The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-12
THE OLD CITY HALL
TO BECOME THE HEADQUARTERS
OF THE TAXING DISTRICT.
All the 0ffl,es To BE Located
There-The Building To BE
Repaired.

The old City Hal, for 80 long aban-
doned except by the Receiver OF Back
Taxes, is about TO become again the
headquarters of the city government.
The necessary orders were given yes
terday, and the work of repairing, re-
modelling, painting and papering will
begin at once, President Hadden be-
lieving that the business OF the city
can be transacted to much better adj
vaptige by having tie offices all TO-
gether, aud that such an arrangement
will be more convenient for the pub
lie. The building, as the people OF
Memphis know to their cost, fronts on
Front street, just north OF Poplar, and
has q rear entrance on Center alley.
For years no repairs have been made
on it. Its exterior OF dusty, time
worn brick and broken window panes
is uninviting, and its in
terror even more go. The
walls are in many places naked
Of plaster, long legged spiders wait in
their nets in the corners Tor the in
sects which make the air thick on
every warm day. Lumber, disrepu'a.
BILE benches, rusty gas pipe and cd
broken stoves litter the rooms. Books
snd papers, covered with inches OF
dust, are stuck in the vault in Old
ca es ard in odd closets. There will
have TO be regular Augean cleaning,
end il it is thoroughly done, and the
building made clean and attractive by
the use of plenty Of paint and bright
paper, the change will be for the bet
ter. Entering the building from Cen
ter alley, the office at the head Of the
stairs will be fitted up for Secretary
Pullen. The next will be a sort OF
general room, divided by railing, one
side to he used by President Hadden
and the other for Council meetings.
The official will also have in the
next room something he needs
very much-a private office.
The large hall where the old Board OF
Mayor and Aldermen used to luxuri-
ate will be unused. On the west side
OF the building, on the same floor as
the other office, are three rooms, one
of which will be set apart for the
transaction OF the old city tax Teceiv.
er's business, one for Engineer Meri-
wether, aud one tor his assistant, Mr..
Anthony Ross, who has the sewers in
charge. Another room on the same
floor will ba used for the storage Of
the tools OF the Engineers Depart
ment. A place may also be provided
for the Board OF Health. The,present
quarters of the officials at the Court
House are very much cramped, and
the move will be a good one on that
account, at any rate. A sort Of senti-
ment-a vague apprehension that
come OF the dirt OF the old city might
find its way to the garments Of the
new, il they were trailed about in
the City Hall has postponed the re-
moval thus far. And there has been
another reas on almost as patent, If not
more 30. The taking possession of the
building would have been an admis.
sion on the part OF the new govern
ment that it was no more than con
tinuation OF the old, and until litiga
ton was at an end and the debt set
tied there has been some fear that i
would not he safe. All those ques
tions, however, are now out OF thu
way, and if President MADDEN will
spend $1,000 or 20, the old -buildinl
can be made to do very well until {
new city hall is built-one to cos
| $500 600 or 30.