The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-25
A Suggestion to Cover Over and
Thus Save the Streets.
Enough Pavement Literature to Satisfy
Eungoring. Thirsting Public for
One Day at Least. and On ANY
Side That Best Suits
Their Fancy.

The paving question is on in full force
and. rnE APPEAL is pleased this morning
70 give the people full force" Of read.
ing matter on the subject, on both sides Of
' the subject.
In no way can this be better done than
drawing out the reserve views Of men
identified with Memphis, and recognized
us intelligent and clear.beaded enough to
give their expressions weight with the
community. Two OF these gentlemen,
representing the opposition TO the bond is.
sue, are quotcd
Col. JOHN oyEEToN, JR.,
smiled when the reporter requested an in.
| tcryicw on the paving question, aud in
sisted that he had nothing new for publ.
cation, his views on increasing large
bonded debt having been frequently aud
freely expressed. When pressed, how.
ever, TO answer certain questions 20 be
propounded by the reporter he consented.
The questions aud answers follow:
''Do you believe in the future greatness
OF Memphis"
"Ycs; believe in Memphis, but, unfor-
tunatcly for the city. every now aud then
cliqucs or rings or whatever name you
may choose 10 apply 10 them, get IL into
their heads that the time is ripe 10 make a
/ fortune at the peoples expense, aud 10 nc
complish their purpose they are willing 20
advertise the city rs being in deplomble
and unnhabitible condition. A perusal
OF the stuff now being published in the pa
pens would lead one 10 believe that We are
ON the verge OF ruin, unless millions OF
bonds are issued 10 pave the streets at
once, and pictures are printed in the daily
papers giving the impression that Mem
phis Is one vast Sea Of mud aud slnsh. DO
+ you think such publications will do Us
/ good away from home? The facts are that
never in the history Of this city has she
experenccd greater prosperity, and !
klsS Of no city, in the South
that can show more satisfactory cOndi-
| ton Of affairs You had just as well let
| up on the bond question. They will not
be Issued until the rights OF your present
creditors are determined and protected.
| do not own single city bond, but
believe in acting honestly with those who
do. II seems 10 me iarcical 10 ask the tax
PAYERS OF Memphis 10 issue another big
batch Of bonds when they all know they
once narrowly escaped bankruptcy by
bonds issued Tor wooden pavement pur-
poses. The people arc now groaning
under the burdens imposed upon them by
that issue, and the wooden blocks they
paid Tor are rotting IN the Gulf Of Mexico.
They say the burnt child breads the lire,
and the truth Of the saying Is now being
brought home 10 some Of u.s."
"Do you not concedo that our streets are
In bad condition.
Certainly do, butthcyarc much better
than they were ten years ago when this
same hue aud cry was heard everywhere
around us. IL IN one OF the mos. remark
able features Of the present pavement agi-
tatiOn that we are confronted with the
same arguments that were presented years
ago when the Nicholson pavement craze
struck this city. These good, kind-hcarted,
philanlhropic, philosophical citizens
who ATE inspired by the noble purpose OF
cnriching real estate owners by doubling
the mortgages on their property Why,
bless their souls, they want tho streets
built by the residents OF the city clear out
10 the city limits TO enable them 10 dis.
pose OF their suburban property, without
any cost TO themselves, and behind them
IN solid phalanN are the boys who want
contracts, the Doodle Brigade, rs YOU
newspapers call them, and they want con-
tracts 40 badly that they are even
willing 10 put the wooden paycmcnis back
on M, bankrupt rs again aud insist
that il is all done out OF kindness. Why,
they even 20 ~ far ~ TO compare MS with
Cincinnati, Chicago aud other immensely
wealthy cities aud urge rs 10 initiate their
example, forgetting that In ability 10 pay
for improvements the ratio Is twenty 10
one ugainst US. As Judge Hammond has
reminded YOU, one-half Of our population
ave negroes, aud their tax.paying capacity
may be- summed up rs nil. :"
"What Is 10 be done, then; are We TO
grin and bear it?''
ono; repeat that Memphis haslncycr,
since have lived bore, improved more