Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-11-03
THE RACKS.
Louis Hubert, q Prominent Farmer, in
Favor Of Removing Thenl-A
Good and Sensible
Argument.

Correspondence of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, Oct. 31.-Sinoe Mex
ico's grand street fair the question OF
removing the hitching racks around
the Court House has bubbled up and
argument passed for and against the
removal of them. I can not zee how
| Mexico's merchants should lose their
trade by It. The farmers raise more
crops, fruits, vegetables, etc., in Au-
drain county, which was demonstrated
by the street fair, than they consume
for themselves In groceries, provis-
ions, etc.; consequently they must
come to Mexico, because u cannot be
shipped from Skinner, Moline, Long
Branch and Santa Fe. Besidesp Mexico
is the main shipping point of stock Of
all kinds in the county. How many
car loads of cattle, hogs, horses, sheep
and poultry is shipped from Mexico
annually?
When the cattle or hog buyer comes
around and buys he gives Q check for
what he buys; three to u 1t is on
one OF the Mexico banks. The man
that cashes his check in Mexico will
buy there because he has q number of
stores to select from and buy.
Again. Mexico has two irst-class
mills. Many farmers will come on
this account, ven II they could buy
other things other places. How many
people must come to Mexico on &C
count of their mail, once q week at
ieastf North from Mexico II is ten
miles they 60 to the Mexico postofiice
for their mall. Also the Court House
is in Mexico.
Say remove them. When q man
with a family comes to town he unloads
his wife Or children on the sidewalk In
front of the store and he himself takes
care of the horses. Yes, it does hap
pen often that q lady drives to town
herself and has the team to attend to,
but if there would be q hitching yard
provided 1t surely wouldn't be any
worse than 1t is around the square
now in q vet time.
Mexico has, in my opinion, only
three very ugly spots, namely, the
crossing at Jefferson street, on both
sides Of railroad track between the jsil
and depot and the third right around
the Court House. All around the
opposite side of the street of the Court
House are first class stores and gran
itoid walks that are q benefit to any
city and on the other side along the
iron fence around the Court House
yard a hitchipg rack for horses that
stand from the early forenoon till late
In the evening continually dropping
manure. Also mud drops from the
wheels and trash from the wagons
sometimes, When this ID mixed with
rain or snow what q mess. What a
contrast from the other side of the
street. And when dry the wind whirls
1t around into the stores, business
places and places where it isn't wanted.
How many loads of manure do the
horses drop around the public square
in the course of q week. 1t surely can
not be piled in one wagon with side
boards from one side. There are four
sides to the square; four times fifty
two is 2os loads in one year. II there
would be Q health commissioner in
Mexico what would he say to this?
Why don't they have hitch1ng racks
around the Court House in st. Louis9
/ have travelled considerable In
Easope and the United States but /
never struck better people than in
Mexico and Audrain county. They
are thriving and industrious, they
always seek to be in front In every
thing and make q success of whatever
they undertake-like the street fair.
They have one of the best colleges
in the state; also the same In regard
to public schools and churches, hne
residences and granitoid sidewalks.
Old signs and wooden awnings were
torn away years ago. They have kept
pace with time in everything else;
why not in this one, but important,
instance3 We are past village times.
Mexico lie q city and it cannot wear its
boyhood clothing any longer. Mexico
is at present n of the prettiest cities
in the state. What will it be when
the hitching racks are removed and
replaced with an eIght-foot granitoid
sidewalk and have q hitohing yard
provided with a cover over ii, pro-
tecting the horses from rain, sun and
snow. Then the farmers would come
oftener than they do now ON account
of the shelter. There may be lots Of
kicking against the removing Of the
racks. There was some kicking when
the old signs and wooden awnings
were removed, but to-day I dom,
think that anybody would be In favor
of having them back. 1t would be tbs
same by looping OF the last old vii
lage relic from Mexico by removing
the hitching racks. Five years after
ward the majority would DO unwaver'
ing for it, In spite Of the argument tina
the majority is against 1t now; but !
the majority always on the right side
Yours very truly,
LOUIS HUBERT.
p. Site like q mystery to me VIII.
people object to improving q city II
health and in it, beauty.
Mrs. Lucy Leeper Dead.
il Mrs. Lucy j. Leeper, OF Concord
Galloway county, died suddenly At he
home on Saturday, Dot. 20, about !
O'Clock o. m.,of paralysis Of the heart
.cad ohcut IN vaora Qafurdav m0ru