The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-25


eminent for putting little patches OF pave
ment over the city instead of concentrating
on few main avenues of thoroughiarc.
Don't forget the pressure to which they
are subjected from all sides, and that they
aie trying TO satisfy all demands with the
limited resources at their command. |
am perfectly satisfied they will see their
errors now and concentrate their work,
and in that way the problem will be
solved. Bear IN mind, also, that the water
and gas companies have the same right
to tear up the streets that the city has to
put them down"
GLOW would you proceed to concentrate
as you call III"
81 would begin with a street like Third
street, for instance, and put down q first
class foundation. No street will do any
good here without one. Six inches Of
Tishomingo gravel will make iounda.
ton. DO what work you have TO
do in first class shape and pay for
1t like men, and year by year pave
your most important streets. All will
be well enough then. Memphis will grow
and become what her projectors believed
she would be, the first city Of the Missis.
sippi Valley. Do not disgrace IL again by
compelling us TO 60 10 our creditors and
beg for terms. have vsry Lively racol-
lection oil my experience in Nashville once
before, sitting up with the Legislature and
imploring the privilege OF being allowed TO
compromise at 33t cents on the 81. and
then at 90 cents | don't banker for any
more such work"
col. II. ". sNowDEN.
The reporter then sought Col. r. h.
Snowden Tor IN interview. 81 was inter.
viewed on this same question last February
by an APrEAL reporter. To the views |
then expressed | have no additions or
changes TO suggest, and If YOU desire 10 re-
produce them have no objection" Col.
Snowden's sayings on the subject are here
with appended:
81 am opposed TO issuing bonds fer any
thing, and thus increasing the city debt.
We have an outstanding obligation, cx-
pressed IN the law authorizing the Flippin
compromise bond, that no further debt
should DO created until the pre- elt one
was wiped out, and we should stick 10 Il
Besides, II Is out of the question 10 talk
about another bond issue. II cannot bt
done without favorable action by the Leg
isatnre, and hardly then il any bandholder
saw TT TO oppose il. BY rev.ving that
practice we open the iloodgates which
submerged the city just prior TO the sur.
render Of its charter and creation Of tho
Taxing District. Why, at one time ous
debt was more than half the value Of ia,
taxable property Of the city. Itim1unlcf
TO nearly S7,000,0DO, aud when wscJu'
promised at 80 cents on the dollar itW
on the positive promise that no.hl
should be added. The emphatic sugtts
ton Of Capt. Lee that the coming gcncri
ton should share the expcns, incurred D..
building the great city We leave them doc.
not meet my approval. | believe ",
should carry our corner, and set the ex-
ample for our SUCCESSORS 10 follow aud i'm.
prove upon. We have endured onorous
taxation for years, know lis evils and o. =
pressions, and Il would not be right to im-
pose Il upon Others"
"But the streets are in deplorablc con.
dition, need immediate and vigorous AZ.
tention, and there is no money. What
can you suggestP'
Direct taxation-build streets like VIC
built the sewers. am willing TO be taxed
for any necessary improvement, so are the
other property owners. When we saw that
sewers were necessary, a direct tax OF per
cent was imposed for two years II was
pretty steep and yielded something like
100000, but nobody objected, because Il
was Just aud proper. A similar tax now II
the only legitimate source OF relief for the
streets. And there Is another fact that
comes In right here: By paving the streets
on revenue derived from a direct tax for
two years, II can be done for about half IL
would consume, with great bulk 10 draw
upon. That was the case with the sewers,
and i Is the history OF nearly all similar
public work"
"Would a direct tax Of per cent Afford
a sum large enough TO begin the work In
earnestP'
ample, ample, and more. We now
pay street tax Of 30 cents on the 800. /
believe. Under the increased assessment
We arc promised. this would give 81, u
not more. The direct tax. even Of per
cent, would swell the total, under in
creased valuation, 10 q voluminous sum.
OF course. the tax cannot be levied this
year, ~ Il already exists, based upon last
years assessment la few weeks, how.
ever, the taxes for streets will begin 10
come In, AMI the work Of paving can be
taken up In q small way"
1T Is given out, though, that this years
budget for street purposes will not do the
repairs necessary, and that money devoted
TO repairing Main street, for example,
would be thrown away"
Perhaps that IL true: the pavement
was never properly laid, and IL will. sup.
pose, have 20 be done over. 4 better
foundation will have 20 be made. But they
may find Il possible 10 do something In
that line; u 10, Il ia an easy matter 10 work
on one side Of the street until the funds
run ont, keep well up with preparations.
aud thus impose litto inpcdiment 70
travel"
"What kind Of pavement do YOU con-
slider best for the city,"
Block stone or granite, like that on
Third street, between Union and Monroe,
for the commercial streets For streets
over which there is little or no heavy haul
ing nothing better can DO suggested than
cedar blocks. II left 10 me, I would use the
stone between Bcalc and Poplar, and on
cross streets east 10 Tie bayou; thence on
TO The city limits In every direction with
cedar block. On streets away out and
little used TishominRo gravel Is excellent
The only objection 10 Il il that the streets
30 made cannot be swept, but that hardly
applies here, rs tho streets are not swept |
anyhow"
cot. WILLIAM ~ HARRINGTON.
II understand YOU concur with Mr..
William NJ. sneed In his opinion OF tho !
ciiys obligation not 10 issue moro bonds |
until those outstanding are redeemed"
remarked an ArrgAL reporter 10 Col. !
William NJ. Harrington.
Il do 70 far ~ the now compromise
bonds are concerned, but there are those
thppin compromise bonds, which, I un- |