Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-01
TIE rURNINo POINT WITH MEMPHIS

This morning there was sun .aholper
frost, fully as heavy as the great one oil
the season that appeared last Tuesday
morning. All danger was over before
vet each successive frost or freeze more
efectually neutralizes any germs OF the
disease that may linger in closed houses
ar in the limits Of the former injected
district. 1t is over. and the sooner abb
sentees come home to fill up their places
look up their effects, not stolen, ana gel
to business the better for all concerned
This is the fourth frost in week, be-
sides four frosts previously on the nights
of the following days, namely; the 9TH
eth, 18th and 10th of October. Each
frost was succeeded few days later by
an abatement in the number OF deaths
and of new cases. The virtue of frost
has been fully demonstrated by the
records of this epidemic. Now let us
decide what to do with the orphans, how
best to provide for the INDECENT widows,
the helpless people made so BY the yel-
low fever, and set about the sewerage
system at once, and thus give employ
ment to the thousands Of men thrown
out Of work and q support by recent
calamities. II will not do to put of so
important an undertaking until next
summer, when digging up the fresh earth
would breed some new pestilenee and
wipe out what ia left prospeetively Of
Memphis. 1t is necessary 10 determine
FIRST what kind Of sewerage is to be con-
structed, how much it will cost, and then
in what manner the funds can be had
at the least sacrifice. Property is
now worthless; it would barely bring
% per cent. of prices usually asked
If put up and sold at auction;
q few business blocks are among the
exceptions. The question now is, how
to bring up these values to something
like the former standard, making allow
ance for the shrinkage in the actual
value Of the national currency which
has lately taken place. II we SIT still
and wait to see how often the epizootie
orsome other epidemic can come around
in the course OF year, Memphis will
surely 70 into q melancholy business de
cline. The live men who have kept W
the trade and reputation Of the place
know that they can do well elsewhere
snd unless the conviction in the public
mind, regarding sanitary measures,
takes practical shape, many of these
valuable citizens will form connections
With other cities and be lost TO Memphis
forever. The property holders cannot
expect to realize much from their ten
suts, over aud above taxes aud iDsur-
soce, for few years to cone. When
sewerage is perfected, ePidemics no more,
trade restored and expanded. then city
property will become . prolific source
OF income, aud tenants will ooce more
be able TO pay high reuts without y uur-
nuf. The future Of Memphis depends
very greatly upeH what policy is adopt
ed within the next three mouths. i
something positive is got done toward
self-prOseIvsliou within that time, i
will have to 20 over another year, anC
Who can predict the result, Of such I
mistaken Will not some gentleman Ia
uIliar with the subject write q sewerag,
ordinance covering the whole ground
that it may be published by the LEDGEr
and discussed ia detail by the public be
fora fnal action IL taken9