Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-16
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IAEDIoRDIsM IN MEMPHIS.

AAAN0AOA9AR1A AAN @A@~-A~@ @AAes
Some people want to enjoy all the
benefits of well paved, wellimprOved
city without contributing a cent more
than the law forces them topay. They
may sport fine equipages, go to the
springs in the fashionable season, pass
for wealthy public spirited citizens
when abroad and snub their poorer
neighbors when at home, but not a
dollar will they give to pave street,
ferce in a park and plant it with
trees, or for any general benefit
When one of them pulls out dollar,
it is is either for self-indulgence or
with the expectation of getting two
dollars back in very short time. We
have no disposition to make war on
the big property holders of Memphis
as a class, yet it is an undeniable fact
that the sign "FOr rent" and the
marks Of decay which abound in
some parts Of Memphis are due to
causes which ante date the late yellow
fever epidemics. Landlords have been
so avaricious and utterly selfish as to
drive away labor, capital, enterprise
and intelligence. The burdens Of tax
alton have fallen disproportionately
upon the mercantile and the laboring
classes. Privileges of all kinds have
been taxed almost to death. The man
whose only capital is his credit, his
muscle and industry pays more taxes
into the public treasury, gives more to
charitable objects and subscribes more
literally to public enterprises and i'm
provements in many instances than
real estate owners, who pride them
selves on their wealth and the number
of their tenants. Landlordism is an
evil and tyranny in Memphis as we'll
as in Ireland. Bad government and
loose management have done much to
break down Memphis, but VIC sincere
ly believe that the exactions and the
narrow policy of landlords have
done still more. They demand as a
rule the last dollar that can be col
lected, and give nothing that can be
avoided for either public or private
improvements. The vitality Of Mem
phis is due mainly to geographical
position, and the superior en-
ergy of our business men. II the bis
property owners were left to run the
place, moss would soon grow on the
houses, aud grass in tho streets, There
are notable exceptions to this genera,
statement, but as a rule it will hole
good. The southern slowness Of which
we spoke the other day hangs like /
milestone around tho neck Of Mem
phis. This place was once the riva
of Chicago; now we arc behind At
ianta in every element Of progress
The federal census, to be taken thi
summer, will, in all probability, Shov
that the population Of the city is les
than $4,000. We cannot attribute tb
decadence Of the place altogether /
recent misiortuncs. The cotton trad
is as large as ever, but some how 0
other short sighted policy on tn
part of a few has we'll nigh killed th
goose that laid the golden eggs. Te
years ago, the landlords demande
from four to six thousand dollar
for property that now brings from on
to two thousand dollars a year. Sue
men throttled the prosperity of Mem
phis then, and they stand in the way {
its development to-day. Theymay con
plain now that insurance repairs an
taxes eat up their profits, but the
ought to have thought of this soonc
when they were driving out ii
mechanics, the laborers, the reta
dealers and workingmen genenerall
by their unbearable extortions. Son
of them are yet to Memphis what ii
big plantations are to the south-a
incubus upon labor, and
stumbling-block to enterprise, NAL
ing no effort to keep abrea
of the times and standing Ill
Chinese wall in the way of othe
who would do so. Fora metropolis
place where nearly all nationalities a
found, where there is so much veal
aad business, Memphis certainly h
more slow-going, close -fsted peop
than any place of its size and impo
toDca In Thousand milns of hern