The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-01-09
Dispute Over Picturesque Institu-
ton at Lexington, Ky.
CUSTOM OVER CENTURY OLD
City DWeIIers Win First Round, but
Farmers Are Still in the Fight-Cass
Involves Block in Center Of City
Used by Farmers as Market for
Their Horses, Mules and Live Stock
-Cltizens Complain of UnsightII-
ness.

Kentucky has had its feuds in the
mountains and its duels in the blue
| grass and the purchase but not for
a century has a 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 centuryS duration, must
go. And the farmers say that court
day" must stay.
The courts have decided in favor of
the city jewellers once, but a 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 all kinds to
Cheapside for sale and Of the people
Of the countryside gathering In the
shadow of the statue of John Cabell
Breckenridge, former Vice President
of the United States, to discuss the
political issues of the day. For, it
develops, Cheapside has for 116 years
been the property of the county.
Dates From 1890.
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
10,
stood on Cheapside There on Wednes-
lays and Saturdays the country people !
brought in their produce and the city |
iweller and the country dweller met,
.raded, snapped tales and talked
politics. In later years James Lane
Allen, Kentucky writer, made Cheap
side famous with his description OF
he monthly court day." the last OF ,
he ancient institutions Of central
kentucky. -.-,..--s-o. 8s-as'f sssr ---a-t-~-- 80
In 1903, i. develops, the city of Lex
ngton decided Cheapside to the county
f Fayette. Since that time the coun-
Y has been responsible for it.
Appearance Causes Complaint.
In late years the brick pavement of
'heapside has become pitted and
Ough. On court days it is crowded
18th farmers and live stock and
agons loaded with produce-this once {
month. On other days automobiles
lied the places, parked at all angles. I
For many months there have been {
9mplaints Of the unsghtIiness Of t
heapslde and the apparent lack of
Ithority by the city police. SO action t
as started in the Circuit court to S
rec the city to "abate the nuisance" {
he Circuit court ordered the ''nui- a
lnces" abated. But the court did not r
,unt on The county. Now the action 9
rs been revived through filing of a t
,tition by the county declaring 1t d
one has jurisdiction, over this plot v
ground, containing perhaps quar-
+ of an acre in the heart of the
ty.
What the result will be cannot be /,
Id until the Circuit court again acts r,
ID the Court of Appeals has it's final II
v. But one thing is certain the h
untry folk are going to fight to the
st ditch to retain their plot of ground IL
the city where they can gather, sell II
cir stock and talk politics. b.