The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-11
TIE TAXING DISTRICT AND THE
RAILROADS..


The Committee OF the Taxing District
Council TO examine into the condition OF
the street, dummy and other railroad
tracks, depots, stations, street crossings,
methods Of signaling and tagging, light
ing and the paving Of streets ana alleys
and sidewalks near or adjacent TO their
property, in summing up their report
have recommended rs follows:
That la making contmcs with railroads, dummy
az other lines they Dc compelled Ia furnish maps
Oinl tracks owned OF controlled by them up TO
time oi making said contract and In laying new
tracks they furnish maps Of the proposed lines,
made from actual survey that no track be changed
without notifications that the different railroad
lines be compelled TO furnish policemen nj their
dcpots night and day, at their own expense; that
the yards and tracks be 10 arranged and drained
that the storm water be carried 10 such points Of
discharge ns shall be approved by tho Taxing
District Council and that all platforms, sheds and
depot buildings be incloscd underneath, 10 they
cannot hnrbor nuisance. They should he com.
pocd TO put down substantial sidewalks Of brick
or strnc In front Of all property owned
by them, We further recommend that they
be forced TO designate their property lines nj street
and alley crossings by suitable painted pests, not
less than sN Inches square and nj least two feet
projecting above ground, painted white, with black
lettering property line" mmc 10 be placed under
direction Of the city engineer, aud Il should be
made part II every railroad contract that the rail.
road company pave at its own expense H. incrscc.
tOus with I'll slt'ot aud alloys and the street APP
pfuAohcl 20 tracks for iJ0 feet on either side, The
ordinance In regard 10 ilagmen and safety gates
should be strictly enforced at every crossing Inside
the city limits. The sanitary inspectors should be
Instructed 10 seo that all nilruai aud dummy tracks
be cleaned up regularly iwlcea month, from Aly !
To November I, and once q month thereafter The
blowing of whistles inside the city limits should
| b. strictly prohibited. In future contracts with
nilr,nd, the name Memphis should be made 10
upuutr ns part Of tho compnnys name. Ana 40
| G ns practicable, those now Running into the city
should lc made to ifscri Memphis ~ part oi the
nlmc WhcW 10 does not now appear. Where n
line operated ~ steam, whether dummy or other
mifund lite, lays tmck urun strct, they
should Do made 10 oct the cufulnr ani pave the
entire street. Just ns nst ns the ryes l. laid. aud
whom thoy cross bayou or running stream they
should bu compelled ~ put In sonc OF brick cul'
ycris or bridges at once.
OF course every wisely discreet bust
ness man who reads this will ask why
the propositions contained in this report
that are recommended TO be enforced in
future contracts with railroads were not
Incorporated In MI the contracts that have
been made with railroads since the Tax.
ing District chatter went into effect. That
is rational aud reasonable question. Hut
there u no ansWcr. The councilmcn scu
their mistake see II, TO be SUR, after all
the railroads ccntering here and running
ON our streets have secured pretty nearly
all they want OF rights Of why aud other
privileges irom the city. hut other rail.
roads arc to knock for entrance,
and II these and other rccommcnda.
tons can be forced on them, Mr..
lladdcn would 10 well 10 have syllabus
Of Ihcm aud Of all the Taxing Districts
agreements with railroads made No that ho
may have Thorn ready. Such rccommcuda.
tions Of the committee NJ can bc enforced
on the railroads. dummy aud otherwise, ne
ready subject Ia the Taxing Districts
ordinances, should at once he enacted and
put into effect The peoples rights and
Interests cannot be too closely guarded or
protected.