Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-03-23
THE DEAL is OFF.
REQUEST OF CLAY AND LAwDER
FOR STREET RAILWAY FRAN
CHIsE WITHDRAWN.
Don't Want 1t at Any Priee'-A
Courteous Card to the City Gov
erRment From the Projectors
Explaining the Situation.

Meesrs. Clay and Lawder, who re-
Gently petitioned the City Council for
fifty year franchise to operate q
street railway in this city, have with
drawn their request and present their
reasons for go doing In the following
statement to the city government;
To the Honorable Mayor and City counoii Of the
City Of Mexico.
mexico, Mo, March ls.-Gentle-
men: In view of the action taken by
your honorable body at its last meet
ing, as well as at its previous meet
ings, we desire to withdraw our re-
quest for street railway franchise in
this city. We hardly deem 1t necessa-
ry to present our reasons for go doing,
as we have repeatedly stated them at
various meetings of the Council. Suf-
tice 1t to say thar the franchise for
which we have asked has been reject
ed In toto, and in lieu thereof an en-
tirely new and different one has been
substituted. The ordinance as report
ed by your committee and adopted,
and as presented to ue, is one so
stringent and restrictive in its terms
as TO prevent, under any circum-
stances, Its acceptance by us. We
understand II to be practically, If not
almost verbatim, duplicate OF tho
street railway ordinance Of the city Of
Carthage, Mo-, "a few clauses advant-
ageous to the car company having been
stricken therefrom : an ordinance
which regulates, In all probability, ,one
of the very best electric railway sys-
TENS In this country. This superb
system connects a number OF large
cities, such as Carthage, Joplin, Webb
City and others, cities with some OF
the most substantial improvements to
be found within the borders Of our
State, surrounded by q rich mining
country, containing number of
fiourishing factories, located In a
county third in population In Missouri
and populated with a people Of an en-
tirely different character and temper
ament, with different habits and Gus
toms from those who make up the
citizenship of Mexico. Under such
conditions an ordinance which would
work to excellent advantage there
might be wholly oppressive and .un-
suited for conditions here. Mexico Is
not mining or manufacturing, but
pre-eminently an agricultural town.
Again, this Carthage ordinance is the
most limited and circumsoribed orci-
nance we have yet seen, n,none excepted;
and yet, this is the ordinance we have
been asked to accept. AS an lllustra-
ton OF its unreasonable severity and
In order that the unnecessary Iimi-
tations and restrictions which have
been placed in it may be noted we
would invite comparison with the
railway ordinance of the city OF Oar
rollton, Mo-, town substantially the
size OF Mexico, but with conditions
decidedly more favorable to the oper-
alton of street railway,
In view of the above, together with
the fact that your committee and City
Attorney appointed TO confer with us,
looking to an agreement on this mat
ter, has wholly failed to give us the
opportunity of presenting our views
before 1t, VS. deem it needless to pro-
ceed further In the matter, believing
nothing can be accomplished In this
way, We would, therefore, respect
fully ask that you dismiss from your
future consideration our proposition
to build the railway, and we, likewise,
shall consider no further propositions
upon your part. We are frank to say
that we have the welfare OF the city
ct heart and sincerely hope and trust
that the Council may yet be able to
secure a street railway for IT'S citizens,
though we hardly think 1t probable
upon such conditions and want of
Inducements as has been presented
to us.
In conclusion we desire to express
our very many thanks for the consid-
Grafton and courtesy shown us by
your distinguished body, and to say
that, while we accept your action with
some personal regret, We nevertheless
do so with all due regard and respect,
being not unmindful Of the sincerity
and interest in the welfare Of the city
and its inhabitants which you have at
all times entertained In discussing
this matter and In arriving at your de-
cision. May we ask to remain
Most obediently yours,
E. M. LAwpER.
RHODES CLAY.