Year: 1872




The death of more towns, that had
good prospects of becoming fourishing
cities, has been brought about by the sell
Gshness of their own citizens, perhaps,
than any other cause. There are always
a few persons in town who imagine
that in them exists all the wisdom 1t
contains, that they pay all the taxes, and
like the fy on the wheel conceive them
selves the very axle tree, hub and pro
pelling power Of the whole corporate
machinery. No improvement in their
estimation ought to be made unless 1t es-
pecially enhances their particular piece
of dirt, or adds to their pleasure and
convenience exclusively. They are not
satisfied with the lions share of the rev
enue, but wish to monopolize 1t all. The
rights, wants and convenience of others,
are TO them of no concern. Even when
an improvement is spoken of or deter
mined upon, and which is of the most
serious importance to the general vel
tare-and possibly by the accident OF To-
cation few individuals may be benefit
ted more than the entire community
then 1t Is the howl is raised of "improv-
ing individual property at the cost of the
many, 'wasteful expenditure, and other
kindred clap trap.


These reflections have been induced
by the course which some of our people
have seen proper to pursue in regard to
the project of building a street through
a part of West Hickman


y statement of facts is thought not to
be out of place in relation to this i'm
provement-its importance-the imperi
Gus necessity of the work-its cost, as
well as to show that West Hickman has
been the poor relation" of the preten-
tious Old part and the young swell" of
the East part.


To every one who has the least knowl-
edge of the formation of the ground
southwest of Hickman knows that the
produce of large section of Fulton
county, KY, and the west part of ObiOn
county and the northern part Of Dyer
county, Tennessee, cannot get to the
business part Of this city without pass
ing through West Hickman. 1t is the
only possible route 1t Is also known
that the present road passes over private
property, aud that to force it to its prop
er place, the streets, the city, from that
direction during high water, cannot be
reached at all, except through fifteen
feet alley. This fact alone Is sufficient
of itself to show the importance of the
improvement


The cost Of the entire work according
to estimates made by competent en-
gineer will not exceed $500. Only
one half Of the work Is asked to be done
the present year, aud the other half
when the finances of the city will permit


West Hickman became a part of the
corporation in 1852, and since that time
she has paid into the city treasury not
less than $4,000, aud the amount ex
pended IN il 10 the way OF improvements,
all told, will not exceed So 600 If so
much In the last twelve years there
has not been the sum Of $500 expended


1t is urged that the city is 10 debt
and that no more money should be spent
than to keep up certain streets that pass
by the property of the obJeetors to
this West Hickman improvement. Mag
nanimous fellows


Hickman had $4,000 stock io the
Nashville and Northwestern railroad,
and the present Indebtedness of the city,
or the principal part Of it at this hour,
is for that stock What part of Hick
man has derived the benefit Of this rail
road and what has become of the
stock ? These questions we know are
not pala,able to the objectors to the i'm
provement now sought to be made. II
any advantage has been derived from the
railroad, Old and East Hickman have it.
The stock has been sold to build 4 levee
in front Of a part of the old town and a
part Of the eastern Not only the rail
road stock has been disposed of to pay
for this wharf and levy, but half of the
city wharfage, perpetually, has been given
up. From Millets corner TO Holcombe 5
drug store, the bank of the river has
been rocked and made secure at the ex-
pense of the entire city. And now that
West Hickman asks for a street, over
which will pass nearly one half of the
entire trade of the city,-after paying
S12 600 revenue. and has received back
less than $4,000, the hue and cry is
raised of "wasteful expenditure, lin
proving individual property" "levying
frog ponds" and calling for Indignation
meetings. Get up your indignation
meetings, aud you will fud more indig
nation at them than you bargained for.
Fair play is said to be a jewel-so little
of it has been seen in the manageme Mt
of the affairs of this city for years-the
writer of this as we'll as many others
would like to get a glimpse of the beau
tiful thing once more before our depart
ure to that undiscovered country from
whence no traveller returns.


The present Council we have every
reason to believe have determined to
leeislate for the entire city-they have
thus far shown it in their effort to max e
this levee an improvement which can
not fail to be of great benefit to the
whole city. And we may add that this
very piece of work has been subject of
talk for two years or more, and in the
last election for Councilmen i entered
largely in the selection of men favorable
to it. SEVERALs.