The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-20
cry INTELLIGENCE


-. y, Monday night Last In the city council, which
I i've below as containing much infonnation o. inter
st % our citizens The bill which accompanied the re-
mort as Published yesterday morning IN connection with
the proceedings
y h, haors4. ae Bard f 4LdaA and ne Board " Com
mon Council II he city n Wasl1yAons
The ieint select committee appointed 70 inquire into
- r,tiebility aad expeiieney Of erecting new Cen
~ Markst Houss respectfully report that they have
- ~, subject that consideration which it, importance
J.n,s The dilaphlIted Tangs Of structures known as
~ sntr, Market has long been regarded AZ entirely I'M
ited 10 the wants and character o. community hke
SUI ANA public sentiment for years past has looked
vi,sly fr the period when II would be superseded by
ther more In c0nsonanee with what Is demanded alike
m the best interests Of the city well as just sense Of
public proprcty
rI Il well calculated to create Unl4vorahle impress
n mueh 10 the prejudice OF the city, in the minds OF
tbo who by the constitution Of the United States are
steI with powers exclusive jurisdiction over u.s. there
can be no doubt for il cannot be supposed that the
Irs of the two horses Of Congress who unite In mp
nopratlons 81 money for Identifying and adorning the
strnnoli5 can look with fIyur upon such structure
prominently in view on the principal avenue.
Only a year since the proper officer OF the govern
r,.nt the Commissioner of Public Buildings IN re-
mort m o to Congress through the Secretary of the In
tror intinated determination 70 remove il at once,
miles, the corporation anticipated him in the work
This X his language Whilst upon the subject Of the
avenue t may NOT he amrs to bring 70 your attention
the grt nuisance the Centre Market house Is to it, The
beauty Of this great thoroughe of the city is much
rcd by the old aud unsghtly eiice, and during market
DAYS ii not unfrequenty happens that lis free passage is
hstruetd by country wagons, which extend from It'll to
In streets and create much filth and litter as to
render the avenue decided nuisance Visitors TO the
ty often express their surprise that such market house
should be permitted to emain on the avenue; and the
nuisance it creates is uncommon complaint among the
etizans believe il Is perfectly competent for the gov
vir4FH nltHNlu
measures should be adopted by the corporation Of the
CITY for the speedy abatement Of the nuisance by the
erection Of suitable building, would advise the
nterpoition Of government authority to have the
ket-honse removed (See Senatc Tx. Doc, 3ith Con-
ress "a session, vol l, page $500 The condition Of
things about the market has not sensibly improved since
the late Of the report and there be doubt that
nj the present moment, very ae majority OF the ct
ens Of Washington will feel grlrie at the inception Of
measures looking to- and likely to result in the erection
ef a new Centre market-house.
Several efforts with this object in view have been
made within the last few years. but from various causes
hive so far resulted in nothing. We do not propose to
enter into these causes, such investigation would
not tend to the determination OF the question at the
present time but proceed at to suggestions
which strike practical and which, II acquieseed in
by the two boards will Lead to positive results. 1t may
be well questioned whether the site Of tho present struc-
ture considering all things is the best calculated for
the purpose Ia the early history of the city with
small population sparsey settled and with the few large
buildings of which the could then boast its loca-
ton at that point could be yare Objectionable
But within ten twelve years city has taken rapid
strides in ali the elements of pruspertyn population
az well the increased number size and character of its
buildings Nowhere has this Improvement been more
perreptble than Pennsylvania avenue Scarcely q
vacant lot Is 10 be found either side Of it between
First and Fifteenth streets west while many of the old
structures formerly visible have given pce to others
elegant in design, and magnificent in detail. In
the mean time Congress has appropriated large
for the purpose OF paving, lighting, cleaning
and Identifying it, until it may not only be re-
garted the principal avenue Of the city--the
avenue par srcenc and likely remain so for an in
efnte perodbut it has assumed and presents MI
the characteristics OF great international horoghfare
r upon its broad and beautiful surface nly be ordnari
ly found numerous representatives from every State Ter
ritory, and district OF our Union well rs from al
most ul foreign nations. Under these circumstances
would it be uriicious advisable to commence new
structure for market purposes Pennsylvania avenue
or If such one was originated is il not reasonable TO
presume that the governments would interfere in some
decided way to prevent its erectons Such at least 4
the opinion of your committee and acting upon the
conviction they have looked to another locality for the
purpose. We that private interests will to
some extent, be affected by the change but in great
public improvement such is contemplated the general
good OF the city and the permanent welfare OF its people
should outweigh all such considerations If private IN
terests hal been allowed to prevail many improvements
which have been accomplished within short time would
moval Of the Western Mlrkethoase and the change 81
the railroad depot both of which for while caused Oh
stuctnns aud inconvenience the avenue but nothing
IN comparison with that which is felt and Is insepa,bIe
from the present Centre Market Other instances might
oe anced d necessity for exist but the principle
too clear and Just for either Argument or illustration
we PROPOSE therefore, 10 place the new building at a
point IN view Of but not upon, Pennsylvania avenue
on site which viii cost the city nothing and the use OF
which, we are confident be procured We refer to
Louisiana avenue, where it intesects the west line of
Nnth street. In close proximity to the present market
ana alohg said avenue to Ohio Eleventh street
ami thence up Ohio avenue to Fifteenth street west
Ihs space affords all the requisites for mark
se t0The wants OF the city of Washington for Mn in
definite number Of years Probably the SPACE on Iouisi
ana avenue, between Ninth and Twelfth streets would
answer the purpose during the next twenty years
taaihS, as 1t does superficial Of about 243 900
square iee being nearly 100 900 square feet more than
Il contained in the present Centre Market Space z
hat Is the extent TO which the committee propose to 20
present IN the erection Of building leaving il to be
oAchdea ultimately to Fifteenth street as the future
WANTS OF the community may require
IhIs brings % the consideration Of the stvl Of str
ee 70 be erected Your committee are aware that some
5S ago plan, known az RIlet s. was adopted by the
Guy COUNCILS or new Centre Market house but that
S % nave been the last attention given TO the mat
49, inc very m"gniiicence Of the project and the inn
% eNpehditure incident to it, probably did much
Ne'Ps the proposition for market at that time
a. anything else which could have been enthusiastically
Up'he'i In syie it compared Evorably with many Of
Ao pubic buildings erected by government for national
purposes, While the extyalnt calculations IN regard &,
w eNehus % he derived from it did not strike the com
aty AZ ut all practical or likely to be realized This
ri l's buried among the archives of the city-a me-
neto OF the public spirit Of those who adopted III and
execute it, - P5 -
D1eying that the erection OF such building or OF