The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-11-25


The City Council at its last meeting, de-
clsred the meat shops ofthe city nuisance,
and tina, they should be abated and removed.
Upon what grounds these shops can at this
.e.soa Of the year and for months to come,
be called or regarded as nuisance, we are
n, loss To understand, and we trust, uniess
the honorable Council can sustain their Pc
sition, they will review their action, and re-
peal the ordinance adopted last August we
d. not mean to say that ia the summer sea
con, il 10 proper 10 retail fresh meats IN 'hs
crowded parts of the city, bat We believe IN
the winter season, especially while ouf
streets are in 80 horrible condition as 10
render navigation 10 The market almost I'M.
possible, these meat shops instead OF being
a nuisance, are a great pubic accommodation,
and as such should be sustained OF permit.
ted.
We are aware that private capital has
been invested in these market houses, and
that few individuals may be more or less
injured by anything which wiihdra@s trade
o. custom from these buildings. But in the
hot months they must come snto use again.
and rs the city grows, they wall have Ger
tsin run el custom The year sround, with.
ont any special acton from Council, more
than 10 necessary TO regulate and sysiems-
the the trade within them. and protect their
occupants and the public from imposition
au, that for their protection, or for the
projection Of the few individuals more e'pe-
cially interested in them, the City Council
should put down the meat shops OF the city,
demanded ans supported by the Interests oil
the great mass of the citizens, and declare
them nuisance 10 affect this object, Is 6b-
surd As well call the selling OF potatoes,
turnips, eabbages, &c. by groceries, NUS
snce, because it is desirable that farmers
should congregate at the market houses to
sell these articles. Ii there is single large
city in which fresh meats are not sold in
shops, and the whole yesr round, that city
is an exception. Yet all the large cities at
the same time they license mea, shops have
market houses, where at regular hours
meats of all kinds are sold, and at which il
is to the interest of butchers, even those
having meat shops, 10 rent stalls. So II
will be here in proper time. But at present,
the meat shops are too great public &C.
commods,ion TO be dispensed with, at leEst
during this winter. While citizens can a,
any hour of the day or evening step into
meat shop. at points convenient as thelr
own places of business, and procure what
they want, it would scarcely be regarded al
an accommodation 10 them, to compel them
to wade through mud nearly knee deep to
distant points from the heart of the city
and at mos, disaereeable hours Of the morn
ing, or 81 me very announcement time of open
dsy-for att certain Tour, almost At a GER
tain moment, they must be at the market
house to obtain choice articles. To suit the
laboring classes this hour must be before
the days labor opens, OF else it affects them
scroal injury or great inconvenience. Al
present. they can supply themselves ehher
before or after their days labor.
In every thing which appertains 10 the
public interest, the public accommodation
must be considered. IL then meat shop. are
q public accommodation. and no serious IN
Jury to the property or neighborhoods il
which they are located, We cannot perceive
the propriets Of terming Them nuisanees
and Of treating them such. II they arr
not OF public utility, and il the gres mass o
citizens regard them nuissnces. Why le
Them be sbhted We can souch for the fact
the, iihout exception they are kept witt
proper cleanliness and care, and are pa
tronixes by all classes Of citizens. We cal
saw more--thst there is scarcely house
keeper in the place but who will be place
st much incenpen fence by change in III
present meat selling arrangements. w,
hope, therefore, the City Council will re
view their action on this subject, and keel
cool till al least the opening ol SUMMER
La the discussion OF this subject, We have
oaiy treated il as matter Of public interest
not in its effects upon indiyiduals--eithel
upon those interested pecuniariy in In,
market houses, or as butchers. Both o
these have their claims upon correct con
sideration--bnt neither OF them must b
brought in contact with public interests.