The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-18
TURNPIKE FROM MEMPHIS
TO:THE NATIONAL CEMETERY TO
BE BUILT BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Public Buildings Constructed In ren-
nessee-The Vicksburg and Ne.
ridian Railroad.
looRREspoNpENoE OF rHE ArrEAL.

WASHINGTON, February 15.-Before
the adjournment of the Senate last
spring the Committee on Public Build
ings were directed to have compiled a
statement showing all the appropria-
tons made by the government on ac-
count of public buildings. The work
has been completed, and from it your
correspondent has taken the following
of local interest to Tennessee:
Jockson courthouse and postotfice,
amount appropriated, 100000; Knox
vile, s5l5,4l5 10; Memphis court
house and postoffice, S620,500; Marine
Hospital, $4,000; Nashville, s54S,500.
The Committee on Military Affairs
have under consideration a bill pro-
viding for the construction of a mac
adamized road from the city of Mem
phis to the National Cemetery, near
that city. II recites that the cemetery
is extremely difficult Of access at all
seasons OF The year, and almost impos-
sible of approach during the winter
and spring months by reason of the
bad condition of the roads, and that
the county of Shelby has subscribed
5000 to assist in the improvement OF
some one OF the roads leading thereto,
and the citizens in the neighborhOod
propose TO subscribe a similar sum. 1t
is proposed, therefore, that the Secre-
tary of War be authorized to construct
a good and durable turnpike road from
the city 10 the cemetery, over such
road and along such route as he may
deem proper; and he may, at his dis
erection, accept such subscriptions as
he may be offered, either by private
individuals or Shelby county, and for
the purpose an appropriation of $780,
600 is allowed.
The committee have already agreed
upon measure allowing $4,000 for
the construction of gravel road from
the city of Natchez, Miss, to the Ma
tional Cemetery near that place.
Another Tennessee city, Knoxville,
asks for $4,000 for the construction of q
macadamized road along the east side
of the National Cemetery at that point
This the committee also has under
consideration.
The Committee on War Claims re-
ported favorably the bill, or rather a
new bill (which more clearly embod-
les the principle upon which they
think the settlement should be made
with the railroad company" directing
the Quartermaster-Gene to settle
with the McMinnville and Manchester
Railroad Company. This new bill
directs settlement upon the follow
ing basis: Railroad iron taken by the
army, 1921 $50; chairs, $500; spikes,
$4,000; switches, $500; total, $780,
$50, which sum shall be allowed the
company. From this amount there is
to be deducted the sum owing to the
United States by the company, which
is evidenced by judgment of the
United States Circuit Court at Nash
vile. The balance is to be paid to
the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail
road Company, in its bonds now held
by the United States for material pur-
chased of the government since the
war.
In response to the request of the
Secretary of War for information as
to the distractions to navigation by
bridges in the waters of the Tennessee
district, Maj. King says;
"In considering the question as to
whether any given structure is an OBJ
struction to navigation within the
meaning of the act of Congress, it
seems proper to take note of the fact
that most, if not all, of the bridges
have been built under State laws,
while Congress either approved or
was silent on the subject, and this
fact, in view of the decision of the
Supreme Court, to the effect that Con-
gress being silent State action must
be held legal, would seem to call for a
very conservative course in regard to
recommending the removal or altera-
ton of bridges, except in cases where
the extent of the inconvenience or OBJ
struction to navigation is so great as to
leave no doubt as to the justice and
necessity for decisive action. ''If the
bridges were merely projected, instead
of being actual structures, it is not
probable that more than half a dozen
on the list would be approved without
some modification Of plan or location"
Maj. King recommends that the
owners of all bridges on the Cumber-
land and Tennessee rivers having
draws less than I25 feet clear width,
be formally notified that the bridges
are distractions, and that in case of
rebuilding or extensive repairs, they
will be required to make the necessary
provisions for free and safe navigation.
In the list referred to above the en-
gineer notices two bridges on the Ten
nessee river, five on the Cumberland
river, and one each on the Red, Duck,
Clinchi, Hiawassee, French Broad and
Holston rivers.
The Vicksburg and Meridian Rail
road Company of Mississippi ask the
Committee on Claims to recommend
that there be refunded to them the
amount collected from the company
in 1866 as internal revenue tax on
its bonded debt.
Under the provisions of the bill
passed by the Senate increasing the
annual appropriation for arming the
militia to 100000, the State of Ten
nessee will be entitled to a credit each
year of $l5,9S0 SO to draw upon for
arms and camp equipage.
The Committee on Finance recon-
mend that William j. Smith, formerly
Surveyor of Customs at Memphis, be
allowed $2004 80 on account of the
defalcation of n. ID. Smith, Deputy
Surveyor.
The Committee on War Claims have
"A bill to pay John T. Gates of Bledsoe
county, $2262 for horses and forage
used by the army of the United States
during the war.
The same committee have rejected
the claim of Rane c. Hutchinson for
SAL, 1850 for services rendered and ex-
penses incurred in the military service
OF the United States during the war.
The services performed were as
scout" in the secret service of the
government. The committee say that
"a careful examination of the facts of
this ease irresistibly produces eonyie-
ton in the mind that the claim is IN