The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-30
PICKING OUT FLAWS.
Another Interesting Chapter In Local
Railroad History.

Railroad History.
Messrs. d. p. lIadden and T. J, Graham,
the Legislative Council committee APP
pointed to investigate railroads OF all kinds
in this city, have made the following re-
port on the
MEMPHIS 4 CHARLESTON RAILROAD.
This company have one track in Fulton
street, commencing near where Winches-
| ter street would cross the same, and runs
south, crossing Market street, and thence
on Promenade street, thence on Prone
made street TO point south Of Poplar
street, crossing Exchange and Poplar
streets, thencein diagonal manner To the
| intersection oil Front and Washington
| streets, where IL comes within five feet Of
| the northeast corner OF curbing, thence on
| Washington street 10 intersection OF High
street. and thence diagonally across pri-
vats property TO their yards on south side
| OF Adams street, being in all about $3.50
| feet. From Market TO Exchange street the
| curve is on grade OF about one foot to
! thirty feet, and from Poplar 10 Main street
the curve il about what is called a sixteen
foot degree curve. On these curves, and
heavy grades combined, it is very
difficult Tor the best engines, made for the
purpose Especially to draw very heavy
trains, and the old engine that is gener-
ally used here is almost always over
| loaded, aud the putting and blowing at
tendant upon its attempted passage sis
something fearful to hear. and sparks Of
living Goals are thrown high in the air
and carried many feet in every direction,
and is exceedingly dangerous to property
adjacent. Many attempts arc often made
10 get a train up this grade, aud the noise
consequent is sufficient TO brighten timid
people and the most gentle OF the horse
kind. From Main street to BAYOU Gay
ESQ, about 200 feet, the grade is about
one foot 10 sixty feet; from there 10 High
street and across the railroad yards the
grade il about one foot 10 fifty feet
The entire distance FROM the yard to
the Navy yard is about $3.50 feet.
The company has q switch into the corn
mill and stoneyard at Yates avenue, which
blockades the sidewalk and obstrucis the
gutter. and for which they have no author
10y. and nearly every day the attempt Is
made TO draw exceedingly heavy trains
over this track up grade from the bridge
over Bayou GayUso 10 Main street, and
when Just west OF Fourth street, and nearly
TO Third street, the train is stopped and
divided up. and part oi the train Is parted
here until tho engine can take over few
ears at a time, and II has happened ON
several occasions that the cars 10 left on
this grade broke loose and ran back over
Fourth street and Yates avenue, crossing
them at a high rate OF speed, TO the great
danger Of life and property. and all in
point-blank violation Of the contract made
by the old city government aud the ordi-
nanccs OF the city.
The bridge over Bayou Gayoso on this
street is In n very dangerous condition,
and should b. replaced ~ sOon ms possible
with u iirst-class stone culycrt the entire
width vi street from property line 10 prop
erty line. This bridge matter should not
be delayed a moment. as IL yet may cause
gToai loss Of life and property.
The pavement which the Memphis 4
Charleston railroad was, by It's original
contract, required 10 put down and main
tain, ~ no pavement at ALL being simply
! i've or six cans OF Tishomingo gravel scat
tered over tho street nj odd times during
} the year. The proper Thing herc Is Tor the
Mississippi & Charleston company 10 fur
nish the chief engineer with as much ma.
! ichal aud ~ many men rs he may require,
and authorize him TO keep the street IN
satisfactory condition all the year round,
and nj the intersection of cross streets,
! whcro there are guttere Clikc Fourth street
crossing), the railroad company should
provide iron coyon for the same, on the
, ground that sometimes Trans heavily
loaded may become stalled here and stoT
their trains, or otherwise they may hay.
} 10 stand heavy damage suits.
!, An electric light should be erected and
} maintained between Third and Fourth
slreoiA, for the reason that the use Of THU
street by the railroad "a a great dctTimen
, TO It's general use, aud therefore they
should maintain Il well lighted.
| Tho engine used 10 haul trains over Thu
! road, according 10 the original contract
. with the city government In tho year Sep
. tcmbcr ., 1875, should be q dummy OF
! motor OF such make ~ would emit the
+. least possible smoke, steam, cinders. etc,
For some years An engine called dummy
! and named Judge flippin" was used, bu
. Of recent years nothing but q straight GU
. locomotive. with boxing or other aitemp
10 cover the fraud, has been used. ant
: thcse arc Tor the mos, part old engines un
+ III for road uso oyerhaulcd and used fo
: switching. The netting In the smoke
y stack u, as rule, Of no use, anS
: Alabama coal Is used, filing house
+ on the line with hcavily-chargcd gl
J. smoke On several occasions stock ha
. been killed on this line. and much dam
: ago done. A largo cotton shed has beci
0 burned, presumably set fro by spark
l from tho WORKOUT switch engine.
a There are no nagmcn or gates Iron
Y High street TO Nayy-yard on tracks OF thi
l company. In tho passage OF trains we fine
J. the custom 10 be for hagman 10 ride OF
y the front Of the train until near the street
a aud then run In advance, never owe
o twenty-five feet ahead and often not owe
y ten feet In advance Of the moving train
9 This applies 10 Front Main, Second an'
II Third street crossings. At Fourth stree
? and other crossings the hagman seldom
u over gvis OF tho train.
Q The bridge over tho tracks al Madison
!. sircct u worn out and needs repairs vet.
y badly. This structure is something owe
i twenty-five ycan old, and Il Is clearly ,h'
duty Of the railroad company TO keep IN,
bridge In good condition, for tho dmpl
u rcason that the smoke, sparks and steam
J. escaping from their engines burn and on!
\ q out moro than any travel over u, moie
> over tho city attorney should be insiIrs's'