The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-08
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL.
TUESDAY. . JANUARY q. 1890
THE BlYOU

1HE B1lOU.
Bayou Gayoso and It's tributaries make a
very bad and very ugly break in the terri.
tory OF Memphis. They break up the uni-
formity of some Of our best streets and
make gaps between fine residence proper.
ties that are filed up in some places with
badly disposed people. Nothing strikes n
stranger 10 uniiyoubly n the condition OF
Poplar street from Fourth street to the
cast side OF the market. On Adams street
IL il not 80 bad because the foundry an Il
the cotton compress and cotton sheds, aud
the Charleston Railroad yards, an the
-s-p- But compared with the long line OF
handsome residences from Third street TO
the foundry, and those from Laudcrdale
street out TO the city boundary,
this is an unsightly gap, and one
that would not exist II only some
thing was done to improve the bayou.
Jefferson street. which from Third street
ought TO be full Of residences Tor mid.
die class people, has been prevented OF
tina, sor, Of growth by the Charleston
Railroad yard, which is impcncirable and
cuts the street in two where II would be
most available. ~ with Court which Is q
handsomely built street down to Fourth
aud there takes on ragged" appearance
that Is continued ~ the bayou. Madison
s,Tcct Ia better built TO the vicinity of tho
bayou than any OF the east and west
streets But from there thcro h wide
gap 10 the next residence at tho cor
ncr OF Wellington street. Monroc street
from Fourth street is nothing better than
nm ordinary unimproycd country road, yet
there Is difference In the uses Of the
property close To the bayou on both sides
and that from the bhso II the hil
90 Marshall avenue. Union street,
from Thirl TO Fourth. has n lew ilnc
residences. that show what the hopes
Of the property owners were away in tho
filics. but In the ncighborhooj Of the
bayou It is anything but promising. and
DcSo,o. which tot several blocks is "a bad
Dol" begins there, aud looks anything bot
inviting. Gayoso street IL, for particular
reasons. an almost mo ihoroughiuc." anil
Bcalc. with Ito beautiful residences at Wei.
linEion aud beyond, is vcritahlc cul de-
enc. Other streets beyond that. like Lin.
den aud Vance, are not nj thc bayou what
ticy arc farther out. In fact the bayou Is
an cyc.sorocyorywhrrc. This cannot much
longer bo tho case. and ought not 10 be-.
A project IL now aioot 10 utilize u from
Elmwood Cemetery IN Chelsea Tor n slrccI
car line. This canno, we'll be done with.
ont the purchase Of the riparian rights d
the property owners on both sides iol
nearly three miles. unl that would swamp
the company In i,s incipirncy. 20 that !,
out Of the question. Thcw Was lime i'm
mcdia,cly after the epidemic Il 1875 when
this might have been accomplished and
street car track have been laii down on
both sides Of thc hayou Gcn. Green, VIII,
WIS then very active as aleadcr Ia the pro
motion Of the nccccary sanitary agitation ID
that day. proposed plan that was icasibl,
and practicable, lie suggested that th,
legislature turn over TO the city N,
lots adjoining tic bayou GA both side
that II had purchased ~ Tax sales d
had taken oyrr for axcs. aud thai
any others remaining be- Condemned AM
purchased for street purposes, with view
20 tho laying out Of two siSiy.icci aycnuc
on either side Of the bayou. which N,
General proposed should b. paved nj Oh,
bottom aud up iho sloping sides 10 lin,
equal TO high.wa,cr msrk and from theme,
should be soddcJ 10 Ito top. where a lin,
OF trees. outrageous iorshade aud Of quick
growth. was to 10 planted. lie also pro
posed a lock at the mouth oi the bayou
and relf-aciing pump Of the highest ca
raciiy to regulate the quantity Of water ic
be held in II constantly. Improved Ia
this way. the bayou would hayo become
instead Of ihaunsightly thing II is, posi-
live blessing TO the city, aaorJing tive
beautiful drives through tho very heart oil
II. and making Of Il aheaiihy waterway. IN
what would. In time. become beautiful
park. d.. Porter favored this plan, aud vent