Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-11
SEWERAGE AND SUCH.

80 W AAAhA AND SSSAs
Oflate the subject of sanitation has
become most exciting topic with a
large number Of our people. If you
wish to see a citizen get right on the
edge of his ear, in metaphorical
sense, just take issue with him regard
ing the peculiar plan he may propose
for the sanitary regeneration of our
city. Many dozens of schemes have
been publicly proposed and many
dozens more will doubtless be sug.
gested. OF the lot already ventilated
the majority are wild and visionary.
Still, others are impracticable, while
several smack of jobs, whereby the
nests Of certain persons, mainly non
taxpayers, are likely to be softly
feathered. The inhabitants of this
city have suffered sorely' from the
effects of job-masters, and they look
with suspicion on any proposed plan of
costly works, which guarantees moth
ing in the way Of improving the pub
lie health after they may be
completed. The -burdened cit
izeu, already weighed down
by public debt, which majority of
legal lights and business men de-
clare must eventually be settled, will
not willingly place another yoke upon
his neck without due consideration
His prospects to settle the same are
too slender. 1t is possible that a few
wealthy property-owners, whose pos
sessions are situated within produc
tive areas, may be able and willing to
betaxed a fourth, perhaps third, of
all they are worth for the furtherance
Of some pet scheme, but hundreds
less well off In worldly goods and
realty property, cannot at present see
where the money is to come from to
settle these proposed charges. Those
who so adroitly managed the Nicolson
pavement job and piled million and
half dollars upon our shoulders for
thirteen miles of wooden pavement,
now rotten and worthless, cared no
more for the sanitary condition of our
city than they did for the ways and
means. The move was a popular one
at the time and it was carried through
with a rush. The contractors and
others made a good thing in mans )
instances. A number sowed the
wind while the property owners are
now reaping the whirlwind. This
being one of the most colossal OF
many frauds palmed off upon Mem
phis, is referred too merely to give
warning aud urge our people to weigh
carefully and consider every feature oI
any plan of proposed improvement:
for which there is at present no pros
pect of paying. The LEDGER gave
forth expression on this subject some
weeks ago. Any suggestion whereby
more than one per cent, of additional
tax to the Sl.15 on the hundred dol
lars now laid for municipal and i'm
provement purposes is to be
added will be urgently oppos-
ed by this journal. Sewers are
a good thing, but we must not be
taxed out of house and home to SC.
cure them unless the contractors viii
give us guaranty that good health and
longevity will be guaranteed tt
the oppressed taxpayer that he
may see his way to the end
This guaranty is fully as reasonable as
are several of the schemes suggested,
and contractors may be found who are
willing to give it. All kinds of public
Improvements areneeded, and should
be constructed: but they had best b(
paid for in cash as the work is per,
formed. The meeting to be held this
afternoon at the cotton exchange will
draw together many Of our leading
citizens, who have clear heads and
iirst-class business ideas. 1t is to bC
hoped that they will give careful at.
tention to the proceedings, and pune
ture all suggestions of jobbery. Fhs
ventilation of our houses, the cleaning
f our cellars and back yard vaults
the empyting Of wells and cisterns and
the freezing of everybody's bed
clothes and wearing apparel are fai
more important to our people than are
underground sewers and costly pdbliC
works. Should sewers be hastily
constructed, the capacity ofour water
works must be increased to more than
double their present working power
and the question of where the money
is to come from to settle is an impor,
tant one. eaHra. 'i'
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1TERE is very decided talk in thl