The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-08
Mr. Bosgs and Memphis Factories.

Mr. BoegS and Memphis Factories.
we feel quite sure that II the Evening
Press had kept In mind the extraordinary
amount OF drainage work that was done in
Memphis before that city was regarded
with favor as a place for factories. 10
would not have put questions to AIr.
/ Boggs OF Memphis. who was here on Mon
. day. that drew from him answers that
/ We're intended 20 condemn the course OF
I the Industrial committee Of this city fin
! giving so much attention to drainage and
roads Mr. BoEgs was here in the interest
| Of the sound money convention, to be
! held In Memphis He is prominent mem
Der Of the Young Mems Business League
Of that city. The questions put 70 him
drew forth the statement that the league
has given no attention to drainage or
roads but has devoted itself exclusively
10 the work Of getting factories estab-
lishea. He was not. asked il Memphis
had done anything in behalf OF drainage
before the effort to get factories was
made. lie ought TO have been asked that
question. because it would have been an
sWered ia a way ina! would have fully
sustained-the policy OF the Savannah in
| dustrial committee.
We are confident that Memphis would
not have been the thriving city she is.
nor would she have succeeded I'm getting
factories. fl she had not first thoroughly
prepared herself for them. Who is there
who docs not remember her terrible ex-
perience with yellow fever in 1875? In
1873 she lost 1900 OF her people by the fever.
In 1878 she lost more than 5O0O. and in
1879 nearly 500. The whole country deep
~ sympathized with her In her distress.
and made large contributions for the re-
lief Of her people. This city sent thous-
ands Of dollars. and a half dozen of her
physicians went there at the risk Of their
lives 20 aid her stricken people. and one
Of them sacrificed his life in her service.
When the fever abated there was an
investigation into the cause of It, and it
was found that the city lacked proper
drainage. The leading men saw that be-
fore the city could be prosperous before
she could get factories or have any great
increase i'm her business she would have
TO have a thorough system of drainage. -
The drainage work was undertaken I'M
der the direction Of Col Waring. now
street commissioner Of New York. and
completed at a cost Of nearly Sl.OO000O
What was the result? Memphis became a
healthy city and she grew and prospered.
Men having capital were glad to go there
and invest their money. because they felt
it was safe to do so. If she had not been
properly drained the Young Mems Bust
ness League could not have secured the
establishing of "A single factory there, how
ever great their efforts to do so might
have been. No presentation of the city's
advantages that the league could have
made would have awaited anything Capt.
tai would not have been invested where
there was danger of an epidemic.
And i'm this connection it may be per-
tinent TO mention that the roads leading
out from Memphis are in a good condi-
ton. They are not toll roads. They are
free roads-roads that belong to the people
and which the people can use without hav-
ing to put their hands in their pockets
every time they use them.
We have pleaded with the authorities
in this county to push the drainage work
and to build good roads. We think we
do not overestimate their Importance
True, Savannah Is in no such condition
as Memphis was. but with completed
drainage will come that absolute conf
dence in the health conditions of the
county that is ne Sssary to great pros
perity The industrial committee is not
making mistake in giving attention to
drainage and roads. Those things must be
had before we can meet with much sue
! cess in getting factories.