Mexico Missouri message., 1905-06-29
RUSH HILLS GRIEVANCES.
She Wants a R. r. Crossing-A
Reported Threat.
EDITOR MEXICO MESSAGE:

about the trouble between the citi-
zens of Rush Hill and the G. & A.
r. r. in regard to getting a cross.
ing in the corporate limits of our
town, it would be proper to state
the facts in the case, and let the
people judge for themselves. In
the first place, there never has
been a railroad crossing in the
bounds of the corporation. For
years the citizens of the town, thru
the medium of their town board,
have in a gentlemanly manner
requested the officials of the G. &
A. r. r. to put in a crossing.
This being one of the best ship
ping points on the road, and the
elevators all near the depot, to get
to either of the elevators all the
grain coming from the north has
to go clear outside the town linn
its, either east or west, to get
across the railroad. The stock
pens being on the sou h side, all
stock from the north side (which
is .fourths of the amount
shipped from this point has to
be driven a quarter Of Il mile out
of the way to get to a crossing
And, again, having a church house
on the south side, nine-tenths of
the citizens have to cross the rail
road to get to church, and two
thirds of the time the empty cars
standing on the track block the
way. 1t is either crawl under or
go around.
The town board, after repeated
efforts, found if they ever got Il
crossing they would be compelled
to put it in themselves. They went
by the law governing such
and put in the crossing.
There is no sane, unprejudiced
man who will not say the crossing
would be as beneficial to the rail.
road as to the citizens of Rush
Hill. The Il. Il. men tore up the
crossing and were promptly arrest
ed by the town authorities, and
the crossing put back. Since that
time the sidetrack is kept full of
empty cars which prevents the use
Of the crossing.
1t is not a case of debarring the
citizens of the use of the crossing
on account of any damage or in
to the railroad but a
plain case of domineering author
ity of n mOneyed power over Il lit
tie incorporated town. The same
citizens whom they are thus OPP
pressing are a part aud parcel Of
the great commonwealth to whom
they, the railroads, are compelled
to look for their support. If this
hing is carried much further hun
lreds of farmers will drive and
haul their stock to Benton City
and ship on the Wabash.
Now comes a series of petty an
by railroad employees, |
such as running at the rate of
from 30 to 4j miles an hour thru
The incorporated limits of the
town, the whistles screaming every
few feet. For unlawful speed a !
crew was arrested and put under
bond.
Thru the whole siege Of annoy
lnces the citizens of Rush Hill
have made no threats, made no
move to destroy property, but
lcted gentlemanly, peOceabIy aud
quietly. All we ask, or want, is a
that will be greatly to the
benefit of the general public. One
railroad official went so far out Of |
The bounds of manly judgment to
say, we will wipe Rush Hill off
of the map, We will move our de-
pot, we will fence up the right of
way, we will starve RushHill ont"
1t is only 6 miles to Benton City,
and we are surrounded by a very
productive farming country.
The citizens of the grand state of
Missouri existed aud Jared sump-
tuously before the G. & A. R.R.
was thought of.
A CITIZEN OF RUSH HILL
Mr.. and Mrs. Ethan Howell are
Mr.. and Mrs. S. Garrard