Out of the past: Oct. 16

1990

A large gathering of civic leaders and highway department officials turned out yesterday to celebrate completion of the final 2.2-mile stretch of U.S. 61 in Jackson; state Sen. John Dennis cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the five-lane highway between Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

At a time when most budget costs are increasing, some Missouri businesses and industries receive good news: Commercial and industrial utility costs may be reduced; Union Electric Co. has agreed to a rate restructuring that will reduce commercial and business rates and keep residential rates intact.

1965

Samuel C. Jackson, one of the legal architects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, speaks at the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner here; in addition, the Rev. W.E. Pitts of Cape Girardeau is re-elected first vice president of the state NAACP during the convention.

The razing of the building at 26 N. Main St., known as the Ross Young building, brings the removal of yet another historic structure; the building was constructed in 1840 by William Justi, who operated a bakery there.

1940

Gov. R.T. "Bob" Jones of Arizona will be the principal speaker at a Southeast Missouri Democratic rally to be held next Tuesday at Houck Field House; he replaces Sen. Josh Lee of Oklahoma, who is now scheduled for important meetings in the East.

Cape Girardeau's draft-eligible men list their names to be ready to be called to serve their country in its armed military forces; just as in every city throughout the nation, they crowd Cape Girardeau's 10 polling precincts during the day, answering the 11 questions and affixing their signatures to forms, making them subject to a conscription call.

1915

Judge I.R. Kelso, who is representing the city in the controversy over the increased coal rate on the Frisco Railroad, has decided to ask Federal Judge Stafford to give consent for the city of Cape Girardeau to bring suit in circuit court to compel the railroad to comply with its contract made with the city.

Even the nonsupport of the Missouri Legislature can't stop the ladies of the Daughters of the American Revolution; a bill to appropriate $5,000 to be used by the DAR to mark Kingshighway from New Madrid, Missouri, to St. Louis, passed the Missouri House, but failed in the Senate; despite this setback, the ladies have used funds on hand to purchase three red granite boulders and will have them placed in New Madrid, Cape Girardeau and Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, marking that historic trail.

-- Sharon K. Sanders