Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-13
what OOught to be Done with
Memphis?

What OOught to be Done with
Memphis:
EDITOR LEDGER-It is of the ut
most Importance to get rid of u
wooden pavements, o -four privies, and.
earthen %cisterns. When, as We are
informed, the men who are engaged in
taking up the rotten stuff that makes
our pavements become sick after an
hours work, it would seem eminently
proper that the decaying mass should
be torn up as soon as practicable, and
not, as some urge, only so fast as it can
be replaced by other and better mate
rial. Beyond doubt it is a source of
much disease, and the Taxing District
cannot be free of it too soon.
:. The privy system must be abol-
ished. All privies should be, during
the cool weather, closed up forever,
and taking from the erections a few
boards in the rear, and leaving per-
haps a depth of six to eight inches in
the filled vault, all excrements should
be deOdorized by Sprinkling dry dirt
or ashes. Every house in Memphis
has the material on h nd for that pur-
pose without the cost Of a cent. There
ought to be a tax laid on every house
holder and store-keeper, where a privy
has been heretofore kept, of from FIVE
to ten dollars per annum, or so much
less or more as may be necessary,
which SUN should go to a contractor
or company, whose business would be
to take away, once or twice a week,
what might be deposited in these dry
closets. An efficient system of ipspec-
ton would be necessary in order that
the plan might be properly carried out.
There are some FIVE thousand houses
in Memphis on which the tax would
fall, and If the contractor or company
would sell this pondFette or excre-
ment to the farmers and gardeners,
the pay mentioned would be quite suf-
fcient, or it might be more than
necessary.
3. Our cisterns are badly managed.
Nine teRths of our people close them
after the winter months have passed.
The consequence is that after awhile,
and especially in hot summer weather,
the walls dry and crack, aud the seer
commences. Moreover, water, to be
good, must be frequently exposed
to light and air, and 9th.
Ter water must be added
in order 70 accomplish this result
The more fresh the water the better
the water. 1t is well known thai
both light and air are abso.
lutely necessary in order Il
keep water 10 a healthy condition
Foul matter is constantly entering
our city cisterns, the consequence be
ing that our people are poisoned
Change all this by substituting, as il
New Orleans and Galveston, opeI
wooden cisterns that Fest abov'
ground, and the water in which vii
be added to by every rain. 1t vii
E have the benefit as we'll Of light a
air. and be entirely free from foul
putfid matter constantly entering it
and a great Fasplt will have been &C
complished. The water can be draw
2 at times and placed in large jars il
collars, and thus be cooled. The cos
OF such wooden cisterns would b
comparatively little, that Of the dr.
closet system but little, tho cost O
removing the decaying pavement bu
little. The Taxing District ca.
easily do its share Of the work and tn
owners Of houses and stores can read
; lily carry out their part of the pro
, CANINE. Do these three things, an
Memphis will be saved.
Is TO sewerage, hal must be don
US we are able. Our citizens canno
pay four per eest, BSr three nor, a
, for that matter, two per cent. One pc
cent. is enough. and as much as thi
4 district can bear. We are too muc
impoverished BY misfortune, en-
e and it is idle to talk Of re
= deemiBg 2 bankrupt city by the impC
sitioa Of eRqFNQDs taxes which ca
heger be collected. Besides a sewer
/ age contract would be a Zig tbinl
aud we haze he'd already too man
$ big things in this Gig, let US &
j along easily, doing what Be eaa, late
d ligently, and as we gathef means v
can take holder steps.