Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-03
CHARLES N. ERICH.
Wholesale and Retail
DEALER IN
China, Glass and QlGGlSVaTG,
S2l MAIN STREET,
agSOLE AGENT FOR THE ONLY RRLI-
ABLE WATER FILTER. sit
SANITARY WORK.

that the Waring plan Of sewerage will
be adopted for Memphis, and that the
local government will begin the work
as early as possible. Bids will be re-
ceived until the 10Th OF this month;
no contract will be closed until then.
AS we understand the intention of
DR.. Porter, the taxing district goven-
ment will purchase the pipes, employ
all the labor, and secure the services
of Colonel Warning to supervise the
work. This will be the most
economical method that could be
pursued, and will at the same time
give the Waring system the advantage
of the fairest test on a larger scale
than ever before attempted. There
was and is even yet some doubt as to
the utility Of such small pipes. Much
of this, however, has been removed by
the patient explanations of Col. War
ing before the legislative council and
the citizens meeting at the cotton ex-
change yesterday. DIR. Porter and his
associates are thoughtful, sensible
men, who would not jump at conclu-
siOns without due consideration.
Their course in this matter will
be the result of much care
ful investigation. The fact that Col.
Waring is willing to risk his reputa-
tion, built up by a lifetime of toll
and study, is something not to be
overlooked in weighing this matter in
our minds. There should certainly
be' some progress made in sewerage
and subsoil drainage as we'll as in
other manufactures and inventions.
The theory of this plan is plausible,
and has satisfied the minds of nearly
all who have heard it fully explained.
1t is proposed to sewer nearly the
whole city, including portions of the
ninth and tenth wards, in about four
months after the work is commenced.
This accomplished, the privies
all cleaned out and filed
up, cellars cleansed, houses disin-
fected and old shanties burned. we
cannot see why Memphis will not be
in a good condition to resist epidemic
diseases. 1t is the duty of every good
citizen to come forward and pay taxes
promptly and to do every thing else
that may be necessary to promote the
common welfare Of the community.
We are all interested and must work
together to carry out some common
method. Self-preseryation is the first
law of nature. This is question of
life and death, and he who fails to
comply with sanitary regulations or
seriously obstructs the work Of reform
incurs a terrible responsibility. Mis-
takes will be made no doubt, but the
local government is composed of as
good material as can be found in the
Memphis, and all their efforts in the
right direction should be heartily
sustained. They have a tremendous
work before them; it should have
been commenced thirteen years ago,
but we have to look at the situation as
il is and not as it might have been. A
thorough sanitary reform may not be
accomplished in single season-that
is hardly to be expected-but we may
do enough to feel the benefits before
the end of the year to restore public
confidence and to enable us to see oul
way through. One-half the money
spent by refugees in the last two years
would make Memphis as clean and
sweet scented as meadow in
a May morning. Three or four hun
dred thousand dollars properly applieC
this yeay will perhaps answer every
purpose, ard when the place is once
put in order it can be kept so at {
small cost. Every man should bt
willing to do his part promptly anC
choerfully.