Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-06
ANOTHER yILLIFIER OF MEMPHIS
HEARD FROM.

HEARD FROM.
One Of the experts supposed to be
DIR. Bell, sent here by the National
Board Of Health to investigate the
sanitary condition Of Memphis, has re-
turned to New York and had himself
interviewed by a reporter of the
Evening Post. He claims to- have
been here six days, and in that time
learned more than most people know
who have been here for years and
taken an active interestin local affairs.
To make HIMSELF hero,a sort Of Afri-
canus Stanley who narrowly escaped a
thousand perils, he not only
wildly describes out this a plague
spot, where pestilence stalketh
abroad at MONDAY and has an abiding
place all the year round, but with con-
temptible maligpancy abuses and
slaoders our whole people. In his en-
tire statement Of a solid column there
is not one good word Or expression Of
sympathy FOR anybody in thecity. He
denodnces alike the wealthy few who
own the business blocks, and the many
poor who may cling to their rags and
scanty furniture, not knowing where
the next is to come from. We have
seldom seen anything SO m%endacious,
unchristian and inhuman. Speaking
of Ghe Weather classes, he says;
One man owns some of the largest
stores in the city, in the cellar Of
which are a number of these pits
He has no sanitary arrangements even
in his private home. He own hun
dreds of negro shanties which rent
from one dollar to five dollars a month,
and are absolutely destitute of sani-
tary provision. He is probably worth
more tian a million of dollars. The
filthiness aud meanness Of such men,
IN great part. brought the plague upon
Memphis. These are the causes Of
the sickness.
Oftbe poor classes, and 20 excep>
tons are made, he says.
Very little bedding. clothing, furni-
ture. carpets, etc which were used
by yellow fever patients has been de-
stroyed. Storeroom upon storeroom
Is stacked with the mattresses gaturat-
ed with the poison Of fever patients,
and carpets, sofas and chairs stuffed
with yellow fever germs. The inhabi
tauts are too mean 10 burn up an old
infected blanket. IF they we're let
alone they would use these filthy
things. They want the United States
to supply them with new furniture aRd
blankets and bedding. They have
broughti il all on themselves by delib-
eritely preparing a pest-hole to live in.
One would exDect cleaner habits from
savages than they have practiced. The
better class Of negroes in the mule
stables are the c~leanest people Of
Memphis
This is simply wholesale denuucia.
ton Intended for the northern market
1t is gu appeal to northern hate by
man of a eowardly heart, for no Draw
man would wilfully misrepresent al
unfortunate people in ourprescnt con
dition lie sets down the whole com
munity as no better than savages sa
makes reckless statements that are a
false as his heart is malicious and hi
nature INSCRIPTIONS. 1t would be
difficult matter to prove that there
any bedding en- hand used by thos
who had the yellow fever. Last sea
we know that much Of it was burne
in the streets by the sanitary polio
and that the same coarse vi
pursued this year. Il is reason
able TO suppose that there
some Oh hand yet that should |
fumigated or burned, and our al
thOrities are looking after this matte
Swept or not swept, the streets
Memphis generally are as clean Oa Il
surface as those Of the larger cities
the country. Havana, to which th
aspirant for notoricty and count
uance in Office compares Memphis,w
recently visited by an editor of L
LEDGER. and found not only to
one Of the best severed cities in t
world, but fully as clean Oh the ST
face as the average ofAmericao eiti
That We have 80 general system
sewerage here, aud therefore no nc
ern water closet ,ystem. no M DEM
Ava from Main and Second sire,
sheFe re generally large spaces
tween lis 6ouses. The town was Ia
81 aiih wide streets and large !,
wbaH ka0l wn cheap The city n
covers = larger Ierrltsy perhaps