The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-23

nuisance ana serious detrlment 10 the
health of the city. 1t is very
unsightly, and the tracks and repairs made
heretofore do not conform to the grade Of
the street Many holes between andabout
the rails hold water for days Mt a time, for
the very nature OF the construction of the
track precludes the possibility of first class
work. Rain water easily escapes TO the
foundation, and thus washes out the sand
on both sides into the gutter, and the
whole street is ruined thereby. The ex-
pansion and contraction of the wooden
stringer upon which the rail is laid, and
the rail also, together with the constant
passage of cars and the crossing OF heavy
teams, draws these spikes so that nearly
10 per cent. OF all the spikes originally
driven on these rails have been removed
and lost This allows the rail to spring, so
rs 20 render the travel more than ordi.
narily dangerous. These tracks are in
such condition that almost every day horses
or mules are famed and crippled by
having their feet caught between
the rail and stone pavement, and at least
one suit for damages Or. r. b. Nails
has resulted in verdict against the ear
company Tor Slj0. On one occasion in
front OF the courthouse the end OF rail
loose in this manner came up through the
car seat, but happily did no great damage
rs no one was close enough ut the time to
come within the reach OF it. This Incl
dent is mentioned 10 show the unusual
danger OF travel on this line.
In front Of the courthouse and the Pea.
body hotel and at Bcale street switches
are placed, which are not used, and there
fore should be removed us early as prac.
tiCable
From n point south Of CLAY street TO
Iowa avenue formerly Jackson street.,
a distance OF about 1900 feet. the tracks
are double and laid with johnson rail,
with some OF the usual inferior stone
placed between and in some places out
side, and the rails do not conform 10 the
grade, and are from three TO six inches
higher than adjacent streets. The circle
track in front of the Mississippi x Ten
ne<see depot should not bee tolerated, as II
renders the locality unhealthy and exceed.
ingly unsanitary, II being built in such q
| manner as 10 hold the street washings and
obstruct the flow of the cutters. The cross
ing OF the Kansas City, Memphis q Bruins
vic railroad should bc replaced by COM
bined steam and street railroad crossing Of
the best improved pattern.
Yellow Iine-The tracks on Poplar
street from city limits, or Dunlap TO Ma
nassas street, distance OF about $50 feet,
are laid with johnson all, double track,
and without proper pavement inside and
outside the rails. The tracks here arr
worn three 10 nine inches below the sur.
face OF the rails. and are a serious obstruc.
ton 10 the general travel, rs they arc two
| deep gullies, between which Is an embark.
mcnt OF three feet wide, ~ that vehicles
cannot without great risk he driven across.
From Manassas street 20 Main street. d
| distance Of about 1900 feet, the tracks are
| double, johnson rail, laid with very inie-
rior stone and in very indifferent man
ner, without proper regard 81 the conform.
iiy a. the grade Of street rs established 10y
the city IN the fine cedar block pavement
on both side OF the street. Where there
should be an even, smooth surface. the
| eur company has put down rough, uneven
| joints on both sides ol the track. where
paving done by them joins that done by
the city; this joint varies from three "a
six inches either above OF below the city
pavement, and u thercioreasoutce ~ great
trouble 10 the public travel, especially In
crossing the street.
The crossing Of the bayou bridge is on
| Hat rail spiked o. the planking. Except
| for the ear tracks aud the poor excuse Of a
pavement put down by the car company,
this Il one Of the iirSt thoroughiarcs in the
city, and the car company should be com.
PEELED Ia do such paving and other work
~ will put this street In proper condition
| for the use Of the general public.
the tracks ON Vance street, from Wal.
nut 20 a point west OF Cynthia place, a
| distance Of near 1900 feet, are double and
laid with johnson rails and space between
tracks filled with stone CHIPS and spawis
placed on sand. and In some places outside
oi rails We found some small stone put
down NJ an excuse for paving. The sur.
| face Is very uneven and irregular. but all
along this street loose stone is laying here
aud there, aud appears 90 have worked
out Of the supposed pavement
At the Orleans street crossing OF The Cit.
liens line the construction Is such that II
| holds water aud filth, and for pedestrian.
/ IL Is impossible 90 cross either way at this
point with any degree Of comfort in rainy
| weather.
The drainage from the Memphis 4
Charleston railroad crossing west for about
200 feet Is toward a culycTt inlet in the
gutter about midway the distance, but the
construction Of the track IL such ~ 10 hold
lic street 9th near These inicis, thus cue,
atng very ununitafy condition and In.
/ crcasing the liability 30 sickness IN the
ncighborhood. There arc two large ruts,
| one each side Of each rail, nearly the en-
tire distance, making Il exceedingly dan
gcrous 10 travel this street with buggy
wagon or other vehicle.
From a point about 100 feet west Of
Cynthia Place 10 Wellington street ih,
rails are Of Dean 4 Coleman pattern, and
the car mules have worn the street eight
OF ten inches below the rail, aud this con
ycrts the track into large cutters which
are calculated 20 wash the material out o
the street. In some places the cruss-tici
are showing now. The space between
tracks, about three feet vide, h nclrl,
even with the surface Of the rail; this
Offers an obstruction 10 crossing, an,
combined with the gutter or track men
toned, make Il very hazardous 90 tfayo
along the street In this locality, and fidinl
Ia car over these Dean q Coleman rail
Is exceedingly dangerous for delicate per
sons, as the joints are badly broken ans
the rails worn out.
From Wellington street 20 Main street
about 3, 300 feet, the double track u laiD
with johnson rail, but the cross-tics ar
too far apart, being about four and haI
20 five feet, which makes Il very rough
Tho space between " filed with sion
chips and spawls placed on sand, and Il
many places they have worked out q
place and been lost, and many are lyin
scattered over the street. Ruts are wor
from six 10 eight inches deep on bot
sides Of each rail almost the entire dii