The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-29
1GU1GxOIP Al AFFAIRS.
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MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE SALARIES OF CLERKS INCREASED.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALDERMEN.
Proposed Sale OF the Public Markets.
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THE COUNCILMEN IN SESSION.
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Public improvements Forthwith.
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Work and Prompt Payment for AbOrers,
&c. &c, d..
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
Several reports of the Committee Roads favor of
paving grading, &c, various streets and sidewalks.
were present in the report Of the FL
Committee, concurrng to reduce the tax the
New York Oil Company, adopted report Of the Com,
mittee on Fire Department, nonconcurring with the
Councmen organise Isaac Sealey and others hook
and ladder company in the vicinity of Fourth avenue,
adopted of same, -concurrng 20 have engine
built for Engine Co No. 3, adopted of same, non-con
curing To build engine for Engine Co. No 16; of
same nconcurring to organize hose company in the
Twentieth ward Of same concurrng TO organize hose
tompauy to be located at Mnnhatanve, concurred in.
DONATION TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR DISCHARGED FEMALE
coSvICrs.
The report OF the Committee Finance, in favor Of
oncurrng with the Councmen to donate 900 to the
Moments Association to End home for discharged fe
nale convicts, received and adopted.
THE FORT GANsEyooRT PROPERTY.
The special committee to whom was referred the
port Of the Board OF Councmen recommending that the
city re-purcbase the Fort Gansevoort property at
$500 000aeary double the it sold for two years
ago--reported concurrence. The committee sub
united resolution asking the opinion Of the Corpora
ton Counsel to the legality Of the sale of the pro
perty by the late Common Council The report was
ordered to be printed and made special order for Fri
day evening.
On motion of Alderman WAKENAN, document No So
being the report of the Committee on Finance respect
ing the sale of the public markets belonging to the Ger
poration, called up The report says
The subject would to present itself to your
ittee mainly under two aspects first as il affects the
financial interests OF thu city government, and secondly
what would be the effect of so radical change in our
market system, would seem to be recommended by
the resolution upon the individual and social interests
and convenience of our citizens in general
On the trs Of these respecting its effect upon the
financial OF the city government, have much
light contained N report or communication from the
Comptroller made TO the Board OF Aldermen, May 10th
last forming document No II Of the board to which
the committee would refer for detailed statements bear
ing upon the subject
BY statement No OF this document IL appears that
Abe loss the city in 1853 and above
all receipts exceeded thirty thousand dollars. Add to
this the taxes million of dollars the valuation OF
the markets. would increase the amount to forty
thousand dollars. In statement No. OF the same
document it is shown that the actual loss founded upon
well digested estimate and actual receipts and ex
penditurcs, would be over fifty thousand dollars.
But your committee well that even the year
y expenditure of fifty thousand dollars to be added to
the annual taxes, would be sufficient argument
against the present system OF markets, If 1t could be
shown that corresponding benefit derived from its
continuance. They therefore brought 10 view the
subject in the second aspect proposed viz: its effect
upon the interests of the citizens generally.
Tue resolution calls your committee to furnish
the reasons any there why this branch Of trade
should be provided with special conyeniences aud loca
tons at the expense OF the corporation, over every
other trade business left the private enterprise and
competition of individuals.
YOUR committee constrained, after viewing the
which presents 1.Eelt,
that except country markets. they cannot give any
satisfactory to themselves on the contrary,
they believe the bs. interests OF the cry would be pro-
NOTED leaving the whole system of markets and the
sale meats fish, vegetables &c, TO the enterprise
and competition of private individuals with no other
restriction than those general laws and ordinances
which the nature of the would to luire.
In the language of the Comptroller, sGovernmept
agency necessary in procuring beef PORK and
mutton than in procuring coffee tea and mcasse.. In
both cases is reliance and security the cha
racter OF the person who furnishes the supplies whe-
Their in the market out OF its'' - Why not then,
with raw the bungng hand OF government from the
meats which wanted for the daily consumption OF
the city and in this as in oher matters let trade regu-
Your committee believe that in this matter they may
safely appeal to the universal experience OF the present
age that enterprise within the power and scope of
private individuals, is not only more cheaply and
economically done but better in every way and more
to the satisfaction OF the community generally,
In connection with this subject comes up the whole
matter of the city ordinances, granting licenses to
butchers and others, and imposing numerous, restrc-
tions upon the sale of articles in the markets. &c ALL
nearly ALL of which, in the opinion of your committee,
are evil tendency calculated to materially advance
peculiarly hard upon the poor and aborng class in this
city, and therefore ought TO be repealed.
II is becoming and more maxim in legislation,
that monoroles not only odcus but unjust in them
selves and ought not to be resorted TO in any case
where the object to be attained can be accomplished by
Individual competition then why should the sale OF
vegetables in small quantities be restricted to
certain licensed individuals and all othe-s restrained
from the privilege, both seller and purchaser Why
from the farmer in the market or elsewhere two or
three pounds Of meat small quantity of vegetables,
at prices at which individual competition unresraned
and supply the only true standard of value The poor
rich man who now goes to marke' VIII lind that he
may travel the whole round and find that both For
meats and vegetables uniform price exists, giving
rise the pcon that there Is combination among
the sellers sell fixed rates. and whether this supi
on Il correct or not il canuot be deemed that the
elusive privilege possessed by those licensed has ten
dency 70 place this power in their hands.
rhosa to1 tain rtan
the world better situated 70 obtain supplies at cheap
rate than the city of New York in addition to inla nd
roads stretch their over thousands Of miles OF
fertile and productive territory the fertile bills oil
Goshen and valleys Of the Upper Delaware, as well as
the banks Of the HUDSON Long Island and New Jersey,
for hundred miles around, may send daily, and even
within few hours their supplies of everything neces-
AIRY for iuxurant supply Tor all wants, so far as
he market needs and ali that Is wanted is for the city
government to provide accommodations for an unre-
tcted AIDE i'll all the necessaries Of life leaving to the
rec competition Of the producer with the necessary
accommodation for his the privilege OF
uppiying ali our wants in this respect
There have been recently great complaints BY persons
from the country iu the h,bit Of attending
with vege abes that they restricted within certain
limits for the sale of their articles and that they ind
the privileged space crowded to prevent their
trance until the best time for selling Is over, and they
are then left they complain, to the tender mercies OF
middemen and spectators.
There have been frequent and great complaints made
against what been called class Of monopots, who
said 10 foresta the market aud in that way keep up
would not be understood joining in this complaint
any farther than such monopoly is fostered by the
laws and ordinances Of the city u should be the priv
lege Of every at his discretion, TO purchase
and sell he pleases and il he is not invested Will
ordinance calculated to foster his trace into mo
ropoy, he viii be useful rather than otherwise to ths
consumers there is nothing SO potent as free competi
fon and the laws Of supply anddemand to cure all th
evils or supposed evils, said to grow out OF this system
Viewing tie whole subject therefore, IN its severa
bearings upon the interests Of the city government and
also upon the interests and convenience of the citizens
in general your COMMITTEES have come 70 the result tina
a their duty to recommend that the Com nissoocs Of
7e sinking Fund be instructed at their discretion
sell or rent all the markets belonging to the Corporation
public auction in conformity with the provisions
Are city charter. .
They would also mend that at least two, Il mo-
ahree, (ssy orc on the North, and one on the has
rfyer) markets Of ample Dimensions for the aecommo
dalton OF producers from the country. or for any Others
who choose occupy them for the purpose OF the pnr
chase sale OF all manner OF meats, vegetables OF pro
tuce OF kind, with convenient stands Tor artice
Brought in by vessels and also for wagons aud othe
vehicles from the immediate vicinity OF the city ctnat M
permanent stand space be let to any but That