The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-28

commence on Monroe street, about twenty
feet east of the east line of third, and run
east in the center of Monroe street, about
3,400 feet, TO Marshall avenue, and thence
diagonally across private property TO Madi-
son street. near the intersection of Orleans,
about GOO feet, and thence TO the city limits
at Dunlap street, about 1900 feet or a total
distance of about $500 feet There is
switch, or turnout, at Bayou Gayoso about
300 feet in length; the gauge is Standard
four feet eight inches. These tracks are
laid with the regular T rail- about eleven
and two-third pounds TO the lineal foot The
road is not properly ballasted, except where
II passes through the fine macadam pave
ment on Madison street, about $50 feet and
the portion of this route from Third street
to Marshall avenue on Monroe street, and
from Manassas street to Dunlap at city lin
its, where there is no pavement, is in an al
most impossible condition, and the space
between rails and two feet outside, which
protects the ends of the crossties, that should
be paved, is without pavement of any
kind. There is water tank partly on the
sidewalk near the crossing of Marshall ave-
nue., and when the train is stopped here TO
take water the sidewalk and part Of the street
is blockaded. This tank, with the fuel house
blt ut luONtu West uDOul [OO
feet, near the bridge crossing the NJ. & @.
railroad tracks. There is temporary struc-
ture over the NJ x q. railroad, the iron
bridge not being in place yet, although some
work has been done upon 1t, and nearly all
the material is upon the grounds.
The engine or motor used is what Is best
understood as q steam locomotive boxed up,
and is not n dummy in any sense of the
word. Both smoke, cinders and steam are
admitted, and quite as much noise is made
as would be by the same engines not boxed
up, and in a general way they will brighten
stock as bad as other steam locomotives and
ore quite rs Objectionable.
The road is as yet too rough 10 make very
fast time, nor would the company be justi-
fled in attempting IL with the road in its
present condition, but still trains are run
about every ninety minutes The trains are
provided with conductors, and the fare
charged Is cents. We found no lagmen at
the crossings, and no crossings constructed
for the benefit Of patrons OF the line, nor
convenient waiting-rooms provided at sta
tions for the comfort and convenience Of its
patrons except an old room on corner OF
alley east OF third on north side Of Monroe
stree, near stating point
The road is not properly or sufficiently
lighted by electricity along the route, nor Is
sufficient attention paid 10 drainage, 80
that the streets not covered by its tracks,
are washed out by massing the surface water
ut certain points. At the intersection OF
cross streets no obstruction should be offered
10 free passage Of teams and pedestrians.
We are assured by officers Of the road that
oil these much-needed improvements will be
provided in the near future.
PROSPECT PARK a BELT RAILROAD.
This company have tracks as follows: On
Gayoso, which Is only thirty feet from curb
20 curb, from Second 10 Short Third street,
about $50 feet which curve In such manner
as 10 entirely occupy or render unavailable
the whole street for this distance which is
laid with regular railroad iron rail, or what
II better known as the II rail, and we there
fore recommend the removal Of this track
as soon rs possible. on the grounds above
stated, and because the construction Is such
that the street Is not properly drained, and
II thereby rendered nuisance from sani-
tary standpoint. From Gayoso street south,
on Short Third street abOut23 feet, the track
IL single, with a turnout 100 feet From
this point diagonally across 10 Bcale street
market, the road Is upon private property
about $50 feet. From Beale street market 10
Calhoun street on MADDEN avenue about
500 feet, the track Is single, with a turnout
about 100 feet from corner Of Bcale street
about 100 feet long; the curve into Calhoun
street from Hadden avenue Is within FIVE
feet Of the curbing on the northeast corner
OF street and renders this an exceedingly
dangerous point. From MADDEN avenue 10
DcSoto street there Is about 800 feet Of sin
gle track and about 100 feet OF double track
laid on south side Of Calhoun street, and
these tracks are on an average about sixteen
inches higher than the balance Of street
From Calhoun street 30 Georgia street on
DcSOto street about $40 feet, the track Is
single, and higher than the balance Of the
street, aud from this point the route IL diff
fercnt from what the original contract with
the Taxing District calls for, aud there IL no
authority Cor the use Of the same except
such a niay be construed In the ratification
OF the Prospect Park & Belt Railroad com
pany by this council. The route In the con-
tract a., originally made, Is south from Cal
houn street 20 city limits, about 2, $50 feet on
Dcsoto street, but this route Is used only 10
Georgia street. about 1890 feet M above,
thence on Georgia street about $50 feet 90
Dayic ayennc, thence on Dayio avenue 20 city
limits about $50 feet. There IL n switch con-
Meeting this railroad with the tracks on
Broadway street There II no authority for
such n construction In this contract
The entire length Of this line from Second
--and Gayoso streets 10 city limits on Dayic
avenue Il about 100 feet, and IL laid with
II rail or regular railroad iron about eleven
aud two-thirds pounds 20 the foot u being
second hand rail when laid, having been
used In the State Of Arkansas near Pine
Hlun No paving OF any kind has been done
except at west end Of Beale street market
house Tho turnout on MADDEN avenue has
one rail within eighteen inches Of the curb.
ing Tor about 100 feet This isa very narrow
street, being about thirty feet from curb 10
curb The railroad occupies about nine feet
for passage Of cars and protection Of cross.
ties, and allowing two feet for cutters on
each side, this leaves only about eight and n
half feet outside the rails available for gen
crnl travel
We found the road not properly ballastcd
and that the curves from Calhoun street "a
Dcsota DcSoto into Georgia and Georgia
street into Dnyio avenue, all come within .
feet Of curbing on the corners, making u
very dangerous, and the trucks are In a very
bad condition and great dctrimcnt 20 gen.
cnl traffic along this route DcSoto street II
only about ~ feet from curb 20 curb, Georgia
street Is about ~ from curb 10 curb, and
Dayie avenue about 20 feet from curb ~
curb. Where streets are crossed little or no
attention has been paid by the company In
seeing that such crossings were made smooth
aud uniform and not nm obstruction.
The motors used are steam locomotives
boxed up, aud the name dummy IL n msno.
mer A. much noise Il made by these mo
tors as would be by them u not boxed OF
housed up. The steam that Is emitted u
quite AZ much a. from any steam motor Of
engine Of same size, and the pulling and
blowing usual In rounding curves aud as
ocnding steep grades is just the sane. There
4 not 70 much smoke "a usual, for the rca
son that coke IL used. but the hno oinderi
that are showcrcd upon the coaches and on
Al A.. Il than