The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-21
BY DIRECT TAXATION.
NEGATIVE VIEWS ON THE PROPOSE
TON TO ISSUE BONDS.
Col. r. II ysnowden Opposed to the
Idea OF Making Debt for Any Pur-
pose-Build Streets Like the Sewers
Were Constructed.

All the iviAws 10 far presented on the
suggested klea Of issuing bonds to pave
the streets Of the city, have been on the
side Of the issue. The gentlemen in
favor Of the increased debt were, OF course,
prompted by desire for good streets, and
considered the bond issue the surest and
speedicst method OF securing them. They
also thought IL no more than right and
proper that the rising generation should
share the burden OF expense on tho good
things handed down TO them. An APPEAL
reporter sought Col. Il. b. Snowden, yes
terday, on hint that that gentleman and
large property owner held pronounced and
intelligent views on the negative side Of
the subject. The colonel was seen at the
Peabody hotel, and in reply to questions
said:
81 am opposed TO issuing bonds for any
thing, ard thus increasing the city debt.
We have an outstanding obligation, ex-
pressed in tho law authorizing the Flippin
compromise bond, that no further debt
should be created until the present one
was wiped out, and we should stick to it.
Besides, it is out of the question TO talk
about another bond issue. IL cannot DO
done without favorable action by the Leg
islaturc, and hardly thenif any bondholder
saw III 10 oppose IT, BY rcviving that
practice We open the foodgates which
submerged the city just prior to the sur
render Of its charter and creation Of the
| Taxing District. Why, at one time, our
debt was more than half the value OF the
the taxable property Of the city. II
amounted to nearly $1,000, 900, and when
II was compromised ut fifty cents on the
dollar, 1t was ON the positive promise that
nothing should be added. The emphatic
suggestion OF Capt. Lee that the coming
generation should share tho expense in.
CURED in building the great city we leave
them, docs not meet my approval. i be.
lieve We should carry our corner
and set the example for our successors 10
follow and improve upon. We have en-
dured onerous taxation for years, know its
evils and expressions, and II would not be
right 10 impose IL upon Others"
| But the streets are in deplorable con-
dition, need immed iatc and vigorous at.
tention, and there is no money. What
can you SUGGEST"
| "Direct tlxation-build streets like we
built the sewers. am willing 10 be taxed
ior.any necessary improvement, so are the
other property owners. When we saw that
sewers were necessary, direct tax OF pei
cent. was imposed for two years. II was
pretty steep, aud yielded something like
si00,OOO; but nobody objected, because II
was just and proper, similar tax now il
the only Legitimate source Of relief for the
streets. And there Is another fact that
comes in right here; by paving the streets
on revenue derived from direct tax for
two years, il can be done for about half Il
would consume, with q great bulk TO draw
upon. That was the case with the sewers,
and IL is the history Of nearly all similar
public work"
"woulda direct tax Of per cent. afford
a sum large enough TO begin the work in
earnest2"
"Amplc, ample, and more. We now
pay street tax OF 80 cents on the 500,
believe. Under the increased assessment
We arc PROMISED, this would give 81, II
not more. The direct tax, even OF per
cent, would swell tho total. under in.
creased valuation, 10 voluminous sum.
| OF course, liz tax cannot he levied this
year, ~ II already exists, based upon last
| year assessment. In few weeks, how.
ever, the taxes for streets will begin 10
come in, and the work Of paving can be
taken up in a small way"
1T II given ont, though, that this year q
budget for street purposes will not do the
repairs necessary, and that money devoted
10 repairing Main street, for example,
would hc thrown away"
perhaps that Is true; the pavement was
never properly laid, and Il will, I suppose,
have 10 be done over. A better Foundation
will have b. he made. But they may find
Il possible 10 do something In that line; II
10, Il IL an easy matter 10 work on one
side Of the street until the funds run out,
keep well up with preparations, and thus
impose little impeachment 10 travel"
"What kind Of pavement do you con.
slider best for the city2"
"Block stone or granite like that on
Third street between Union and Monroe
for the commercial streets. For streets
over which therc IL little or no heavy haul.
ing nothing better can be suggested than
cedar blocks. II left 10 me, 1 would use
the stone between Bcalc and Poplar, aud
ON cross streets east 10 the bayou: thence
on To the city limits In every direction
with cedar block. On streets away OUT
and little used Tishomingo gravel Is OK.
ccllenL The only objection 10 Il is that
the streets ~ made cannot he swept, but
that hardly applies here, rs the streets are
/ not swept anyhow