The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-08

Fifty miles OF graveled highways in and
around this city, is what Maj George B.
Fleece says we can have within the next
two years without any increase OF taxation
ii the funds are properly handled.
The idea OF Maj. Fleece is to construct
several streets through the city, then make
4 a circuit around the city with well laid
\ Tishimingo graveled avenue, and then
after connecting with the turnpike leading
out into the country, fence them all in so
that vehicles cannot get of of the dirt
roads onto the pixies, thereby preventing
injury to the said pixies by mixing the
graveled surface with mud.
1t is well known to those who travel the
turnpike much that where the dirt roads
connect the pike, for several hundred
yards each side soon becomes impaired, as
mud carried on wheels rolls into and be-
comes intermixed with gravel, and while
as yet in no case has the upper crust been
broken through, yet they are injured and
IN many places quite rough.
~ This Is the case on Ragbun avenue,
k>S1ere the people living along the aven ne
1 had the highway constructed at their own
expense. The road is much used now for
heavy traffic, as q brickyard and Other
factories have been built near its southern
terminus. The recent soggy weather was
hard on any kind OF road, and the Avenue
mentioned, rs well as others, has suffered
very considerably.
All OF this however, can be repaired at
very moderate expense. Maj. Fleece says
that not 5000 IN all has been expended on
all OF the Shelby County turnpikes since
the system was commenced five years ago,
and all that is required to keep rishi-
mingo graveled pike smooth and in good
shape is 10 ill up the holes or uneven
places with few loads OF fresh gravel
As remarked two days ago, we now have
thirty-four miles OF well built turnpikes in
Shelby County, constructed within the
past five years at q cost Of Sl50,000. Be-
ginning at the south and going around,
there is the Horn Lake Road turnpike,
the fernando pike, the Pigeon Roost
pike, the State Line or Poplar pike, the
Old and New Raleigh Road pixies, the
Randolph road, the Central and Union
avenue pixies and several short lines, in
Guiding Raybun avenue, Mclean avenue
and others. All OF the foregoing have been
constructed out OF the small fund resulting
from tax Of 10 cents on 500 imposed FIVE
years ago through the cXertons Of MIR.
Louis Erb. assisted by Mr.. Dix and few
others. These gentleman had an idea that
pixies were good property, and they never
let up until they accomplished their OBJ
ject. The fund raised varies from 5000
10 5000 per annum, and the roads built
have all been paid Tor.
The first work done on turnpikcs by
Mnj. Fleece, who has superintcndcd all OF
them, was with stone foundations aud nine
miles OF this kind al road was built at an
expense Of some -, 900 per mile. After
that a short line Vi half q mile or ~ was
|~+s-r, without stone foundation, and Il was
soon found that II wa smoother aud morc
desirable in every way than the other and
more expensive plan. Since then thepikcs
have been continued at cost OF from
5000 to 5000 per mile.
In due time the tax will, II continued,
provide fund sufficient TO extend the
roads ont 10 the borders Of the county. II
is known 10 those familiar with the gravel
used that after Il has been laid a short time
IL forms into hard crust, or concrete, on
the surface, aud nothing 50 far has been
found to break through or 10 wear Il out.
Mai Fleece believes in Tishimingo gray,
ced highways, aud thinks they are tho
best in the world, next after asphalt, oi
course.
There Is short street out between
Adams and Poplar, called High street. IL
was covered with gravel nine ycan ago by
the Charleston Railroad, and not a penny
has ever been expended on II Tor repairs,
Today IL is smooth, hard aud In good
order, aud II bears proof TO the utility Of
the material used In It's construction.
The resources from the present tax levy,
II is believed by Mnj. Fleece, will be- ample
10 build us first class line oi streets,
stretching over fifty miles, II the funds are
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