The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-30
PraNfriani,n Rnnori.
TAMsg DISTRICT, SHELBy CO., THNE. /
December ], 1886.


December !, 1886.
70 His BIsellensy r. L. Taylor, Governor
Of Tennessee:
Sm-The act este blisbing the Tax
Ing District OF Shelby county, Ten
nsssee, makes it the duty (see section
l9) of the Fire and Police Commits
sioners TO mako O biennial report to
the Governor before the converting OF
the regslar session Of the Legislature.
In compliance Herewith the following
report, showing the receipts and dis
bursements and the various transac-
tons OF the Taxing District from De-
eember ], 1884, to December i, 1886,
is respectfully submitted.
Exhibits A to X are the report Of
the Secretary, Mr.. O. L. Pullen, to
which your attention is called, which
are made part OF this report. Mr..
Pullen hos been the Secretary Of the
Taxing District from Its organization.
All OF his work has been well per-
formed, and he is accepted ss author
10y in all questions Of figures con-
nected with the government.
Your attention Is called TO Exhibit
ID, which shows delinquent taxes from
1880 10 1876, both inclusive, aggregat.
ing $lO3, 2SS so for general purposes,
70 which may be added about $22, 900
for the year 1885 which are now de-
liDquent, making the sum OF $780,
38S 80 the accumulated delinquent
taxes iog the past eight years; this
amount we consider good assets, based
mostly upon realty. FROM 1882 to
18db, inclusive, there are delinquent
$27, 20l 90 interest tax; that is, taxes
levied to pay interest upon the COM
promised debt OF the city Of Mem
phis. 49,,
Experience teaches us that under
the present laws and present mode oil
collecting taxes our city government
will always have to carry about $780,
900 OF delinquent back taxes. About
az much as is collected from the pre-
ceding years will Offset the delin.
qnency Tor the current years.
The various tables herewith sub.
mitted show the expenditures OF the
various departments Of the District, to-
vie: Police, Fire, Board of Health,
Hospital, Sewer and Engineering De,
psrtments. Each and every one oil
these departments, during the pre-
oeding two years, have been conducted
with much ability aud with rigid
economy by the heads Of the respect.
i've departments. The exhibits made
ara ample evidence of this fact.
II wall be seen from the engineers
report that we have made great
progress in the pavement OF oul
streets and the extension Of our sewer
system, which all health authorities
now copcede TO bs the best in the
United States. Our health reports
show that az we continue TO pave oul
city, Bnbsoil our streets and extend
our sewers that our death rate de
eteasoB In proportion. This fac! is &c
patent to our ci iZsns and 90 vel
recognized by all health authorities
that our people are willing to sustain
any reasonable taxation, that will no
deter capital from our midst, to continue
paving and 6ewerlng the city. At the
same time IL must be remembered
that the calls upon ths engineerin %
department, to accommodate these
purposes, are increasing every year
owing to the rapid increase in popula'
ton apd the great number OF new
houses which are being built annually
| would call your attention to Elk
hibtt X, showing our settlement OF the
old city Of Memphis debt and the
present amount Of our new bondt
standiug, to wit, 1907 coo bearing o pei
cent. interest, and $2,233,600 bearing
per cent. for the next two years ant
8 per cent. for the ensuing twenty-fou
years thereafter, and funding certifi
cRtee, 1855 04, upon which intsres
ceased last July owing TO their hRvinJ
been called in by the Council, makinI
grand total debt OF $3,l02 $50 "a
this ia the debt of the Taxing District
BY tho above statement it will be seeI
that we are not only paying the inter
est promptly in January and July o
each year, but that in the past fou
years there has been redeemed, can
O5led and retired Si0S,9l7 IS. w
would state that the Taxing DistriC
securities are looked upon with greu
favor by capitalist, that our 4 pc
cent. bonds command 10l and lOlI
aud our 9 per cent, bonds 1864 in th
open market, Tho basiR IN whic
these bonds are Issued will Away
cause them to DO above par.
We would state that We have settle
AL OF the Indebtedness OF the old cit
of Memphis except probably $l5000t
most Of which is bonds not yet due
The holders Of this unsettled balanc
from various causes failed TO Rccep
the compromise offered, but we ar
advised that they are willing now 10 d
go, to avoid litigation from time I
time upon the coupons from these NJ
matuied bonds ss they fall duo. I
satisfy all parties holding any OF th
old Indebtedness, Wa deem il advisi
bic 70 ask the Legislature TO re.enat
and extend the act OF June s, 1881
which win enable us TO wipe out III
last vestige Of the old Memphis deb
The nature OF our Taxing DlstriC
government and It's benefits is 3
highly appreciated By cur own pee
pie, and Is 30 well established in th