Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-13
HEALTH AND SEWERAGE.

III we want TO preserve lives That are dear
, to us, and to keep that trade which is the
life of our city, we must make health as much
matter of study as the market prices oil
current staples. That is putting the matter
down to low point, but our meaning is that
if we care nothing for our own life, or for the
lives of those we profess to regard, that
merely as business consideration, we must
take steps to make our city healthy. There
are symptoms of unwholesome coun-
sci coming from a generation that
Memphis has already suffered from so
much, the miserable, speclous piasterers
over of unsoundness, and whiteners of
unclean sepulchres. We must keep clear of
thse proclaimels of "Peace, peace, when
there is no peace!" These dealers in subter-
fuge and preachers of procrastination want US
to understand that, as the United States gov
eminent is going to quarantine the seaports.
we in Memphis, therefore, have nothing to do
but 'eat, drink and be merry" for the whole
responsibility is taken out of our hands. We
have only to sit down and look on while
somebody else does the v ork, and we shall
be quite as well off as those who spend their
money and pant and toll in the labor they
undertake. All such advice is the
shallow drIppings of narrow minds
and limited understandings. That stern
monster, experience, has severely taught
Memphis to be on It's guard against the
smooth-tongued prophets that tell US to sit
still, save our money, and all will come out
right. Elmwood graves, and debt, and taxa
ton, all stand as the consequences of such
counsels, and convict the petty souls and
short-sighted eyes that dictate this sit-stil,
do-nothinR, and save-your-money policy.
Spite of government quarantine, the yellow
fever may reach our city again. If it does,
every town on the connecting railroads, and
up and down the river, will quarantine
against us. Like the leper of the scriptures,
the Memphis citizen, with yellow-fever IN
his city, will be repulsed and driven back
in every direction. The city, with
disease raging and death reigninG within
its limits, will be like ship on the ocean for
whose inmates in danger there is no escape.
Help has been extended to US by hands that
lost life because they extended benevolence;
another time the cry will be that, like God,
the good, the provident, the wise, will help
those only who help themselves. IfMemphis
will take no step toward preservation
if by inattention to the clearest dictates of
common sense, by want Of cleanliness, by
neglect of sanitary precaution, the fever ever
seizes the city again, the cry will be Help
for Memphis, within Its limits, but no per-
mission for the infected to wander at will and
spread contagion outside them" We speak
plainly, for the occasion demands that
matters shall not be minced and
softened, and truth smothered amid
shallow platitudes and the silly chatter
of parrots without brains, the washy empti-
ness we have given ear to in Memphis too
much. In another column a Merchant"
in sensible and practical communication,
calls attention to the subject of sewerage
and other sanitary measures for this city, in
terms that demand respectful and thoughtful
attention. What is said with respect to GER
tain aDaloges between ourselves and Louis
vile, and of the aid we may draw from the
experience of that city, is of value, and we
specially call the attention of the city council
to that part of g Merchants - statements
The drawings, plans and specifications Louis
vile obtained at great expense, are placed at
our service. We can commence our Mem
phis sanitary improvements with the exam
pie Louisville has set to guide US, and the
lessons that city has learned in its proceed
ings to direct Us. We hope our city authori-
ties will avail themselves OF the advantages
offered, and save our city from the possible re-
currence of scenes that make humanity shud-
der, and sorrows that "make cen angels
weep"