The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-23
FORFEITURE.
Report on Memphis City Railway.
A Council Committee Who Gould
See and Tell Of Faults.
Grevious Violation of the Com
pany's Contract in Many Places.
An Accurate Investigation OF Tracks
and Cars from End to End
An Abandonment of It's Tracks Every.
where Throughout the City, and the
Passage Of a Resolution to This
Effect Recommended.

The following report of a committee APP
pointed to examine the condition OF the
tracks and cars Of the railroads operating
within the Taxing District, was submitted
TO the Legislative Council at its meeting
on Thursday last. The committee was
composed Of Messrs. 4. j. Graham and ID.
i. Haddcn:
MEMPHIS CITY RAILWAY.
Blue Line-Thc tracks OF the Memphis
City railway on the Blue line running
from Mill to Kerr on Sixth street, dis
lance Of about 1850 feet, are laid with
Johnson rail, single track, and filled be-
tween the rails with small stone OF irregu-
lar shape, most OF it being material found
in the street, it being such as the city used
for Macadam pavement; underneath the
gravel suriacing the stone is being worked
out, and becomes displacedan and sometimes
lost entirely. The curve from Mill into
Sixth is so constructed rs TO offer an OBJ
struction to the free flow OF the surface
drainage, and accumulates filth, rendering
IL unsanitary.
From Sixth 10 Fifth street, n distance
Of about $40 feet on Mill street is single
track, Johnson rail, about three inches
above the adjoining surface, done with
material found IN the street, and is con-
stantly in need of repair by reason OF stone
working out OF place. The pavement on
this street nj this point, and the entire
length on Sixth street, a distance of about
5000 feet, was in first-class condition be-
fore the car company placed its tracks
along this line, but there is no satisiac.
ton in its use for general travel, and they
are quite narrow between the curbing
about thirty feet, and the car company oc-
cupies about nine feet in the center or
crown and the best part of the street, the
gutter being paved with ubble stone four
feet next TO the curb, and causes the gen.
eral travel 10 90 upon that part between
. the track and gutter, being about seven
feet, which constant travel wears the street
into ruts and holes, and in bad weather
renders the street almost useless.
The track on ruth street, from Kerr 10
Mill, about 1850 feet, is laid with John.
son rail, single track, aud some stone has
been placed between the rail and in such
manner that in bad weather the street is
unfit for any travel except for street cars
No paving has been done on the outside Of
the tracks, and at the intersection OF
Fifth and Saiiarans streets, which was
paved by the city with fine block stone
pavement 10 protect the fire cistern, this
has become a receptacle for the general
filth Of the street, both north and south
Tor several hundred feet, on account OF
drainage.
On Min street, from Fifth 10 Bayou
nj 4 NHaN - lutl
with johnson rail, double track; the track
on the north side Is laid with smal-sizc
stone; from Fifth 10 Second, about !, OI0
feet. and on the south side, with stone OF
like character. From Fifth 20 Third street,
about $50 feet, these stones will not aver
age over four inches in thickness MS laid
There being six or eight inches Of sand
under H. the constant wear Of thecar mules
forces IL out OF place, and there Is no
day but what stone will be found
ont Of place on the street, and thus rem
dering double obst ruction b. the free use
OF the street The south side track from
Third 10 Bayou Gayoso, 400 feet, and the
north side track from Second 10 Bayou
Gayoso. about 100 feet are not paved be-
tween track or rails, and hold water ~
that after an ordinary rain Il IL impossible.
Just west oi Second street there Is a pond
Of water and filth nearly twelve inches
deep, which the tracks hold, 20 that Il
canno. escape except by evaporation, Tcn-
dcrng il exceedingly unslnitary. The
crossing at Second street h not properly
- constructed. This wasonco finely paved
street, the entire distance about l,30I
feet. The bridge over Bayou Gayoso Is
laid with flat mil, spiked 10 the flooring
and laid with double track, amounting
q 80
The entire width Of bridge In clear u
twenty feet. the double car tracks cover
thirteen feet in the center, leaving three
and hall feet between tracks and bridg,
rail. From the bayou 30 Main street! b.
about $50 feet, the tracks are double, o
johnson rail, with planks placed between
rails, much Of which are worn out, thel
being second hand when iBi placed here
aud In many places the planks are entirely
gone, this then becomes n receptacle FOL
filth.
The curve 10 Main street IL laid Will
some stone placed as q make.sliit, other
wise Il would be impossible In bad weather
for even the cars 90 pass this point From
the curve 90 Auction street u about 40
feet, Is double track, with plank iloorin.
second .hnnd-placcd cfusswisc between
rail. and without protection on the outsid,
Of rails Most Of this flooring Is lost ant
what l. left now IL worn out and rotten
and il barely answorablo for the purpos'
q. @, 10 keep from drowning mules, ca
drivers, etc, entirely In the mud, io
teams are constantly stalled along thi
line, not only delaying and often causinI
serious financial loss, but also hindcrinI
car travel. Az many ~ six cars have beef
stopped here waiting the cxtricaiion Of on
cart load Of coke, pcrchance stalled IN twu
feet Of mud.
on the east side Of track Il tumtabl,
which Il not drained nj all, and conse
quently holds from ~ 20 - inches O
water, more or less all the time, except Il
unusually dry weather. The tumtabl
rocks from side 10 side when cars pass, an,
owing 10 the great weight iolts the car n
badly that II IL a serious Inconvenience {
the public who patronize this line. Fror
this urntable diagonally across the stree
isa switch track which Is detrment I
the free use Of the street for geneu
travel. This turntablc and switch ougli
20 be moved.
The track ON Main street south Of AuC
ton TO CLAY street, a distance OF abou
a a A.. A - A