Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-16
THE GREAT NUISANCE.

The unfortunate citizen who has to
ride over the street railway lines Of this
city, and paying for the privilege ten
cents single fare or four tickets for a
quarter, should receive some protection
and accommodation for his money and
his bravery in taekliug the old mule-box
at the risk of being jolted to death over
the rough track. Our mule-box i%nvesti-
eating commissioner on several occasions
dropped his tea cent shinplaster into the
ticket box Of oneSof the companys
chariots and rode down to the Missis-
sippi and Tennessee depot and back.
When the quadruped which acted as the
motor broke into a slow trot the Jolt.
ing over the rough track commenced
down the grade from Madison to Beal;
the car wheels made a horrible noise and
the box g~roaned like a shsky vessel at see.
The exercise is probably wholesome, but
decidedly unpleasant both to gentlemen
and ladies. When about noon the down
town mule.box reaches the stables, stu
ated in front Of the Waldran block on
Main, the car is stopped and the driver
~leasurely puts on his brake, trims around
and walks out of the car and across the
street to his boarding-hous TO indulge in
his dinner. In probably FIVE minutes
some ~lazy-looking chap appears at the
mule stable door, and seeing the car full
Of angry and disgusted passengers,
swings Lis arms up in the air and hol-
lows out, Say who is going to take that
carr This can is heard at the bash,
house over the way,and in a few minutes
a big, ~lazy-looking driver comes 10 the
door, looks at the car, then looks up and
down the street and at any woman or
girl who may be passing by. When he
gets through with his gazing he pulls
out a plug Of tobacco and showing a
section Of it into his mouth be walks
leasurelY over to the rear of the car, then
drawing on q pair Of huge gloves be steps
up on the end board aud walks through
the car to the front. He kicks his brake
loose, and shouting at the mule, the ex-
cursion train moves on, while the driver
breaks out into whistling an aria taken
from some song heard at tie varieties
theater, the "Muligln Guards for in
stance, or some other gem most pleasing
to the passengers. Inc car gets to the
Mississippi depot in due course of time,
but on no particular schedule time. At
the depot, il q train is expected, the a
waits some time for it, and 10 the mean
time the driver hops off aud walks over
to a n%eighboring saloon to " gass" with
tAe barkeeper or put himself outside of
a drink. Returning, the car is again
halted in font Of the stables near Beal
street, and the work Of changing mules
is carried N. This is a slow business.
The diver unhitches the animal and
turns it loose, and the intelligent quad
ruped after giving vent to its satisfaction
in a series Of unmusical braTs, wanders
of into the dark stable in search of
It's native fodder. The passengers
amuse themselves By gazing at the
dirty locking stables, until at last
some youth or grown man is seen emerg-
ing from tie darkness holding the end of
a rope in his hand and apparently at.
tempting to drag forth into light some
heavy body or recaloitrant animal which
is attached TO the other end. This is d
struggle between mind and matter, and
at last mind oveIcomes matter, owing to
sid given in rear Of the resisting power
by some friend Of the bostler, the aid
being a lash with a whip. and a classical
expression, such as Get up, d-n youl
What in the hill are you holding back
for2' The mule is at last backed to the
front OF the car and the rope harness put
on it. The driver gets into his position,
seizes the lines, gives the mule a few
lsshes with the whip and the lightning
express train moves majestically onward
toward the north. Reaching Madison
street eur commissioner gets out and
gives expression mentally to most forcible
opinions as to the mule.box management
aud monopoly.
That stable on Main, near Beal, is a
terrible nuisance, from a sanitary stand
point. The street at that point is OBJ.
structed by plank bridges, turn tables,
old timbers, wagons, etc. The authori-
ties should attend to this Immediately.
The street and sidewalk in front of the
stable is usually in a very filthy condi-
ton, most offensive to the olfactory
nerves and most damaging to ladies'
dresses. This is most unhealthy, and now
that warm weather mas set in the disease
breeding nuisance should bs abated oy
the health officer and his assistants. Why
a corporation should be permitted to do
these things with immunity is a wonder
full thing, when no private citizen would
be permitted to do anything like it or
maintain such a nuisance on his prem.
Uses for the space Of two hours. Our
authorities should not be afraid to attack
such corporations when the good Of the
puSlic is the object sought to be accom-
nlisbed