Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-13
SANITARY
Safety and Sewerage-PracticaI Sug
gestiOns-LOuIsVfIIe Drafts and
Drawings in Memphis.

EDITORS APPEAL-The questions of para
mount Importance to our people at this time are
those of finances aud sewerage. Both are properly
must speedily follow our deliberations If we would
secure prosperous future or exemption from sick
ness. AS TO the city debt while opposed to republic
ttOH recognize the fact that the Payment OF pres
bonded floating debt must be deferred until
sary to our Vers existence are complete This can
only be done successfully and promptly with nl.Tey
IN hand This money can only be secured from lax
alton and as our already rburdened people eau
not possibly stand rate that will cover general ex
penSes, manoamuses, t,terest, ETC. and at the same
time carry the Improvements impeTativsly re-
qIir. d, the fOImer must be suspended IN
til the latter is completed. The present
rate of taxation will suffice to carry on the ely
government and leave surplus oftwO humid Ell and
fifty thousand dollars to three hundred thousand
d IL rs a year for sew rage and paviIg purpOs s.
TEese can be completed ana paid lot In fur five
years. at the end or which time the payment of our
present debt can be resumed. Omiting sewerage
and street pavements our city commits voluntary
suIcce and present creditors realize l-ss than
ten cents on the dollar. By waiting on Us until we
can place our city in good condition, waiting re-
turn of oil iume pr ,sperity insuring ex mption
from epdemics, will, later on be alive to settle
in full. Extension Is what we want and the good
Judgment of our creditors will btlieve chaerfully
grant It. The plan of sewerage 10 be ado ted is Of
the utmost Importance, both In point OF practical
We should be fully Informed and profit by the ex-
perl nee OF Others. We should avail ourselves of
WT3e aaa5 R aord e mae eRgsg sk
peasiye and - productive - Of Of delay delay We
service and report II the most feasible plan and
probable cost This information should be sought
speedily for, based upon II, legislation will tie
quired and be obtained before anything pract-
Cal be done The time IL SD DIT at best for after
ApIii work would necessarily be suspended, aud
authorities must act IT mptly or summer will again
be upon us, with nothing accom- ,liShed. During
the present summer the writer took occasion to
thoroughly and carefully investigate the admirable
sewerage system of Louisville, 10 which that city
was specially Indebted for exemption from the late
epidemic. There is a striking analogy between the
wants and requirements of Memphis, TO day, and OF
Lou svlile six years ago. We have Bay on Gayoso
and branches she had her Bear Grass creek and
Sonthern dtch'-all prolific sources of pestIlence
and disease. The situation ana difficult es
markablI similar, but Ia Louisville these have been
successfully overcome by the skill ana energy of the
late city engineer, Thomas 2. Shanks, ESQ,
who planned and superintended the construc-
ton OF the entire seWe age SYSTEM which has
made that city of the healthles 1t Is one Of
the most delightful in the country. have dCubt
but that Mr.. Shanks'S experience would be specially
valuable to at this time and that courteous In
vtatiOn from our authorities would induce visit
from that gentleman, and, once here, a preliminary
survey and recommendation of plan would be sCeed.
lily obtained and az comparatively small expense.
Maps, surveys drawings and reports, connected with
the WoIk In Louisville, are IN possession of your
correspondent and subj ct inspection. trust our
authorities will lose no time in acquiring infoIma-
ton, and that Mr. ShankS some other competent
person Will be employed in conjunction with our
present excellent city engineer, Colonel Meigs, TO
examine carefully and ADVISE US as TO the best and
cheapest plan OF Sewerage for Memphis
MERCHANT.