Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-06-14
FOR THE srAUNroN SPECTATOR
THE MARKET

ne corporate authorities of Staunton have he.n
very DESTROYS OF establishing good Market in IN.
"W". WIN mat view they have procured tbs
ordinances OF Winchester aud other tow ms ,vbe,.
there are good markets, and have framed an o,d;-
nance substantially embracing tile same provisions.
before u'he mas oeen given to try whether the re-
eula',ohS winch have worked well elsewhere will
not also do well here, hue and cry has been ,,;..
ed and petition gotten up for the repeal Of all m.
market laws. - '''
MS Is an important subject to the citizens of IN.
Town and The surrounding country and propose 70
oler lew suggestions in regard To il for the con
slderation of those interested.
IL is not to be wondered at that the monon,l;.t-
Of ,he trade In butter, eggs, &c., should oppose tho
ordnance because 1t breaks down the MONOPOLY and
oiings all persons into fair competition in open cash
marker. Under the old system most of The epo..
butter and market stuils, which were brought IN
town by the country people. were hawked .bou,
the streets, and finally bar,ered off to SOME mar
chant or grocer tor goods groceries ON which an
ample profit was realized. The merchant ar oroc.r
would then sell them TO the town people sometimes.
at an advanced price for cash. In this way dou-
bic per cent. was made, viz LIST, by the sale of
The goods to the counryman, and End, by the sale
OF butter and eggs 10 the town people. Wheo
both sides OF the slice of bread We're thus So boun
uruily buttered, II is no wonder that it was par
"cularly acceptable titbt TO those engaged in tho
trade.
But 1t Is surprising that the country people
should not see how Instantaneous that system
was 10 them. A few dealers in town had i, in
their power to regulate not only the prices of tho
commodities but also 10 compel them to take goods.
al high prices, in payment. The competition was
necessarily very limited and the piice conseoiient
ly, low. The effect of the new ordinance is TO vi
den the field ofcompetilion and to introduce more OF
acash system 1t proposes 10 bring all the buyers and
~t inc sellers together atthemarket house. The sales
Will 'here he for better prices, and they will be
n'ane dreclly TO the consumers of the articles and
Tor money: The mass of the town and country
people Will both be benefited, because thew will
De rd OF the profits of the intermediate purchasers.
me only persons to be injured are the merchants
and grocers who fnrmerly bought at Low prices
payable in GOODS, to sell again at HIGH prices paw
able in CASH fA'
we beg our country friends to look into this mat
ter, and see whether there have not been soma
crocodile tears shed their supposed expressions
under the market law.
Whist the market law is in force, the country
people by taking their produce TO the market can
sell II for cash, and then they can either take tho
money home with them, or lay it out to suit them
selves when and where they please. How often
Is The question of The farmer TO the merchant "wl
you GUY my eggs and butter 2" answered "yes. il
you VIII take goods" Every body knows what
That means, viz: if you will take from 25 70 so
per cent. below the market price in cash
What farmer would not prefer having all tho
town assembled and taking his chance to sell for
money2 ''
For the convenience Of the country people the
Town authorities intend to open the lot attached to
the market house, and TO provide racks and sbeds
lot 'chlng horses, and seats for the people SO that
they can be sheltered from sun and rain and h.
comfortable during their attendance on market.
They also intend TO offer premiums for the best
specimens OF butter and other marketable commo-
dltes which may be exhibited by persons in tho
haoit OF supplying the market. thereby offering adj
o''oha incentives to people in the neighborhood to
improve their productions
II is said by some that the present ordinance on-
crates hardly on the poor man. Il think the rs-
verse Is The fact. The man of wealth, who has a
large establishment can offer inducements to peo-
pie TO bring supplies 10 his house. 1t is an object
OF some consequence to take ten or twenty pounds
OF butter per week, or quarter of mutton or sir
"in OF beef to The rich mans house. but there can
oe no lEducemen to carry a supply TO man who
needs out one or two pounds and is slow pay for
mat! Does not the observation of every man con-
vince MIN oil the correctness Of this proposilion 2
HOW often have you seen the market wagons dri-
wing by the humble tenement. as it were in dis
DAM TO discharge their fat cargoes at the doors of
the wealher individuals? The market ordinance
puts all on level-the rich and the poor-tho
man OF ~ pounds and the man of one pound 90 tn
the same place and draw their supplies from the
same source. Let all, then, who value a good mar
ket-who are opposed TO monopoes and double
proilts and stand up for equal rghts-unite to sus
tain the market ordinance
COMPETITION.