Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-10-11
The Market Movement Once More.


We publish the communication Of "OntariO
Street with pleasure, for we wish both sides
Of the question so closely affecting the interests
of all our citizens should be fairly presented
The handsome buildings for the sale of meats"
referred to, have all been erected since meat
wagons were permitted to stand on Ontario St,
and most of them the past season. So long as
the butchers occupying them were permitted to
enjoy the mOno7Oly Of cutting up and selling
meats by less quantity than the quarter, the
meat wagons were tolerated with but slight if
any objections. It is only since the repeal of
the market ordinance, since steaks, roasts, etc.
can be bought at three, four, or five cents less
per pound from wagons than when the cutting
up monopoly existed, that retail wagons on On
taro street have become such nuisance ~
At this time the street and sidewalk in front If
the handsome buildings" is kept clear of re-
tail meat and vegetable wagons, and the same
efficiency on the part of "Ontario Street would
keep the front Of his business premises free of
the nuisance" he complains Of
We are assured that the great majority of the
property owners and business establishments on
Oatario do not desire the removal of the mar
ket people fIom that street, and only ask the
Council to let well enough alone. We know
that such is the wish of the Oldest and most
extensive retail pork firm on the street, who do
not object to the occupancy of the street and
sidewalk in front of their handsome building"
s;-,o b,1F Jo-- -, a. ,,,I- H., r,,rls+ man and
women They believe in free trade in meats
as well as in breadstufls, fruits and vegetables,
and are willing TO take their chances in turning
the nimble si1pence.
While we are free to admit that the congrega-
ton OF market wagons and market people on a
street has serious objections and operates in
iurously on certain interests and some kinds of
business, as & whole the advantages far out
weigh the disadvantages. This is demOnstra-
ted BY the location of markets in nearly all the
principal cities. They are central, and business
centres around them. In Cincinnati, for in
stance, the public markets are in the heart OF
the city, and during market mornings at each
the streets and sidewalks contiguous are worse
blockaded than Ontario. Ia Pittsburgh the
market is equally central, and the sidewalks
and streets thronged. In both cities the
handsome buildings" adjacent to the markets,
as on Ontario street, never display the OminOus
sign-"To Rent"
The argument that street market men and
women pay no city taxes nor rents and there
fore should not be tolerated, is fallaeious.-
Without their presence and trade the city would !
suffer and languish, and persons charged with |
city taxes and rents would find harder scratch |
ing than ever to discharge either The city |
and country are mutually dependent, and both |
have to bear their proportion of the public
burthens. They should cultivate comfy and |
good will, rather than strive to 60 alone and |
harrass each other by unreasonable exactions.
1t should be borne in mind too, that very many |
of the men and women who three forenoons in 1
a week make Ontario street their trading mart |
reside within the city-GeTmans and others |
owning lots in the suburbs who cultivate gar
dens and bring to the public market the fruits |
of their industry. Some of the most extensive
gardeners too have their establishments within |
the city limits, and pay full share of city tax
es and rents. Many of the butchers who sell
from wagons are residents of the city, and so |
long as the old market was suffered to stand on |
Michigan street, each, whether from city or |
county, paid tax to the Market Clerk in the |
aggregate nearly equal 10 the rent of a stall
The proceedings of the Workingmen's Meet
ing, so far as they bear on what they are pleased
to term the 81 Ontario street monopoly" require
but word of comment. The meeting was |
not large one, and the Central Market interest /
on the bank of the CuyahOga was actively rep
resented. The land spectators in that quarter
at the expense of the city, are awake to every
scheme and opportunity to manufacture public
opinion and advance their private interests
Should they ultimately succeed in forcing by
ordinance the meat and other market wagons
from Ontario to Pittsburgh street. they would
not only measurably restore The old meat mo-
nopoly on the former, but would greatly dis
cOmmOde the market people and their custom
ers of all classes. We again repeat, that the
true interests of the city and citizens will be
best subserTed by letting well enough alone
SENT TO THE REFoRN ScHooL-The last Co.
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