The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-03-06
THE BRIDGE.

n large nuLnUeI VI III CIih1Gbo "
this city are fully impressed with the
importance of a forward movement.
Lexington of today is no the Lexing-
ton of twenty years ago. Uninproyed
opportunities, the growth of surround
ing towns, the inaccessibility to u large
area of country righLfully belonging 10
her, have taken Lexington from the
position ofscommercial Queen of West
ern Missouri and placed her In a
category of cities at best, of only equal
Importance to a half score which have
sprung up as the result OF enterprise
and energy of this generation.
A candid observer must admit, though
it shocks his pride, that the tendency
of the commercial interests of the city
of Lexington has been downward for
several years. Real estate values have
suffered, the mercantile interests have
felt the retrogression, and every avoca-
ton has beer affected by conditions
which are in the power of the citizens
to remedy.
1t is not just TO a large part of q
citizenship to say that they are not
generous, progressive and energetic.
They have done much for the material
interests of the city. They have found
ed and built colleges, famous from
ocean to ocean. They have given Of
their g literally and generously to
spread the gospel on land and sea.
The poor within her portals have found
ready and willing assistance. Every
call of charity has fallen On sympa-
thetic ears and loosed the purse-strings
of her noble add patriotic sons. Along
these lines Lexington yields to no city
of like size.
Bot Lexington has not looked, as she
should have lone long ago, to her COM
mercial interests. Her commercial in
terests suffer, have suffered and will
suffer from local conditions, for which
there are remedies, and though the
remedies have been long delayed, the
hour is at hand and the opportunities
present, which if seized and cultivated,
will restore to Lexington her past
greatness, and place her on a plane
where she can command patronage she
has so long needed.
Between this city and a vast area of
rich and fertile country flows the Mis-
souri, river. Winding itself about our
city in three directions, it robs her of
a prestige and a patronage which it
seems that eyen the Almighty intended
that she should have. Until Lexington
Is made accessible to this area OF coun-
try; until the gates are thrown wide
open 10 the prosperous citizenship of
the country across the river, the mis-
sion intended for Lexington will never
be fulfilled.
There is no place in the tide
of the affairs of man where tie
wheels of destiny are stilled. A man
advances or goes backward. So with
cities, for they are but a collection of
individuals. In the tide of commercial
life there is no still water. Lexington,
conforming to the universal law of
nature, is going upward or downward.
No man will honestly assert that Lex
ington is going forward; in fact, every
business man in Lexington knows and
viii admit that II Lexington does not
rally under the banner of progress and
make a forward movement, her CON-
nercial interests will ere another gen.
Grafton has passed away be a combina-
ton Of blasted hopes and ruined for
tunes.
The INTELLIGENCER. is as proud of
Lexington and her people as any in
stitution IN the city. With her for
tunes and misfortunes the history of
the INTELLIGEECER is indissolubly
linked. And it were Idle for this paper
to pander TO a cheap grade Of popu-
larity in attempting to paint conditions
that do not exist. 1t were idle to
preach progress where there is retro
erosion; to preach prosperity where
the land of decay has placed her fatal
grasp.
In advocating an advance move
ment at this time we realize fully
that more sacrifices would have to be
made for such a movement now than
It any time in her past history. We
realize that rhe financial storms that
have swept this country have affected
Lexington, We realize fully that for
the past year the trade in all branches
has been stagnated and depressed. But
we seriously doubt that there will be
any Improvement until the local con-
ditions Ia which the adversities of the
past are largely attributable, have been
ienedIed. With one-half of this city's
natural territory inaccessible, it is
LITTLE wonder nat Lexington "a as well
off as 1t is today. (,
The impending duty of this hour is
to remedy the existing conditions. The
wisdom of this city has on
more than one occasion decided that
the building of a bridge across the =,
river, and bringing into communication
aud commercial relations the rich and !
territory across the river is the l.,
KEY To The situation. And while this
enterprise will call forth sacrifices from !
every hand, 10 one doubts but that the |
ultimate harvest of benefits will justify
the sacrifices. 4
Ii Lexington does not build the s
we fear the day when she j
reached the zenith of her glory has q
forever. The question of build 8
ing the bridge is a PLAIN, simple bust
ness proposition. II means the outlay .
Of SI50,0OO; but it also means the en- :
hancement of the value of every foot of :
property in and around Lexington, and b
Al increase in the volume Of business a
every firm that has O sign that is Is