Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-31
OUR STREETS.

To the Mayor and Councilmen of the CITY Of
Lexington: -Assumlngt that any citizen NAV re-
specially make Suggestions on any subject III
which the city is interested. l venture 10 cal
your attention 10 the condition OF North OF
Main street, and OF the cross streets from SOrtt
to South Street.
From Main Cross street. east, North street is
without q sidewalk or CURLING and gutter. ex.
cept some west from Oak; and east OF Main
Cross the cross streets are without Sidewalks
curbing or gutterlng.
The original plat of the city shows bn: two
streets east aud west, which were North and
Franklin, except South street, which was, and
still is too narrow to be u full sized street.
There are sidewalks (such as they are) on
franklin anu South streets, and FrankliA and
South are macadamized. Main has been and still
is wholly neg ected, and cannot, as n passway
or thoroughfsre. be said to be In better conai-
ton than when the tow was frat surveyed and
plated. except between Walnut and Spring
streets. and these are improved only by n sorl
of fill.
Now, we are soon 10 have a street railway on
Franklin. Can the railway live and only those
residing ON Franklin to use the cars ? In times
OF bad weather when the roat would be OF mos,
use, how are residents of South and Nortl
ST. eets to get to the cars ? Without side Wake
they will encounter mud ankle deep. snd in any
other weather the very dirtiest and roug hest
walk In truth, to reach Franklin from North
or South. more dirt and mud must be gathered
than would be all the way to the business parl
of town. Consequence. residents on North and
Main will walk. and The road will not have this
patronage.
From South and North street as far east az
Mulberry. is the part OF town strangers are most
apt to walk or visit. And it is the part of town
most used for such purpose bv residents and
citizens. this has to be done over rough obstruc.
tions. dust. and often in mud. This part of the
town although tax-paying and well settled, has
no benefit from gas or gaslights.
Has not the time come for sidewalks and
curblng and gutterlng on Main to Mulberry
and on the cross streetsP Some who own large
lots with extensive fronts. may object and op-
pose. but others and the public may urge, as
they may of right urge. these improvements
only the class who oppose everything attended
with cash to Themselves, are in the opposition.
Their opposition Is without reason ana against
the claims Of justice. All owners of property on
Nam. east and north from Oak, have now to
meet a special tax of 33H Cents on the hundred
dollars, and are IN no way benefited by the gas
ouppiys e Va u bAuc"a:hS ulu kulIcTln5
and gas lamps, on Main street at least as far as
Mulberry street,
1t is u disgrace to a town claiming to be a city
with ra lroads, and doomed for coming rail-
ways, creamery, cannery. banks, NC. 10 leave
its best and best settled parts in such neglected
condition.
Why can this work not be doomed? The city
itself will be at but little cost. Owners pay for
the AMI half the gutter under esIab-
lished ordinance. II sume object tina, they have
extensive frontages. let them sub-divide and
sell to others who will join in improving the
city. 1t Is no hardship on them. They will be
required to do only what ia required of all lot
owners in towns every~ here.
In short. gentlemen. have this work done and
without delay. or let us all JOIN In surrendcring
the city's charter, whose practical workings
are but wrong and injustice to a large part if not
the majority Of the city's population.
Act and no longer make silly pretences, for
none who see the wretched condition of our neg
lected streets. can be deceived OF humbugged by
our boasts and pretences.
WILLIAM T. WOOD.