Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-01-21
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
The Vast Improvement on South JET.
ferson Street During That Length
OF Time-Three Rank Nui-
sances About Town.

ferson Street During That Length
OF Time--Three Rank Nui-
sances About Town.
Correspondence Of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, Jan. 14.-In last Sat-
urday's daily you published some news
items of twenty years ago, which
brings back to the mind Of the writer
many things that have taken place
during these twenty years.
Twenty years ago, if memory serves
me right, there was on South Jeffer-
son street, from the railroad crossing
to the city limits, only five or six
dwelling houses that are standing to-
day: Mr.. Botkin, Mrs. Buckner, Mrs.
Ruloff, Mrs. Bridgeford, Mrs. Read
and possibly that of Mr.. Weimer. The
street itself was nothing more than q
country road, poorly worked, in which
the writer has often seen farmers
wagons stuck in mud a foot or foot
and half deep, and in one instance a
team actually mired down.
In many respects South Jefferson
since that time has been wonderfully
improved, and is now regarded as the
principal residence street of our city.
The muddy country road has given
away to a well macadamized street,
upon either eide of which substantial
sidewalks are constructed, together
with two rows of beautiful shade trees,
which delight the hearts of the many
pedestrians who make this the prom
enade during the summer season.
Many elegant and substantial resi-
dences have been built, and some of
the older ones have been greatly I'M
proved, until there is not now an in
ferior house, and scarcely vacant
lot, on the street.
During the twenty years there has
been not less than three large additions
built to Hardin College. The houses of
Judge Guthrie, Messrs. Warden, Stuart,
Davis, Marshall, Hathaway, johnson,
White, Reed, Bast, Wallace, Rothwell,
Fry, Marmaduke and other large and
comfortable residences have been
erected, not to mention the many at
tractive homes within a block on
either side of this beautiful street.
Hardin College sends down this
street every Sabbath morning and
evening from 100 to $50 young lady
students who attend the various
houses of worship. The majority OF
the residents of South Mexico use this
street in going to and from the busi-
ness part of the town. Nearly all
farmers from the south part of the
county travel this street. The North
side people always use South Jeffer-
son in their pleasure drives and prom
enades, and hundreds of vehicles OF
every description, including the bicy-
Gle, may be seen on this street during
the spring and summer on their way
to and from the boulevard and fair
| grounds.
In fact, Mr.. Editor, South Jefferson
is the street of Mexico, and still, with
all of its attractiveness, its beauty, its
shade trees, its macadamized street
it's fine and comfortable residences
and its excellent sidewalks, there ex-
lists not less than two of the most Of
fensive nuisances that ever decent
community was cursed with.
Twenty years ago the Wabash stock
pens were located just where they are
day. They were then practically
out of town ana they were offensi se
to no one. To-day they are in the
midst of a residence portion of oul
city. Their long standing has not i'm
proved the offensive odor which greeti
the nostrils of those who pass by them
day and night, and especially on the
Sabbath, the yells and curses of mer
loading stock of all descriptions may
be heard for blocks around. Ladies
and children are compelled to run al
break neck speed to avoid being run
over by mules, horses and cattle. The
sidewalks near the pens are kept in a
disgraceful condition by the stock that
| pdS6 ONOT bhOlus lhC oUChSh Shni
arises from this nuisance during warm
weather almost equals that from q
soap factory or slaughter house, and
still it exists and will continue to ex.
ist 80 long as the people meekly SUBJ
nit to hold their noses in silent sub
mission. Is there no remedy? The
writer understands that there is pc
tition being circulated requesting the
Wabash railroad company to remove
these pens We hope they will do 60
| No. 2. Twenty years ago or more
there was organized in Mexico what is
known as stock sales day, the first
Saturday in each month. Everyone
knows the great convenience and ben
efits growing out of this enterprise
1t has been great thing for Mexico
the farmers and stock growers, anG
we have nothing to say against the
enterprise still continuing, but we
should put in an earnest protest
against occupying one of the principa
streets for this purpose. Not the first
Saturday in each month, but on every
Saturday of the year droves of stocE
are sold on the north end of Soutf
jefferson street Immediately in from
of the Ringo Hotel and some of the
principal business houses in Mexico
the crowds of men assembled at thii
point blocking up the sidewalks ant
street to such an extent that it is al
most impossible to pass by on either
Strangers wonder why this should bs
lpermitted. In the large cities crowds
are made to move on. They are no
permitted to block up the streets ol
sidewalks to the discontinue of those
who do not desire to stop at that par
ticular place. While there is no dis
agreeable stencil arising from thii
practice, still it is a nuisance tha
should be abated. This is matter
that cOmp9 under fha iuriad,ot;1r, =,