Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-01
PIGEON ROOST ROAD
Meeting Of the Citizens to Protest
Against the Extension Of Turnpike
Privileges by the
County Court TO Amy Company-The
Present Law Adequately Pro.
vides for Good Roads.

At large meeting of the citizens living IN
the vicinity OF Caplsville, Tenn, the follow
ing preamble and resolutions were presented
to The meeting by a committee appointed Tor
that purpose:
WHEREAS, We and our neighbors and
friends have been assailed by the Memphis
APPEAL In terms grossly unjust to Us, and
unbecomipg a public journal OF such re-
speciabiiity and uluence-deuoancsd as
mob and our conduct stigmatiz=d as disgrace-
ful snd discreditsble to the community in
which We ive-because of our respectful re-
quest to the Quarterly Court OF Shelby
county to reconsIder It's recent action author
lZlng private corporation TO construct
turnpike for its own benefit and profit over
the Pigeon Roost road, highway which be-
longs to the public, and IN which every citl-
zen has q common right, which has imposed
upon Us the necessity OF indicating our
selves before the public judgment Of the
country against charges 80 damaging to
ia as peaceful, law-abiding ciizens
snd respectable members OF society.
From the performance Of this duty, our own
ssif-re spect and proper regard for the good
opinion OF the public will not permit Us to
seek an escape.
In answer, therefore, to the harsh structures
aud unjust aspersions of the Memphis AP
PEAL, and in viudication OF the conduct so
strenuously denounced, we would respect
fully request public consideration Of the fol-
lowing reasons by which cur action in the
matter was Influenced:
The Pigeon ROost road is more used and
travelled than any of the public thorough
|. fares that lead from the interior to the city
of Memphis, and that portion of it which 1t
as proposed to macadanljze is already he
best part of the road from the Mississippi
river to the boundary of the State, aud in
proveuent Is far more urgently de-
mand4d beyond the designated terminus
Of the proposed turnpike than in the local
ity where it wss designed to construct il.
The judgment Of the people of Shelby coun-
ty has already been pronounced and re-
corded on this question. Many years ago
r this same road wss seIzsd upon by private
corporation, and the people who lived along
lis line we're compelled 10 pay tribute Tor the
| privilege OF passing over it, but the acts Of
the Legislature aud county authorities which
| pretended 10 legalizs this usurpatiea and
outrage were unanimously exscratsd through
| out the county, and tho Just public indlgna-
| ton was nowhere more eloqueutiy raised
than through the columns Of the APPEAL.
| The people only succeeded in ridciDS
| themselves OF this petty oppression and
in having this important highway de.
clared free to the public at the end
| of a loag and angry contest, and
protracted expensive litigation. Inc Legs
| iature AZ It's last session, recognizing the
soundness of the cardinal doctrines Of equal
taxation and equal benefits, passed an act to
authorize the county to levy special tax
for the Improvement Of public roads, and
| this, we think, wise enactment and one
which will meet every public demand; but
! we do not believe that either Its letter oil
| spirit authorizes the conversion OF public
| highway TO the uses Of private corpora
ton. The tendency of public thought il
this county for the past decade has been
against that pernicious system of legislation
which conferred benefits upon the few at the
expense OIL the many, this virtu'
Gus and healthy sentiment growing
out of 'turdy public inleg
rity, stimulated ard directed with th'
few discr ditabe exceptions by the newspa
pers of the country, and by nons more
| than our assailant, the APPEAL. Ant
lastly, we believe that every citizsr
has the right TO protest against and OPP
| pose any public action which he MAJ
deem an invasion OF individual rights OF
hurtfuI to the public interests. Therefore
| be it
Resotred. Taat while We intend no offepse
or diarecpect 10 those whose interest or con
vietion lead them to differ with US, we ar,
unaltsr ably opposed 10 the granting of AM
right or franchise 10 private corporation
composed of few individuals, under snt
| by which they may exact pay from the tray
cling community for the privilege of trav
cling over public highways which belong &c
the people of the county.
Rcsoired That in our judgment all needed
| Improvements in the public roads oil tn
county can be made ia accordance with tn
| provisions OF the recent acts of the Lesisla
lure, and not by any method devised for th'
benefit of favored indiyiduals.
Resolved, That we tender our thanks to tn
members of the County Court for the courts
Qua attention given 10 eur request, and tn
prompt reconsideration OF measure seri
ouslY affecting our convenience and interest
Resolced, That our thanks be rendered L
Mr.. L. S. Lake, who, with so much zeal
aroused the public attention TO the attempted
wong, aud to whose exertion the defeat o
the measure Was largely due.
| Resoired, That we believe the editors OF til
APPEAL would not wanionly offend so larg
a number of their friends aud supporters
and that their harsh and unkind. criticism
in respect to our character and conduct W a
written without a knowledge of the facts
and tn at they will cheerfully make the proPe
amend, and we respectfully request the pub
lication 10 their next issue OF this pTeambl
and resolution.
Resolred, That copy of these proceeding
be presented to all the Memphis papers witt
the request to publish them.
Resolred, That we also express our thank
10 Mr.. John D. MARTA for the prompt an,
m anly defense Of cur character and motive
agaiust the attack 80 reasonably mad
against both the one and the other.
A. p. ELLIS.
V. n. ALSOBROOK,
DR.. W. II. DOUGLASS,
NJ. Y. STRATTON,
4. W. FILM,
K. L. ELLIS.
CHARLES ALSOBROOK,
CHARLES WATSON,
Committee.
The resolutions were unanimously adopte,
by the meeting.
A. B. ELLIS, Chairman.