayor submit it to the court.
Aid. Poston moved that Judge Guild
and Gov. Brown be also requested to rep
resent the memorialists before said court,
which motion prevailed.
H. Campbell, Treasurer, rendered his
resignation on account of being compelled
to be absent from the city, which was re-
ceived, and J. H Dodd was nominated and
elected without opposition to fill the va
cancy.
After the transaction of some other bust
ness of an unimportant character, the
Board adjourned.