Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-01

County Court had no suitable burial
ground aior the poor and this said
Walsh (who had sort OF contract
for the burial OF paupofs la the yeal
1872 procured little earth from
one Claywoll, few miles north
OF the city, on which hole forty feel
loug and the width OF two collins was
ahoyeled out At one end OF this hole
the collins are two or three inches below
the surface; at the othsr end ten inches
above the surface, with but little dirt on
them. The Pope place. bought for a
poor house, has also been used for a
burial ground Here a spot fifty feet
square has been filled with collins two
OF three deep. some 81 them entirely
above the surface. The water from both
these places dow into Wolf river. whence
Memphis is soon 10 be supplied with wa
ter. Taese simple facts present d pie
iure ofbrnialiiy so terrible as 10 scarcely
require comment That the dead bodies
Of human beings. guilty Of no other
crime than poverty, should THUS be tum.
BLEED into ditch. and ia the times Of
peace, is hardly 70 be credited. The re-
sponsibill,y lies NJ the door OF the
County Court, and The magistrates
should be held strictly accountable.
The expense OF all this inhumanily FOR
1872 has been over $1,000. The bill Of
John Walsh for The last quarter Of tue
year. allowed by the County Court, foota
up $2G39 40. There Is discrepancy
between the bill aud the vouchers pre-
scented OF S9l6 50, besides overcharges
for burial. head and foot boards where
only coffin was furnished and for coffin
where only burial was furnished; andno
credit given fer money found upon a
dead body which was enclosed within
the magistrates order for the burial OF
the same; nor OF the discrepancy in the
number Of children buried, AS compared
with adults. The jury is forced 10 con
clude that the present system is q very
Objectionable one, as under il any citizen
can obtain burial for anybody land
almost anything) at the county's ex-
pense. They recommend that appli-
cants, except from hospital and poor
house, make cath as to absence Of means
of the dead; that description be filed
at the same time and in book-frst, on
the grounds OF humanity secondly, as
identifying the spet; thirdly, as a record
that might prove important; and lastly,
as check upon the accounts presented
for burying the countys poor. Finally, |
they recommend that specific contract
be made with some responsible person,
as none now exists, who shall give bond |
Of not less than $4,000.
The jury commends the cleanly con-
dition of the station-house, but not its
ventilation or safety. There seems TO
be danger of the north wall falling out.
The county Jail is likewise in perfect
order, and is well ventilated. The food
is good and ample, and no complaints
from the prisoners, save as to the law
delays" The visits to the poorhouse,
station-house and Jail were made at un-
seasonable hours, when they were not
expected; therefore, they were the better
pleased at the order and system they
foun6 The jury concludes with a NUM-
Der Of suggestions in substance as fol-
lows:
|. That the county debt be funded un-
der provisions consistent with the ability
and the protection of the county,
2. That alltaxes levied upon the citi-
zens OF this county shall be entered
upon duplicate tax books-one set for
the County Clerk; the other for the Tax
Collector and Treasurer combined into
one office; and this officer shall furnish
each taxpayer list of the amount
assessed against him at least thirty days
before it is due.
3. That all taxes shall be paid to the
Tax Collector and Treasurer in Federal
currency, so that county affairs shall be
upon a cash basis his receipt
not to be valid until countersigned by
the Chairman of the County Court who
shall also keep an account of taxes
paid, and by whom. Taxes collected
shall be deposited each day in q desig
mated bank; a cash book of the county
Of Shelby shall be kept, showing daily
receipts and disbursements.
4. The Treasurer shall keep q check
book; his checks must be countersigned
ly the Chairman of the County Court,
md when Cancelled in bank returned to
be County Court Clerk.
). Every officer whose duty it is to pay
money into the county treasury shall
make a quarterly statement. ia
6. All Indebtedness OF the county shall
,e audited by the County Court.
z. All Judges and officers Of the county {
hall present their claims for salary to
he Quarterly Court for audit.
s. The books of the finaRcial depart q
nent of the county shall be kept on the $
system of book keeping; G
lso, the books of the Treasurer, and t
rial balance taken off at the end of t
ach month. t
3. Admits that the adoption of this S
ystem requires legislation, but would )
rotect the county treasury from the /
disability of fraud, and promote the G
nds Of economy by diminishing the 6
lumber of court officers.
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