Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-01-10
EX-GOV. HlEDIS,

EX-GOV. HAEDIE,
amid n round of applause, took the
stand, and in his plain matter OF
fact, impressive manner, stated some
truths that startled his hearcls. He
said:
although the newspapers on
tinually talk about times changing,
and the real estate agents insist that
land is going up sc. &; yet | can see
no change for the better. Every
thing seems dead; all kinds of bust
ness is stagnant, something must be
done at op,. to- Iovive business and
awaken our business men to the i'm
portanCe Of enterprise. | need offer
no argument in favor of this as3ocia-
ton, for every II appreciates the
| benefits that would accrue from it.
What | say shall be to stir up and
encourage those who are ready to
take hold OF this matter.
Mexico and Audrain county are
happily situated; adjoining counties
may boast more wealth, but We would
not exchange with them. Our soil
is rich, We are situated on the great
high ways leading to st. Louis and
Chicago and to the far west.
If our out 90 is not far beyond that
of adjoining counties, it is II own
fault we have every advantage.
\ river is not to be compared to a
railroad, and we have two grand trunk
lines and another railroad is now be-
ing laid, Which will open up Il new
country in the west. Oar soil is good.
our outlets are perfect. All We want
is enterprise, individual enterprise
won't do, it is too weak, we mist
cooperate, work together, unite our
brains, skill and money. First we
want skill and enterprise, this will
acquire capital skill commands capt.
tai. Give us enterprise and skill, and
capital with migration, will flow in
at once. We sow before we reap.
We must have industry, enterprise
and skill, capital will then be plenty.
No man will invest capital in a dead
town, a town that is being pushed
along by time. B. fore we invite capi-
tai we must have a change, II radical
| change. much is to be done; we have
a population of four or five thousand
inhabitants; we invite Emigration.
A stranger in answer to our invita-
ton gets off The train at the depot
lie finds no sidewalks to get down
town, mud up to his knees. He is
at once unfavorably impressed with
our town. Fellow citizens, in the
first place, let us improve our side
walks and crossings, it will not cost
much and will be of untold benefit to
on- city. [Applaus. In the sec
ond place we want country roads,
gravel roads, roads that will be pas
sable the whole year through; We
hat e good railroads, now we want
good country roads. If We would
make gravel roads to the edge Of our
county, we would get all the trade of
our own county and thousands of
dollars from adjoining counties each
year. This is OF vital Importance for
tribute is what makes a city in any
country and we emit have the tribute
We deserve without good roads.
Tribute is what has made cities
throughout all ages.
Tribute is what made ST. Louis,
Philadelphia, New York and all cities
of any note. We have rail roads for
egress, now we must have country
roads for access. This a not all
be done at once, but by our influence
and votes we can, III a short time,
have good passable roads all over the
county. But there is another impor-
tant point; suppose some calm norm
ing we take our stand on the bridge
over the railroad, and take q birds
eye view of Mexico. What do we
see? Two or three steam pipes puff
fling and blowing, almosto'l of breath
Now this will not do; we should see
three or four hundred we should see
steam escaping from valves all oyer
our city. He mast make this a
manufacturing town IL we want capt.
tai to come in. Why are Wagons
sent here from Ill? We have wood
coal, water and all the facilities nee
essary for manufacturing, then why
should we send away thousands of
dollars each year which should be
kept at home. Macon City, Jeffer-
son City and other towns not as well
axed as we are turn out 20 wagons