The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-23


Issue bonds limited at 81 5000 and
proceed as fast asst as the work can be done
and pave every unpaved street and repair
every paved street in the city, not leaving
single mud street connected with the
whole system Of 100 miles of paved streets
On seventy miles OF the unpaved streets
Tlshomingo gravel twenty feet wide,
leaving ten feet on each side for drainage
and future extension, as travel may de-
mand. Pave the remaining five miles
with cedar blocks or block stone, founded
upon bed Of solicited Tishomingo gravel.
Then repair and reconstruct the old
pavements as their condition may require,
expanding thereon say $40, coo per annum.
The work proposed may be estimated as
follows;
So enty miles Of gravel road at 5000 per
1850 900
Five miles stone or cedar blocN at $1,000
per 100000
Repairs foid and re obstruction OF present
system SO,OO
.sosOOOO
When this much has been accomplished
and the grand roadway shall be connected
without single intermediate or lateral
mud road in the entire system, then tho
gravel road will bear the heaviest travel
and maintain perfect surface with very
little annual repair, longer than any stone
pavement heretofore built in this city.
On the whole system of turnpikes, now
about thirty miles in extent, and radiat-
ing from the city in line OF every main
public roads from the city, the amount
chargeable to repairs for a period OF five
years has not averaged 81 900 per annum.
There is one, and only one serious obstacle
to permanence of gravel roads, and that is
IntaI mud Irnt,f,bf
connecting mud roads.
An inspectiono OF these roads, both in and
out OF the city, will reveal the fact, that in
sections built of Tishomingo or Tennessee
gravel, on the earth surface and without
stone, and so remote from connecting mud
roads as t. allow the mud on wheels to
fall oil before reaching the pike, then
the surface remains smooihe, solid and in
tact and no wheel, however great the
load, has ever broken the surface.
The only mistake made so far in their
construction has been To yield 10 popular
clamor the first year and build the first
sections on the Old Raleigh, the fernando
and Pigeon Roost roads ON foundation
OF rubblc stone. Beyond these sections
the cost OF annual repairs is scarcely worth
notice.
Again, continuing myplan and estimate,
after the completion Of the seventy miles
OF road, each twenty feet wide and COM
plotting connections with the county turn
pike, leaving no lateral mud road connec-
tons; then proceed 20 widen these roads
10 the sidewalks, which may be done at a
cost Of $500 per mile, including stone
cutters. This will add 10 the first cost
s56O,OO0, and then the estimate would be
about y, 20J, 600 Tor the whole system, en-
htsHgit.Ts
fully repaired or reconstructed, live miles
OF new block payement-cedar or stone
and seventy miles OF lishomingo gravel
road, and all reaching from curb to curb.
Should IL be found advisable in the fut-
ure 10 extend the block pavement on
streets covered with graycl-tho iuunda.
ton afforded by a concreled gravel bed
will be the best in the world-not, in my
opinion, inferior Ia concrete or macldam.
Many citizens, seeing the destructive
| agencies at work on the city streets, viii
| regard these suggestions With contempt.
| But 10 ali such 1 reply: Take a drive with
me over parts OF the city streets and
! country turnpikcs and you will return
| convinced that am right. +,
Since writing the foregoing / have met
| Mai. Merweathcr, who informs me that |
misunderstood him as 10 the mileage Of
streets, the total being eighty miles. OF
which iiity-iiyu are unpayed and twenty
! i've paved.
This would reduce my estimate TO
| Sl,OO0,OOO for a completed sysicm upon the
plan proposed. q. u. FLEEcE.
Those FiIprin Compromise Bonds.
To the Editor u The Appeal
What are now known rs the "Flippin
compromise bonds were issued under an
act OF the Legislature approved March II,
1871, entitled Gan act 10 authorize munich
pal corporations 10 settle their indebted.
ness"
The first clause Of Section Of said act
reads: "Bc IL further enacted, That any
municipal corporation issuing bonds under
this act shall be prohibited from issuing
scrip or any other bonds while these com.
promise bonds are outstanding aud un.
paid" Section Of said act reads: "Bc
Il further enacted, That the provisions Of
| this net shall form part OF the contract
| with the holder OF any bonds issued rs
Aforesaid ON the compromise OF indebted.
ness"
Section 20 Of Article |, Constitution Of
the State Of Tennessee, which went into
effect May ., 1870, reads That no retro
spectivo law, or law impairing the obliga-
ton Of contracts, shall be made"
Now, u would seem, from the forcgo-
ing, that unless the holders ofthe "Flippin
Compromise Bonds have, In some way,
waived their rights acquired under the
act Of 1877, referred 10, they can prohibit
the Issuance OF any more bonds. Have
they, Ia any manner, compromised or
waived their rights since the act OF March
y. 1883, under which the Taxing is>>
trict Bonds" were issued7 Under tho
third section Of this act the holders Of the
! COMPROMISE Bonds referred To NAV ex-
change them for the Taxing District
Bonds, or they may retain the bonds aud
innd the interest past due, aud
on each and every coupon maturing for
the next three years there shall be stamped
"a provision that ono-third thereof has been
capitalized, and that the remaining two
thirds will DO paid 1t maturity"
Then, ms " 10 settle beyond oil doubtany
questions which might arise as 10 waiver
Of any rights by any holder OF these COM
promise bonds retaining the same after
having tho coupons stamped under the act
of 1855. the section concludes "When-
ever said compromise bonds are retained
neither the acceptance Of interest on them
nor the capitalization oi interest on them,
~ provided by this act, shall be held or
taken ~ n waiver Of any rights which tho
holders OF said bonds now have"
Section 10 SAYS that every part Of this
I al aI.fI - FuL.U aud CON .I.FsN a.. "a s..rt-