The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-06
Dispute Over Picturesque lnstItu'
ton at Lexington, KY.
CUSTOM over CENTURY OLD
City DweIIers Win First Round, but
Farmers Are Still in the Fieht-case
Involves Block in Center OF City
Used by Farmers as Market for
Their Horses, Mules and Live Stock
--citizen5 Complain of unsigat'i-
ness.

Kentucky has had its feuds in the
mountains and its dueiS in the blue
grass and the purchase; but not Tor
a century has more bitter, bloodlesS
feud been fought than that now be-
ing staged in the courts here between
the farmers of Fayette county and the
city dwellers Of Lexington.
For the city dwellers have decreed
that court day" on Cheapside. a
block In the center Of the city, an IN
stitution of century's duration. must
so. And the farmers say that court
day" must stay.
The courts have decided in favor of
the city dwellerS once. but mistake
was made in not including the county
in the suit to abolish the custom OF
farmers bringing their horses and
mules and live stock Of ali kinds TO
Cheapside for sale and of the people
Of the countryside gathering in the
shadow of the statue Of John CabeIl
Breckenridge, former Vice President
Of the United States, to discuss the
political issues of the day. For. it
develops, Cheapside has for 1}6 years
been the property of the county.
Dates From 1880.
Back in 1890 Cheapside was the
center of the city of Lexington. then
the. metropolis of the West, AT that
time the city trustees ordered the first
market house erected on the square.
The pillory and the stocks, the public
well and the courthouse (aS at presently
stood on Chespside. There on Wednes-
days and Saturdays the country people
brought in their produce and the city
dweller and the country dweller met,
traded, swapped tales and talked
politics. In later years James Lane
Allen, Kentucky writer, made Cheap
side famous with his description of
the monthly court day the last Of
the ancient institutions Of central
Kentucky.
In 1906, it develops. the city of Lex
ington decided Cheapside to the county
of Fayette. Since that time the coun-
ty has been responsible for it.
Appearance Causes Complaint.
In late years the brick pavement OF
Cheapside has become pitted and
rough. On court days it is crowded
with farmers and live stock and
wagons loaded with produce-this once
a month. On other days automobiles
flied the places, parked at all angles
For many months there have been
complaints OF the unsightlinesS OF
Cheapside and the apparent lack OF
authority by the city police. So action
was started in the Circuit court to
force the city to "abate the nuisance.
The Circuit court ordered the ''rlil-
sances" abated But the court did not
count on the county. Now the action
has been revived through fling CT
petition by the county declaring II
alone has jurisdiction over this plot
of ground, containing perhaps quar-
ter Of an acre in the heart Of the
city.
What the result will be cannot he
told until the Circuit court again acts
and the Court of Appeals has its fina
say. But one thing is certain, the
country folk are going 70 fight to thf
last ditch to retain their plot of grount
in the city where they can gather, sci
their stock and talk politics.