Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-02
0UEENswAsE.
COMINa No AN AGREEMENT.

Adm W AlLh LII AAANs' olf
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COMING Te AN AGREEMENT.
We can state definitely and with
much satisfaction that all serious diff
fcrences existing in the citizens com
mittee of fifteen have been reconciled
and that a plan for the improvement
of Memphis will soon be submitted to
the people, The committee met last
night and after a full discussion came
to an understanding which in the
main will, we trust, be acceptable to
the public. The idea Of four
per cent. tax, if ever seriously enter
tanned, has been abandoned. The ten
items or suggestions of the committee
and experts from the national board of
health were taken up and adopted one
by one, and finally the report was
adopted as whole. The following
resolution, after a great variety Of
views had been expressed, was adopt
ed
Resolved, That for the purpose
building sewers and subsoil drains,
and carrying out the other sanitary
measures recommended by the com
mission Of sanitarians, that tax Of
two per cent, or two dollars on the
one hundred dollars, "of valuation be
levied on all the property in the Tax.
ing District as valued for taxable
property in 1879, payable one-half on
the first day of February, 1880, and
the first day of December, 1880, re
spectively, and that the governor be
requested to convene the legislature
Immediately to provide the necessary
legislation.
The people will probably, and,
we believe, certainly be willing to
stand tax Of one per cent. per aunum
and pay it cheerfully. AS one of the
gentlemen remarked at the meeting, it
will be regarded as an investment, and
one that will eventually bring a big
return. Better expend half mil
lion dollars if we could raise it in i'm
proving the sanitary condition of the
city, and making it a healthy place OF
abode all the year around than tt
spend millions in running away every
summer We regard sewerage and
sub-drainage as essential to health
1t is not the only measure nee
essary by any means, but it is one o.
the most important OF all the things
that should be done. Thepeoplc will
pay such a tax the more cheerfully
because they have confidence that il
will be economically and judiciously
expended. 1t will give employment
to hundreds of our working people
and enable them to remain here, sup
port their families and perhaps bridg;
over the hard times and in the future
build up and share the prosperity o.
Memphis. The investment will in
crease che value of property
restore confidence and bring
business to Memphis. Under d
good sanitury system persevered in,
there can be no doubt that epidemic.
will cease to visit US, and that in a feq
years every business house will be fdl
of goods, the hum of industry vii
be heard again in deserted mills, foun
dries and shops, and the city will takt
second growth upon a solid basis
and long before the census Of 1890 tn,
population will be doubled. Just nog
we find ourselves in reduced circum-
stances, which, but for the admirable
situation Of Memphis, the sweepin!
tide of business which rushed upol
us when the quarantine was raised
and the dauntless Anglo-Saxon plucl
of our people would be very discour
aging. In two years we have lost sil
thousand people out Of population
of say $4,000, aud the refugees hav,
spent away from home several million
of dollars, to say nothing Of losses il
business, suspended salaries or wages
and injury to property left tenantles
and unguarded. We see, however, tina
Memphis is worthy of saving an,
can be saved. 1t becomes u
then in the face of all our misfortunes
and with the memory still fresh 0
mistakes, mismanagement and cul
pable negligence, to rally like mel
and male an intelligent, united an,
heroic eTol to redeem our homes, an,
make this what it should be, one 0
the fairest and most attractive cite
in all the land. The most intelligen
minds of Memphis, after careful though
and full conference with the mos
eminent scientists and sanitarians
of the age have agreed substantially
upon a plan which by an enabling ac
of the legislature can be carried ou
to the end. We propose to help our
selves. The Governor is asked to cal
the legislature together to pass an ac
empowering the local government t
levy and collect a tax sufficient for tn
purpose that work may commence a
nnnn This Is a reasonable rnnnnsl