Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-01
THE TAXING DISTRICT.
Present and Future Prospects
Rapid Progress of Public
WOrks-ImmeDse Quantity
OF Sanitary Work Done.
Memphis as a Trade Center
Increased Value Of City Prop
erty-Renewed Confidence
in all Branches OfTrade.

Our beautiful city Is once more on me
high road to prosperity. 1t is earnestly
believed that economy, honesty, enter
prise and thorough sanitation, good
streets, and an efficient fire and police dc
partment has closed her gates to the
dread pestilence and opened wide the
doors of health and lasting prosperity.
After deep and dark despair, hope, beau
tiful and serene, has dawned upon us.
When the pestilence of 1878 had drawn
out its lingering length, and people began
to return, they found a mighty
CURRENT OF TRADE
pouring in upon them, but yet we're in
despair. The certainty of another cpl
demic, and the crushing force of our great
municipal debt, taught them that some
thing must be done to secure this renewed
confidence, and on January Doth, 1879, by
their united efforts, the charter of the
city of Memphis was rescinded, and a
new government given US, having for its
motto, "Pay as you 60" Notwithstanding
its struggle with the plague of 1879
its initial year, it has proven a success.
Its officers are selected from among those
who are ~indissolubly identified with its
welfare, and who, approaching the enor-
nifty and responsibility Of the trust re-
posed in them, used every honest en-
deavor to promote its interests. Appre-
ciating the vast Importance Of immediate
SANITARY MEASURES
celebrated engineers were invited here
from all parts of the country. The War
ing plan Of flush tank sewers was adopted.
and on the 25th of last January, the first
spade full of earth was excavated by Pres
ident D. T. Porter, with ceremonies ap-
propriate to tho Importance of the work
Since that time the work has steadily pro.
gressed, and twenty-five miles of sewers
have already been laid,a TIA cost Of $l6O,0OO
every dollar of which has been paid. Ter
miles more will be laid this fall. Besides
this the government has bought two and
one half miles OF private ewers at a cos'
Of 5000, which will be equally as efficient
as that laid down new.
THE wARING PLAN
is comparatively a new one, but has given
entire satisfaction, one of its best features
being the entire absence of sewer gas.
The next improvement most e~ssentia
in a commercial as we'll as a sanitary way
was good streets.
When the epidemic Of 1879 came upor
us,the work had barely commenced, bu'
since the beginning of the present yea
miles Of stone pavement has been laid a
follows Madison street, from the river t
Charleston depot; Calhoun. from Main t
Shelby, and Front street from Bayou
Gayoso TO Auction, with block stone
Adams street, from the river to Orleans
Senatobia street; Auction from Prone
made to Main street, and Charleston ave
nue. from. Adams street to Madison street
Tellord and McAdam pavement. Tn,
entire work, costing
So ALL PAID FOR,
or for which there is a cash balance OIL
hand.
Since the opening of the pres
ent year the city has p~resente,
much the appearance of a man
moth human beehive An immons
amount of sanitary work has been don
under the strict supervision Of the loca
board Of health, ably assisted by the polio
and FIRE departments, every member con
neeted with both departments taking
personal pride in the good work.
The old system of priyy vaults has bee
demolished. Nearly every one of ther
has been cleaned out and filed up wit
sweet fresh earth and the waler-clost
substituted. The books Of the
hoard OF HEALTH
show that privy vaults have been emptie
and rehlled with earth, and loads of gal
{ bago cleared away. The dump at N
river was thronged with e%xcavatOrs, dun
, and slop carts. From sunrise until SUI
) down one long cayalcade of vehicles flc
} down the levoe to the dump, returnin
empty and again taking their places
line Allied with the accumulated Glth
! the city. As a consequence Of Oh
Memphis is to-day one Of the cloal
est and healthicst cities in II