Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-19
A LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR
LEXINGTON, Dec. Is, 1885.

EDITOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SIR:
Herewith 1 hand you a letter to myself
from Gov. John 8. Marmaduke, and l
take the liberty of having the same
published, believing as 1 do that it is
best under the circumstances. there
having been SO much said in connec-
ton with the subject matter of this
letter by this people, and it giving, as
it does, his views fully and freely.
Very truly, c. BEN RUSSELL.
CRY OF JEFFERSON, Dec. 9, 1885.
Nix. &. BEN RUSSELL. LEXINGTON,
NO., MY DEAR SIR:-Yours of the Sd
is received and carefully read. l trust
you will always feel fret to write to
me
AS you quote the statement of Mr..
Graves that ! said s.that in case the
Dranch ~penitentiary was located here,
nat prisoners would be worked in coal
mines, not only to supply the pen, but
would mine and ship coal for CONNER
ial purposes it does not put me
tairly. My statement to AR. Graves
vas substantially as follows: 81 have
.il along considered a good vein OF
coal under the branch p%enitentiary
would be more valuable to it probably
than any other thing, in that it
would furnish the cheapest fuel, and
If the necessity arose, could be made a
valuable source Of income as a COM
mercial article, but l also stated that if
.ocated in the immediate vicinity of
Lexington and the prisoners should be
ct to mining coal for market, it might
. some extent interfere with mines
operated by free labor, and %depreciate
the value of such mines and other prop
| erty in it's immediate vicinity, and that
therefore to avoid that and possible
| abor troubles, I thought that If located
in the territory suggested By me, IL
ought to be put as tar from Lexington
in the direction Of Kansas City as u can
be-, without getting off the coal fetd."
1 might leave the subject with this
| explanation, but as this is simply stat
| ing the entire remark l made to Mr..
| Graves, and as l have no reason nor
| disposition to doubt that he has already
| 80 repeated it, and as it seems l am
| still misunderstood by your citizens, !
| will at length give you my views and
the considerations which prompted me
to suggest to the inspectors the two
| places | did. Aud | also desire to say
4 word regarding my notion of how
tar the wishes of the inhabitants OF
Lexington should influence my actions
in this matter.
AT all times since the beginning of
this branch ~penitentiary matter | have
Il Lo,-Lk that tho footc fhot thu u,.lyo ar
for products of the prison are mainly
west and south, and that the larger
cities-Kansas City and st. Joseph-or
the western border of the state are
nearest the western markets, and equal
ly as near and we'll connected with thu
southern or southwestern, as any othel
cities or large towns elseW mere in thu
state, and that the WESTERN portion o
the state is rapidly becoming the mos
populOus, and ia as rich in raw material!
as any Other, therefore l have been NOR
inclined to look in that direction fol
the best locality for such institution
And I may add, whenever l have hat
Occasion to speak either to the who'll
board of inspectors or any member o
such board on this subject, l have 81
expressed myself.
You will remember that the Location
has once been made at Kansas City
but l could not assent to such location
almost in the heart of a large city, TO
the reasons assigned in my letter to tn
board disappearing such location. An,
[ say now that my judgment Is and ha
always been that the establishment G
:. such an institution at or in any of tn
.:oo y1,,ll he N lofc,p rotho
than an advantage to both the institu
: lion aud the city.
Combining the considerations wit
reference to the markets aud popula
ton with my vie VS., which have bee
so frequently stated, regarding a SUI
ply OF raw materials, when l came t
consider what particular locality woul
best meet all features of the case,
seemed to me, ana l still think that eithe
some point on the Missouri river ca.
of Kansas City and as near such cit
rs practicable to get on the coal field
e or some point on the Missouri rive
and between Kansas City and St. Jc
will do so. l think the point down II
: river from Kansas City can be foun
{ within the territory suggested by II
10 the board. For the point b,
tween Kansas City amidst. JOSEPH
III suggested Weston, because wi,
regard to position, beauty and healt
u nIness of site, supply of rock, brio
e earth, timber and probably nearly cej
e tainly, Coal, l think it excels 9th
10 Joints within the limits named.
rip to tue places with a thorough c,
g animation would determine whether
not this is true.
- Now with regard to the remark "
It is the intention to work them in Il
mines tor commercial purposes, tn,
there is u large majority opposed to
coming; if mines are worked to supp
the peniteutiary and Its contractor