Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-05
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
a Few Facts worth Considering

A Few Facts Worth Considering.
Through the kindness of Col. Prosser,
a representative of this paper was yester-
day afforded an opportunity Of seeing
what is being done in building up the
suburbs of Nashville, and was convinced
that by the exhibition of energy and en-
terprise by our city authorities and capt.
talists this city can be made one Of the
most attractive on the continent.
Just now two new lines of street rail-
way are needed-one connecting the bus
iness portion of the city with West Nash
vile, and the other running out to Moth
Nashville by way of Spruce street. There
is a movement on foot ai present, look
ing to the construction Of the first named
of these roads, and n bill providing for a
street railway on Cherry street, extend
ing to North Nashville, has been pend
ing in the CITY Council for a year or
to be Of much value to the residents of
the northern portion of the city, and is
only one square removed from line now
in operation.
There is no reason why the
BUSINESS OF NASHVILLE
should all be transacted within its present
confined limits, nor, indeed, is there any
reason why the city limits should be so cir
cumscribed. The boundaries of Nashville
should extend at least two miles farther in
all directions than they do at present, and
then business establishments of all kinds
would be gradually built up on streets that
are now occupied as residence streets.
This proposition TO lay street railway
track on North Spruce street Is not a new
one, and it has been intimated that the
McGavOck estate, the North Nashville Real
Estate Company, and the company owning
the cotton factory, would bear q large pOr-
ton ofthe expense incurred in making this
improvement, provided Spruce street would
be widened TO one hundred feet from Line
street 20 the Northern boundary of the city,
and as South Spruce is now one Of the
finest streets in Nashville, this improve
ment would make a beautiful tloroughfare
of Spruce street for at least six miles, if the
boundaries of the city were extended as
suggested, and as they will be in the course
of time.
THE WIDENING OF STREETS
is a matter which cannot be attended TO
by our people too soon. Millions Of dollars
are now being spent by the people cf New
York, Boston, St. Louis and other cities in
consequence of those cities having been
originally laid out and settled by a class
who were unable to look into the future.
A like expenditure can be saved the citi-
zens of Nashville by wisely taking advan-
tage of the experience of all large cities.
In looking over the beautiful plateau ad-
Joining the city on the north and west. one
cannot resist feeling of regret that ii is
not now included in our corporate limits
and furnished with gas, water, pavements,
etc. Ifthis were done, and the lots sold at
reasonable rates, Orimproved by the present
owners, the propriety and wealth of Nash
vile would be greatly increased, and it
would be made much more desirable as a
place of residence.
One of the greatest needs of our city at
this time is
SMALL COMFORTABLE DWELLINGS
which can be rented at from twelve to
thirty dollars per month. Mr.. Thomas
Caldwell ST., has just completed three
brick cottages on West Carroll street, which
are models of convenience and good taste.
They contain four rooms each, and rent for
so per month. Mr.. Caldwell told our re-
porter that he could rent to first class ten
ants. two hundred such buildings in that
portion of the city, if he had them.
On South Carroll street, similar build
ings have been erected by E. IL. Miller, j.
II. Canaday, Albert Noble, l.. P. Baniza
and C. Ii. Dryer. On Fillmore street Mr..
F. c. Murray erected ten comfortable
brick dwellings last year, which he rents
for ten dollars per month. He also owns
eight buildings of a similar character on
NiUr,-av street and Is doing a great deal to-
wards improving that portion of the city.
There are some two hundred operatives
employed in the cotton factory, many of
whom are compelled to go into South
Nashville to live because Of the impossi-
bility of finding houses in North Nashville
at a rental commensurate with their means.