Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-21
the FUTURE HEALTH OF MEMPHIS
BY GEORGE ". err.
FIRST PAPER

Heretofore in specializing on the prob
able future Of Memphis, we have had
but to consider the amount Of cotton
and other produce we could induce to
our markets; the building ofnyarious
railroads, and keeping up steamboat
lines, as feeders TO our trades the advan-
tages VIC could offer parties to trade with
us, by selling cheap and granting ,ac-
commodations. In other words, our
future was plain business proposition,
depending for its solution on our pru.
dence ,sagacity and pluck in business mat
tiers. Such was the case, we say, but not so
now. Another and important element,
has intruded itself, unbidden and
unwelcome, into our future calculations,
to.wit: the future health of Memphis.
II we are to make no more effort in the
future to prevent the spread Of disease
than in the past, then goodbye TO Mem
phis. At present We are upon the same
plane of civilized advancement in sani-
tary matters as wild Indians, and not be-
ing scattered like Indians, the conse-
quence is that our city labors under the
bad reputation Of being the most UNI
healthy place on the globe. Let it
become fixed in the minds of our people
that no intelligent effort is TO be made
hereafter to crush out, stay or prevent
epidemics, and the town will become a
landing and crossing in twenty years,
and, as my friend Major Busby says,
your honses will be the roosting place of
owls and bats. Should a number Of our
best cotton factors determine to go to
st. Louis, with their special knowledge
and experience in the business they would
erect that into a cotton market instanter.
They would know the peculiar business
the modus operandi of sampling aud
grading, tabling and selling, storing and
and the locale Of the produ
GERS, their standing and reliability This
would give to St. Louis much of our
trade in an hour. Are we prepared to
face such calamity? Surely not. Are
we determined 10 avert it by making
Memphis as desirable an abiding place
as that city. fear not. We are all
agreed that something ought to be done,
but we are still at sea as to what that
something is. One says that the sweep
ing of cellars is very tame for times like
these; another that the mere collection Of
statistics is very small bust
ness compared with the great duties of
a Health Board. Exactly what should
be done to prevent the hegira threatened
| do not know; but / know that the
hegira is threatened, that many of our
most thoughtful men are gravely consid
ering whether it is advisable to stay in
city where the recurrence OF epidemics
is mere matter of chance; where small
pox is as common in winter, and as hit
tie effort made to prevent it, as chills
and fever in summer; where fresh food
is sold to the poor and ignorant without
where the milk is notoriously
bad; where large proportion of the pop
ulation drink water poisoned by sewage;
where there is no system of drains or
sewerage, and where cesspools and ma
nure heaps abound in every block or
square; and, finally, where the people
seem incapable of rising TO a just appre-
citation Of their danger, seem utterly
weighted down by the incubus of-well,
won't say what, else some OF my
conservative friends win say that | am
irving to cut and slash. might re-
mark. however, that it we're better to do
a little wholesome cutting and slashing
than see our mortuary list stand daily at
one person dead in every five hundred
Just nov several questions are likely
to obtrude themselves on the reader:
What good is 10 arise from discussion
of this question at this time; had we not
better keep our mouths shut until the ice
king shall have destroyed the demon of
Will not discussion look
like murmuring and INSTRUMENTATION in
front Of the enemy?
| am going TO answer these questions
10 part by recounting some facts. In
January last, when the smallpox was
an epidemic, several Of our leading
physicians, who had had lhe matter un-
der special consideration, applied TO the
General Council for an ordinance Great
ing a Board Of Health. They proposed
an elaborate aud perfect sanitary sys-
TEN, and brought forward an abundance
Of fact aud argument with which to en-
force their views. What did they take
By their motion? Nothing, save the
satisfaction Of knowing that they had
performed a duty The cholera fol-
loved the small pox. and was epidemic
also. Il brought business for The under
.aker, and grisf,omany hearthssOpss, bsl
L did not make sn Impression on the
lawmakers. They stood their grOund,
and siolidly refused 70 know their duty.
II the first part Of September, however,