Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-17
THE STREET RAILROAD.
A Public Carrier Which Is Slightly the
Worse for the Wear.


1t can hardly be considered a piece
of news to state a fact which is gen
orally known in Memphis as well as
the condition of the weather, but it
cannot make matters any worse to-
remark that the railroad track is
sadly in need of repairs. The
line on Jefferson street has been
declared a nuisance and discontinued
entirely, and the track is being taken
up. Theater goers have to walk
up to Main street after the perform
ance is over, to find a car. That, how
ever, isno great hardship. But tits very
annoying for business and working
men who desire to reach their places
of business at a certain hour and to
return in a given time, to be compelled
to get out with their dinner baskets
perhaps, and sometimes bundles of
goods, and wait in the mud for a
struggling pair of little mules
to pull a car out of. the mire.
This happens frequently, and the
result is that many people have made
up their minds to walk rather than
take their chances on a car.
Several instances have come under
our observation within the last twenty
four hours. Yes, yesterday morning
the green car No. 65 or 81 got off the
track twice on Beale street, and, al
though there were only three or four
passengers aboard, it finally careened
over in the mud stuck fast and the pas
sengers walked up town. Going out
on a Vance street car, last night, at
dark, it was nearly as bad. The car
got off the track on Main street and
twelve or fifteen passengers had to get
out in the mud. Some waited around,
some took hold of the car to lift
it forward and others walked
ahead. This morning a yellow
car, No. Sc, got off the track
opposite the old stables on Main. A
broken rail was the cause. Most Of
the passengers got out in a drenching
rain, and those who waded to the
sidewalk struck out for their places Of
business. 1t was no relief to them
after they had gone several squares to
see the car come by at a run
as if the driver had an idea
he was making up lost time. 1t
is more likely that he was thinking
about his breakfast. Such occurrences
are frequent, though we happened to
witnessthese within twenty -four hours.
The streets are in a very bad con-
ditisn, and of course there is no solid
road-bed for the track. 1t will be
still worse when the Nicholson pave
ment is torn up, as it will be be.
fore warm weather. After that, in
rainy weather, we may expect
to see the track go out Of
sight in places and the old fashioned
dry goods boxes rugged up as steam
boats floating instead of the cars.
We do not know what the street rail-
road company can do really, though
we know they are not doing much Of
anything except to make some slight
repairs. If they are waiting for the
city to lay good pavements on all the
streets where their cars are run they
will wait two or threeyears. The city has
only a certain payingfund coming in an
nSally. This may be increased by
private parties who desire paving on
certain streets, as on Madison and
Adams, for instance, where no cars
are run. But it will be several years
before all the principal streets can be
paved,
A little judicious patching and bal
lasting might save the railroad track
in the worst places from going to
pieces altogether. A good many peo.
pie who usually ride are getting ready
and learning how to walk,