The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-10

lHlh COURSE, anu IL was uully growing IN
popularity Tennessee was border State,
but her citizens came from Virginia and
the Carolinas. They, therefore, stood in
antagunlsm with their own people Still
they kept up the agitation, until the in.
surrection Of the slaves in the old dominion,
aided and abetted by Northern abolition.
lists, made apparent the great danger to the
Southern people and rendered the people
as a unit on the question. But to many it
shattered fond hopes. II nothing had oc-
CURED, and the people had been left TO
follow their own inclinations, it is safe to
say, judging from the facts now known In
history, the slave question in Tennessee
would have been solved without foreign
interference or the appeal to the fate OF
war; The missionary work of her own
people would have accomplished the work,
but she could not afford Northern inter-
ventlOn.
The yellow fever scourgs has been the
main impeachment TO the growth OF Mem
phis. The lack OF sanitary precautions
prccpitated three dangerous aud destruct-
i've epidemics. When the disease came it
brought death aud destruction in its path
way. People died by the thousands, busi-
ness was paralyzed, capital became fright.
ened, aud starved people, hitherto rich
in resources and proud in spirit, had to
accept charity Of the world. Ordinarily it
would have throttled the energies of the
people, but each time they rose with
heroic fOrttude to meet the danger. The
fever OF 1873 was a turning point in its his
tory. The Howard Association was formed
and the men composing it possessed brains
and influence. They observed the situa-
ton aud studied the origin OF the fever.
They found that filth dirt and bad sewer
age caused the scourge. Among the brave
soldiers OF that campaign was Mr.. Heating.
lie had behind him the powerful APPEAL.
lie studied the laws OF sanitation. He had
experienced the lack OF them. A great OPP
portunity came to him. A revolution was
necessary, and the people required educa-
ton. Then he began the agitation. Ills
paper teemed with statistical information
lilo wrote and spoke In favor OF change OF
system OF government His earnest plead.
ings arrested attention, but no action
was taken. Reform cannot be made
in the twinkle OF an eye. We
are prone 10 conservatism. But the
fever OF lS7S-79 created sensation. Poo.
plo awoke from legarthy and his wise
counsels were acted on. The present gem
Grafton OF Memphians have no knowledge
OF the vast work that has been done In
accomplishing the present grade Of the
streets and alleys, or OF the number Of
bayous and branches aud ponds that have
been iilled up and built over. Thprs is
scarcely 500 square yards within the city
limits that does not contain abundant
proof OF the existence OF waterways long
forgotten, aud Of miniature lakes that
progress aud growth have bloited ont
Mass-meetngs Of the people were called,
legislative action was obtained and sani-
tary committee appointed. They went
diligently to work. Their report was
thorough and voluminous. IL covered
over 2OO pages Of legal cap paper in six
columns, aud covered 0,5Os inspections,
and contained l76, i3j different entries
An idea OF the condition OF the city can be
obtained from this re port
Ten thousand eight hundred and seven
ty-throe houses, aud 1902 ouihouses were
inspected. Besides these. l5.ll5 cellars
anu easements were reported on, 7,2ll
yards and areas Of stores aud dwellings,
5,alI priyiea, OF which 45l were under
houses. 1875 adjoining and 367 within ten
feet Of houses s,226 being between ten aud
aud fifty feet from the houses; 2,2i8 were
pronounced clean, 1907 foul, and sixty
one OVERLOOKING OF the cisterns and wells,
4,7il In number, 800 were in ten feet OF
priyies, 3,O30 within loss than fifty, and
$3.50 over ility feet There were total
OF LISA public nulsinccs, l2i sagnlnt
pools, $50 cases Of Infected material, aud
10000 animals within the city limits The
report was a revelation aud startling; but
II proved profitable. Such stubborn facts
could no, be overcome. Tho people s,at
TO work in good earnest The cessp0ols
were filled up, sewerage was built, and
everything that sanitation could do was
done. rs far IA the means at hand
could do H. In consequence. the
people have escaped the visitation OF
the disease. The city IL healthy and the
death rate Is diminishing. but indepcnl.
ont Of this condition Of the health OF the
CITY, a more important fact has been dem.
onstnicd; blcssinghas been conferred ON
humanity. An important lesson has been
learned. The efficacy Of sanitation i no
longer theory, but proven fact. Tho
people Of Europe know this truth years
ago, rs was shown by the letter OF Lord
ralmcrston TO the council OF Edinburgh,
but In America the study OF hygiene had
been neglected, and disease terminated
under the owes with n most callous indii.
ference. Memphis, by her misfortune. was
forced TO act In her own defense. In doing
~, sho discovered that health WIS depend.
cnt upon cleanliness, aud la consequence
every pushing, energetic city in the coun.
try Is striving 10 profit by the example she
has set in her local Improvement
A brief mention OF the Taxing District
government Is necessary 10 the complete.
ncss OF this review by 1880 the debt OF
Memphis had become 10 large aud
onorous that tho people with great ~.
luctnncc surrendered, by an act ol tho
Legislature, their charter. The irightfu
rayagus OF the war, and the reckless OK
psndilure Of money 10y irresponsible OF.
iceholders, who came into power under
the forms OF law, had brought the city TO
bankruptcy BY the surrender OF the
charter the city became tho creature OF
the Legislature, aud subject 10 lis moods
aud whims The present form Of govern.
mcnt Il an anomaly Ia municipal govern.
ment. II il In truth m experiment A
calm study OF is operations for tho last
eight years gives Us an opportunity OF
forming conclusion NJ 10 lis sue
cess. For ourselves We do not re-
gard the experiment favorable. As n
measure OF temporary rclici II proved
advantageous, but Il should not be con.
tinued. II Il IN antagonism with Re.
publican institutions Il Is a strong
government, but Il is also an oligarchy OF
the most dangerous and pcrnicious char.
actor. In municipal affairs, home rule
has always proven the best Tho ward
rule has many objectionable features, but
wise legislation can remedy the defects.
But under all circumstances the people.
not TOW Of the people, should control.