Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-26

Westwardly TO The river. This
street az e now stands lisa mud
hole in she winter add q mass Of
loose dirt In the, summer, having
neither 8 regular grade 70 drain the
water along the street, or OF on the
side streets. Its c0nfor nation be-
ing apparently adapted 10 suit the
cOnveniehce and taste Of property
holders on the east. By its eleVa-
ton, destroying the property on
the west side and leaving holes
and ponds TO collect all the debris
and drainage Of the city. The
streets from the entire river front
ascend with irregular grades up
and down hill, so as 10 make the
value Ofall property west Of Cherry
streetdepend upon reachi ng Cherry
street.
The effect OF the present loca-
ton Of Cherry street Is II anything
more to depreciste tho property
east Of Cherry street, leaving gull
lies, ponds aud gorges absolutely
impossible and breeding miasmas
and destroying the health Of our
city.
A typographical examination Of
V~icksbnrg Is necessary with q view
10 the proper use Of the property
in the City, as well as to freeing the
City from all local cause Of disease.
Regular grades are Of the first I'M
pOrtRnce in ~transacting business,
and adding TO the comfort of the
people In their usual avocations.
In a Southern latitude, heat and
moisture are the causes Of disease,
which cannot be remedied without
removing these causes. Every per-
son familiar with Vicksburg epi-
denies is aware that tlley locate first
on the fiat, wet and badly drained
river front, and extend from that
point to other parts of the City.
Persons doing business on the levee
contract there the Yellow fever, but
residing Ia parts Of the City remote,
have the disease, aud die, at their
residences, whilst no other mem
bers Of their families, although un-
acclimated have the disease. AL
the same time houses on the fat in
trout ofthe river, every meIaber Of
the household unacclimated has the
disease.
Public administrators, whether
City Council. on Boards Of Health,
in the conscientious discharge OF
their duties, must look to The
future as well as the present in
the fulfllment of their trusts.
They use public funds collected
from all the citizens, and they
should he used to promote the
prosperity health and comfort olall.
Vicksburg is as healthy a city as
there Is between the Ohio river
ara New Orleans, aud a proper use
OF the advantages we naturally pos
sess Will make it the hea!Iihest.
Naturally all parts OF it are
thoroughly drained, except the
flat in front; this can easily be
drained by proper sewers. Take
the railroad as The Southern boun-
Diary, and Glass bayou as the North
ern, these points as zero give q
gradual ascent, so as to- make It
SIX feet lower than at present in
front OF the Synagogue. From this,
Cherry street, a. the various cross
lngs run a regular grade to the
high water marx Of the river, and
open up eastwardly gradually oil
OF the stFeets, with iniall cases,
an western fall sufficiently rapid TO
carry of all the water. Put a
sewer in Levee Street, weh a fall
northwardly and southwardly from
near the Prentiss House, opening.
on thesOuth into the river at Hen
~ street, and on the North on
Grove street. If necessary also
put d sewer in Washington street
from the railroad 10 the bayou,
opening up at the same time ali
tue streets running north aud south
between Cherry aud the river, to
the grades as fixed at the crossings
Of streets running cast and west. =
This standard of grade will give
ample material TO till all depression
in the streets. 1t. will give the
property holders ample material
TO ill up all the hollows, depres-
{ sions aud ponds in their lots. Have
the entire city surveyed aud level
ed and legally establish aud record
all the grades and lines, and require
all buildings to be erected TO con-
. form TO them. When this Is done,
as the city is able to open a street,
let 1t be opened 10 u grade; and
l upon the main thoroughfares for
freight have the Nicholson pave
ment put down and thorough
drains not only for the streets, but
private lots. The city in all cases
paying one-third the cost OF Mich
/ olson pavement, and all Of the
street drains, the property holders
on each side paying One-thiEd Of
the cost Of the Nicholson pave
ment and all drains, and all drains
! OH private property. The real
property of Vicksburg, in owner
ship, Is more generally divid-
, cd among the citizens than
! probably Ia any other city Ofthe
o same size and 1t Is now rapidly inn
proving. On the streets to be cut
9 down and filed up It would not IN
any case damage the present build
! ings, and II fixed grades, lines and
plans are now adopted the citizens
0 will accommodate their new build.
/ ings to them and property OF pres
ent vacant will be improved and
> the present favorable business 10.
1 calities win be extended. The city
Is out Of debt. Under the new
charter loans can be effected and