The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-19
SPEAETNGOUTIN MEETING.
SOME OF THE SIDE TALK OF THE
CITY DADS.
Money for Franchises Stealing a
March-DriVing Loose Stock
General Discussion.

General Discussion.
The city fathers were in a weaving
way Yesterday and went off into elab-
crate discussions whenever the least
offered.
THE GAS MONOPOLY QUESTION.
The petition OF the Equitable Gas
Company gave Col. Montgomery the
cue for a speech of half an hour, in
which he put himself on record as un-
altsrably opposed TO the granting OF
any more privileges to street railroads,
water, gas, telephone or telegraph
companies unless they paid into the
treasury OF the city sum which would
be something like an equivalent for
the benefits conferred. He thought it
ought to be- paid in a lump, so much
cash down, because there was no
telling what the next Council, or the
next, might do. 1t was better to set
tie with them at once, before they OBJ
tanned a foothold which could not be
broken. A reduction in the price OF
gas meant very little. 1t might be
lower rate per thousand this year than
lat, but the monthly bills would be
rs great or greater every month, Just
the same. No man or get OF men |
went into stock company out OF re-
gard for the welfare of the public, but |
TO make money, and ii il was true
that the new gas company could |
sell g,s at 81 % per 1000 and
make profit, the city ought
TO have about $4,000 - they
could afford to pay that. Memphis,
he said, was no longer begging capital
lists TO invest. 1t was a metropolitan
city, its future was assured, capitalists
knew it and they would put up their
cash accordingly. All the best streets
of the city had been monopoEzsd by
street car tracks; Nicholson pave
ment for which the city had spent
thousands and gone luinously in debt
was destroyed by new company"
which soon cold out.
1t was suggested ID Col. Mont
gomery that any new corporation
might be forced to sign g contract not
to sell out or consolidate with com
petitor on pain of FORGETTING IFS rights,
but Judge Walker said that anything
which made stock unstable, as that
would do, would be an effeCtual check
upon capital.
The majority of the Council, how
ever, were in favor Of establishing
competition wherever possible.
THE PAVING QUESTION.
The few lines in the regular re.
port of the Council meeting in regard
to the paving of Ma iisnn instead OF
Marshall avenue are not 80 innocent
as they look. They ere really loaded.
1t means a clash with the Citizens
Railway Company. President Had
den said that though the contract
with the company allowed them to lay
q single or double track on Marshall
avenue, the price raid for the privilege
b aing the paving of their tracks and
for two feel On either side, it WIS un-
derstood until a day or two since that
they intended TO put down double
track. and accordingly gravel street
had been ordered built. Now they
cay they will put down a single track
and switches, which would, OF course,
oblige the city to pave a much greater
width, and he believed it was the in
tention, rs soon as the city bull. the
street, to quietly extend this switch
/ iuto a double track. He therefore in
formed the company that it might
take the street and rave its tracks
with stone or wood, as it deeiTed,
but the city would do nothing. The
Council sustained his action by order
log the same amount Of paving done
elsewhere.
DRIVING LOOSE STOCK.
One OF the toughest questions with
VIII ca the Council wrestled yesterday
WIS tina. OF how stock should be
driven through the city. President
Hadden said he received complaints
every day OF narrow escapes by women
and children, aud II he tried to rem
ely the difficulty the stockmen COM
planned bitterly. He wanted the law
amended and made explicit, though
he was anxious that nothing should be
done to iDjure the live stock trade OF
the city, yet human life should be
protected.
Mr.. Randle said the law was not
strict enough for him
Capt. James Lee said it might be 8
good idea to select some back street
and fix a cerlain hour for driving.
Mr.. Kney said that would not work,
as stock would have to be kept at the
depots too long.
The colored member, Lymus Wal
lace, created a laugh by asserting that
the mule and the niger were very
much alike. They could be coaxed
easier than they could be driven.
1t was the general opinion tbal
mules or cattle could not be handled
30 well il battered as loose.
Capt. Lee said the great difficulty
was to make q rule which would fit
wild and tame, young and old, broken
and unbroken cattle and mules,
Col. Montgomery thonght it would
be we'll enough TO fix the number OF
mules to be driven at any one time to
say carload, the number of drivers
not to be less than FIVE. The city at
torney will draw up an ordinance.
FRAMES IN THE FIRE LIMITS.
The Fire Chief has been on pins
and needles for month or more on
account of the weakening OF the Ooun.
Gil in regard to the building Of house.
OF combustible materials in the fire
limits. Several exceptions have OF
late been made, and to the outsider i
locks as If there was general break
down all along the line. There
is at least one member Of the
Council who is of the opinion
that if landowner in the fire limits
is unable to put up a substantial
, building, he should sell it to some one
who could and get out into the SUI
, burbs. 1t is easier to put up a house
than TO tear it down.
| PILIHG LUMBER.
= The Council begins to see its errol
in allowing the re-estsblishmeDt o
lumber yards on the burned distric
! and granting permission to others il
the center OF the city. The question
was discussed st tome length in thu
| meeting yesterday, and remains prac
! tically unsOlved, in spite Of an or
| dinance intended to reach it. Tit