Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1889-06-27

of the laws governing municipali-
ties, contains a new law effecting
Kansas City, which is rather novel.
1t provides for the creation of a
"park district" to cover a territory
Of seventy square miles. This
would extend far beyond the limits
of Kansas City and take up as much
of Jackson county as would reach
to and include Independence.
This district is to be corporation,
with corporated powers, having a
seal of Its own, ETC., and be
governed by a board Of five COM
missioners, two to be appointed by
the county court, two by the city
council and the fifth is the mayor
of Kansas City. These commits
sioners are empowered to condemn
land, lay out parks, boulevards and
streets, and to issue bonds to the
extent of two per cent. of the as
sessed property valuation of Kan
sas City, which would amount to
about 100000. Other powers
are conferred on the commissioners
that are supposed, under the con-
stitution, to be vested only in the
mayor and common council of a
city. With the money obtained
from the sale OF bonds and from
special taxes arranged for in the
bill the commissioners are author
lied to lay out great park and
boulevard system, which may
make Kansas City one of the great
est cities in the Union or which
may bankrupt it entirely.
1t is surprising that a bill ofsuch
scope and dimensions could be
carried through the Legislature,
exciting SO little attention as this
one appears to have received.
Gov. Francis had the bill under
consideration for several weeks and
it has been signed by him. The
men who were most interested in
its passage were Kansas City real
estate owners and dealers, and it
has been said that its purpose is to
enable the holders of Suburban.
real estate in that municipality to
realize on their investments in a
handsome degree. During the real
estate boom of Kansas City some
tive years ago, a number of people
bought farms outside the city and
plated them, staked them off into
"town lots," and advertised the
property at high prices. While
the boom in land values in the city
itself always maintained its integ-
rity the boom is suburban property
first swelled up, then sagged and
finally fell fiat. The collapse
ruined many investors and put
others in the hole SO deep that they
have never been able to see day.
light since. This park bill, will
no doubt reveal the blue sky to
many of the latter, and through its
operations they may again see the
bright sun ofprosperity. But these
facts have nothing to do with the
consideration of the bill, which
contains many wise and needful pro-
visions for the regulation of ethe,
municipalities throughout the State
Labor Observation-Disclosures,
though much hampered as te
means, has laid out plan Of action
which will result in securing to the
State remarkably interesting col
lection of statistics on the most in
terestlng question ofthe day, labor
He is preparing to send out to the
industrial districts of the state a
number of agents for the purpose
of securing information as to the
cost of producing materials In thu
State as we'll as to ascertain tn,
price of labor, the character of per
sons employed, their treatment
etc. The mining districts of the
State will be first visited, after
which the cities will be canvassed
The State, Nine Inspector has NO
been appointed as yet, but will b.
in a few days. Mr.. Woodson, the
present inspector, is candidate
for reappointment.
Gov. Francis still had two i'm
portant bills On his desk. One wa
the Newberry bill, forbidding tn,
maintenance of any pool or car.
tables in saloons or the playing o
any game therein, and the othe
was the grain inspection bill. 4
delegation frem the st. Louis Sa
loon-keepers' Association called ol
1.-THE Governor recently, and re
lquested him to veto the former bill
This bill, which has been signe
and which viii do away with al
kinds of game-playing in dram
ishops, comprises only one featur
of the high license bill which me
Its defeat at the hands of the Legis
lature, and is therefore milde
dose for the liquor interests tina
public sentiment seemed to d,
imand il should receive. It is il