The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-04-18

reasons. l will do so now. From that
corner to Hlgginsyille it is sixteen
miles; TO Lexington twenty-three.
The people of Waverly and that Sec
ton are IN the same relative position
to Higginsville that the citizens of
Odessa are to Lexington. If they go
across the country to Higginsville it is,
by the meanders of the road, at least
twenty miles. From Odessa to Lex
ington it is only sixteen miles, or four
miles in favor of Lexington. If they
go by rail, by Lexington to Higgins
vile, it is thirty-five miles. If the
people of Odessa go to Lexington by
rail, via Higglnsville, it is twenty
eight miles, or seven miles of travel in
favor of Lexington.
One other tact about distances l
wish to give. On an east and west
line Higginsville is no nearer the
center than Lexington. That city is
twelve miles from the east line of the
county and twenty-one from the west.
Lexington is twelve miles from the
west line and twenty-one miles from
the east.
All of the above distances to Hig-
ginsville and Lexington are correct as
measured, on straight line, on the
map of the county. They show that
Higginsville has no advantage, even Ia
geographical location. over Lexington;
but as l will hereafter show, taking
into consideration the largest local
population, the advantage Is IN favor
of Lexington.
Another of the boasted claims If
Higginsville, and one upon which more
importance is placed than any other,
Is the railroad accommodations. On
this there is much boasting, as it is
alleged that the advantages of that city,
in this respect, are much greater than
for Lexington. Now let the calcium
light of truth be turned upon it and see
how it stands.
The Missouri Pacific railroad runs
torty-two miles through the county,
passing both cities. The Jefferson
City, Boonville and Lexington Branch,
via Waverly, runs twenty-five miles on
the northern border of the county to
Lexington, making sixty-seven miles
of road to Lexington. The Chicago &
Alton road runs thirty-three miles !
through the county by Higginsville.
Add this to the forty-two miles of the |
Missouri Pacific and it makes seventy
five miles, or only eight miles differ
ence. The northwest, northeast and
southeast corners of the county have
direct communication with Lexington.
1t has no direct route to the southwest
corner. Nor has Higginsville with the
northeast corner. Here another balloon
is punctured and falls to the ground,
and this boasted claim rests on only
eight miles of railroad.
But there is another standpoint from
which this question of central location
should be considered. 1t is the center
of population, or where should the
county seat be located to be nearest
the most of the people of the cOuntyP
II central location is to be considered,
this is the most important point.
Where do most of the people live, and
where would they be best accom-
pn0dof adp or mo COO
By the population of 1890 Lafayette
county contained a population of
30,1S4. Where does most of this
population lieP The census shows in
the four northern townships, Clay,
Dover and Middleton,
population of 16,462. This is 2,74O
more than in the four southern town
ships. The center, then, must be at
least three miles north of the geograph-
icsl center.
The four western townships, in 1890,
had population of 16, ,906. and the
four eastern townships 1878, or
8 1926 less than the western townships.
This would place the center of popula-
ton four miles west of the geograph-
ical center.
Another fact may be stated as bear
ing upon this question. That the pop
ulation of Lexington, with its additions
outside of the corporate limits, but
which form a part of the town, is at
least double that of Higginsville.
Now, taking all of these facts into
the center of population
must be north and west of MAYHEM,
The geographical center of the county,
and would locate it about five miles
from Lexington and eight from Hig- :
ginsvIlle.
There IS still another important
matter which should be considered.
has population of about |
1000. 1t has now a circuit court in c
which all the civil business of that I
section can be transacted. Her citizens
nave only to go to Lexington to attend
he criminal court. Lexington has a
population of more than 6 200, doubling
hat of Higginsville. If the county
'eat should be removed the 5000 q
people of Lexington would be required f
o 60 to Higginsville, while only 5000 ]
n Higginsville would have to go to :
Lexington. This would increase the :
cost of litigants and also increase the t
criminal cost to the state and county. v
In the above l have clearly shown
hat Higginsyille, so far as central
ocation is concerned, has but one v
mall advantage Of Lexington, that is t
{ is two and three quarters miles d
learer the geographical center than y
lexington. This small difference should F
lot be considered in so important a
natter as the removal of the county f
eat. Other and more important con- C
ideratiOns send il behind in obscurity. v