The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-20
TALKING HARD FOR BONDS
MR.. B. NJ. STATIONS PLAN OF SAL
WALTON FOR THIS CITY.
He Insists That IL Is Worse Than Nom
sense to Talk About Any Other
Scheme - Biting Too Long at q
Cherry, Instead OF Swallowing 1t.

~ tell you, bonds are tho only salvation
for Memphis, and do not believe any one
can counter that proposition successfully"
exclaimed Mr.. Stratton yesterday in the
midst OF a warm conversation on the pave
ment question.
"But Mr.. MADDEN. President Of the
Taxing District. and mighty power in
this burg. says they arc not, the taxpayers
do not want them, he is opposed TO the
issue, and :larned II they're going 10 be
issued" remarked his companion.
'Mr EIadden be blamed" rejoined the
first speaker. ppm an admirer and
supporter OF Mr.. MADDEN, in the main,
but not in this emergency, by a DANCED
sight. lie says he Is opposed TO bonds,
because he has given his word that they
shall not be issued, but docs not offer
better way to raise the money. Talk
about direction, and the employment Of
Just 80 much MS 1t would require 10 pay
the interest on bonds for paving purposes,
is all nonsense-the worst sort OF bosh.
We have been making TO many bites
at q cherry instead OF swallowing
IL like business men. ! was today
talking 10 one who had something 10 do
with settling that debt, aud who knows
all about it, and he says there liz no such
contract; Memphis has no contract with
any bondholders. II amounts TO nothing
more than verbal agreement, in which
somo dozen or moro men are interested.
The idea OF holding city OF 10000 souls
back on such iiimsy pretext Show me
bank, q mandatory, a mercantile es-
tablishment, any kind OF business con-
Germ, that doesn't use its credit. Cities do
likewise, aud only those that do become
rich and prosperous. Look at those cities
which began their career about the same
time we did, and study the size and char
acter Of them now. We arc doing little
moro than standing STILL while they are
forging ahead and outstripping us, at tho
Same time fighting for every inch OF terri
tory. Memphis, even with her streets re.
naming as they now are, will always be
a trading post and large town. She has
tho best backing, from a territory stand
point, OF any city in the country. For 100
miles in every direction, no city
can touch her, or they would
have dono 10 long ago. Between
100000 and 100000 bales OF cotton per
year arc poured In upon her with little
more than the asking So, 100000 or
$4,000, 000l Railroads como here, carry
your ircights for you and give you name
IN that regard; but do YOU suppose capital
and labor are going to follow these roads
here with no other inducements The
roads do what they can 10 thrust great
ness upon IA, but there II ends. II re-
minds me very much Of tho fellow who
was In the well crying Il have great
things, and want 10 get out Of here A
ropo was thrown 10 him, with the injunc-
ton: Tie that around YOU, aud We will
pull You out oh, no. said he, You
must come down here and tic the rope
around mo yourself. or III not come QUIT
Now, who in thunder cared whether he
came out or not more than himself
''No; rs ! said before, we have been
making too many bites at cherry. This
policy OF drbbling the paving fund along
through a lengthy period Is suicidal. Pave
the town from stem TO Stern, and do Il ut
once. Look Mt Main street now. Ila no
better than potato patch-not III TO ac-
commodaio anything much less the COM
mcrco Of city like this prctends 10 be. |
WIS talking TO those hrickmakom here last
weck, or rather listened 10 them talk, and
what did they ay2 Why that Memphis
had everything Ia the way Of natural adj
yantagcs 10 make her a great city. but
lnckcd-strecis. That's the same old cry,
cad the same old weight that has held and
b. going 10 hold ma down. Some say: It's
manufactures VIC necd.' Correct they
are; We do need manufactures. But
what chance do We stand u .ecuringthc
Capital and lahor are both needed In these
concerns, aud we will not get either. Az
most every day capitalists pass through
hero looking Tor au inviting field In which
TO locate. Why don't they stop horc7
simply because they know. after glancing
at onr streets, that thcirinyostmonts would
bc insecure. Good streets are essential to
a perfect sanitary condition; without the
lormcr you can never have the latter.
eve must take hold Of this matter like
intelligent business men. llcrc We have
some S20.OoO.OO0 invested, and 10000
people making Il their home. IL iinol COM
mon sense la put s3,O00.O00 or Si,OOO, 900
out TO save The money already planted and
induce more tO come. Mr.. MADDEN says,
implicitly, that only those who pay no
iaxca would vote Tor bonds. llr's all
wrong. IhcW'H many a man. owning his
little home, who pays his taxes promptly
aud zap 10 the iull valuation, who would
vote lur them. We cannot stand immc.
date direct taxation Cor the purpose OF
putting tho city iu good condition. it's
nonsense 10 talk about H. PostOrity will
not kick about q debt created for the pur.
poac Of giving them great city, provided
they get the property a. they would. 1