The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-02


go to any other cities?"
"Nes."
"Whai cities?"
"RiChmond."
care you for or against bonds?"
against. l told you that some time
ago"
"Did you see any good raycmenis while
| you were away?'
Yes and I've seen some mighty good
ones here"
Have you any newly acquired solution
OF the local paving prUblcm?'
"Well, II did this is not the time TO adj
vance IT, There is u committee out to
bring in solution
But that committee Is not above the
reception OF rays ol light.
| 1T was appointed, as | understand, 20
| report ways and means Tor securing pave
ments without bonds or an increase OF
! taxation. IL cannot be- done Mind YOU,
! TN not criugising the people for holding
tho meeting, but what they want done
takes money"
"will $40 rate provide enough for
They object TO that rs too high. but
they will have 10 pay that much, and may
be more"
by this time the veil Of melancholy hal
been pretty we'll torn away, aud the sani.
tartan iinanccr launched forth into dis
cussiOn Of momcntous local issues. ms lo.-
lows
81 was congra,ulaiing myself upon the
stupcndous amount OF improvements We
had made during the past nine years
when ! read in the newspapers the recent
DISCUSSION on the paving question, and
the report OF the meeting, saw what little
we had done and what q poor city We had.
tell you, We do more 10 break down our
city before the eyes Of the outside world
than anything or anybody else by con-
tinualiy crying out our little complaints
People away from here, who have come
here and talked with others who come,
believe We have a great city. was walk.
ing acruss Broadway. New York, with two
Mcmphians, last Monday, aud one OF
them inquired: Is there paved street
In Memphis We could cross and gct more
dirt than we are getting right heruY II Is
all nonsense 10 talk about our streets
being 20 much worse than they are In any
other city. Whenever II rains almost COM
stanuy for n long period, ~ We have here
sometimes, u h bound 10 get muddy any
where. ! have tricd 10 60 ahead with i'm
proycmcnts ~ rapidly and substantially
rs tho revenue would permit, and
at the same time inculcue into
our people the principle OF conicntmcnt,
and we were getting along amazingly well.
Cities are not built IN decade, even, and
Memphis Is only about lilty ycam Oh. We
have had difficulties here few other cities
ON this continent have experienced. Only
few yoan ago We had property, the as
scsscd value Of which was only $4,000, OlO,
ON which thrru was debt OF 5000 900
or mop. Then, too, there wcW thnso
irightiul epidemics, no paycmunis. no
sewers. Tint debt las been taken up and
compromised until only s3,2iNUJJ r.
main. We have over twenty-five miles OF
paved streets, sewer system ANY city IN
the country would b. proud OF, liability to
cpidcmi,s b. gone, taxation N light, and
why, Ia the name Of common sense.
should We complain? admit there urt
improvements needed, aud thuy will
be- made. but why can't We school
ourselves 10 be PATIENT The COM
mcrco Of thc city is steadily gtoH-
ing. Cotton receipts arc increasing
steadily, and our territory continually exc
tending. ii our streets w'fu paved with
gold they would not attract any more
trade. Paving h nothing moro than The
fence. ID brings Ia NO TcyCnua-n dead
capital. Advocates Of bonds cite railroads,
and tho bridge, aud other concerns, 10 cs.
abish their arguments. When bonds
arc issued 10 build railroads h Is done
with thu expectation that something will
spring into existence 10 meet tho bonds,
that bridge Is expected 10 produce suili.
Cicnt revenue a. not Oaly meet Interest on
, bonds, but declare handsome dividends on
the 100000 invested. You can't uy
that OF payemcntA They are simply con.
. ypnrnccs. Memphis h ~ paved that
nearly Cycry citizen can get load 81 coal
, into bis house without going more than
, one block through tho mud
"What are they doing at Richmond in
the way Of pavngl'
Richmond s q wealthy city. and bc.
sides. u 100 yoaB old. When Il comes IA
paving. We cannot compare With H. They
are laying granite pavement thcru nl !
4 cost uf 81. so Fquato yard. but Why can
h., this be- done thuro2 The only Foundation
+ necessary u 60 cxcayaic, and spread O
!. layer OF sand four or live inches deep
4 Then they can drive wagons just acfos
p. the riycr and get granite blocks right oul
r % be quarry. Why, our foundations her,
p would cost moro thar one whole Ion.
!, street paved Win granite blotks az hich
q monl Now We certainly have hni
y foundations already made here iof iutur'
paycmcnts, whenever We ~, IN shape e
las ,hcm. One thing our people sucin {,
entirely lose sight Of, and that Is the mag
v niiude oi the work done thus far aud al
OF which h necessary aud enduring. Why
those bridges across the bayou COS, q min
y Of money other cities have no such ~
b, qurcments
y 81 tell you. that meeting and the dis
y cussion pending II did the city no GOO
abroad. There were facis brought gu
there which were unnecessary, whicl
should have been kept among ourselves