New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-23

- "' 10 n"o"' Vo astcou upon, ~ tneir own
: expense. That such course would be popular
: tnSre is no doubt, since West Washingto,
Market is not large enough for the business
now done there, and stands ore readily sold
from tenant to tenant for $500 premium,
though the occupant has no guaranty that be
WI be allowed to remain there longer th,a
the week for which he hires. With sucl
mar. Set on the North River and another
like it On the East River, on the Low.
Der properly, already owned by the city.
the downtown markets might be disposed
of in such a man ger as to be of substantial
benefit TO the sink 'ug fund, for the redemption
of the debt of the corporation, instead Of
positive loss, Us at pre- sent.
Probably the best plan to be pursued wOutd
be that recommended by Controller Flagg, in
bis report to the Common Council, submitted
in 1853 wherein, 10 accordante with the amend.
ed charter Of that year, he advises the farm.
ing out Of the markets to the highest bidder,
under suitable regulations of tie Common
Council. We are authorized to state that
there are gentlemen abundantly responsible,
who will engage to pay the city 5 200, 900 q
year for this privilege, clear of all expense.
and manage and keep ia repair the pro .perty at
their own cost during the period Of their lease.
Furthermore, if tie city viii simply by oIdi-
lance make market place of the properts on
the North River, which it is now sought to
purchase, the owner will agree to pay an
annual premium of $50 900 for the privileges,
for ten years, absolving the city from all cost
for buildings, repairs, collections, taxes, and
expense of all kinds; or, for q like privilege
for fifteen years, he will convey the property
itself to the city, free of cost.
Here. certainly, then is an opportunity to
improve upon our present losing system Of
market management, which, while it will re.
dound to the advantage of citizens generally in
increased market facilities, and relieve Broad
way and the downtown streets Of q good
many hundred vehicles, will also be source
of revenue to the Treasury. As ut present
managed, the markets are mines Of wealth
to private individuals, but a large annual
tax upon the corporation. Upon what prln.
cipe of fair dealing can we reconcile the
fact that owners of private shops, who pay
heavy rent for their places Of business, shall
be compelled to compete with public market.
men, who hire of the city at au average
rent of less than 81 week.
Take, for example, Old Washington Market,
which contains So butchers stalls. The total
daily rent of these stalls amounts to just
so 50 (ten dollars and sixty-nine cents) and
so it ia throughout the other markets, only
little more so. 1t is claimed that some Of these
butchers have acquired proprietary rights, aud
that their stalls have cost them three or four
thousand dollars each, but the city has never
been the gamer thereby. How these rights be-
came vested them is very obscure question.
We have been unable after diligent inquiry,
10 ascertain more than the fact that some time
in the remote past the more choice stalls were
put up at auction and bid off at premiums OF
So to sos or $50 each. These stalls, how
ever, still belong to the city, for the title in
them was never passed to any one else; yet
their holders find them so profitable that they
have no difficulty in selling them for $1,000,
-. 600, s., 900 and even $4,000 each, when
they wish to remove, the city readily con-
senting to the transfer, the purchaser taking
them at this heavy cost, though be may DO
turned out withoat remedy, by the Superinten-
dent of Markets the following day. (See evidence
before Mayor Tiemann, in the jim irving
case.) BY the way, this same Irving, when
Superintendent of Markets, sold his stall ID
the old Washington Market at heavy pre-
MUM. and took two of the best locations IN
the splendid new Tompkins Market, which 10
vet holds, as proprietor, at the magnificent rent
of one shilling and sixpence each per day.
How long this scandalous state OF things VIII
be permitted to continue depends upon the for
bearance of the taxpayers. Under the pressure
Of the times. we are called upon to economic
in every direction, and it does seem to us no
more than fair that this large city properly
ought to be made to contribute its full share
toward the public burdens. To that end, is
should be sold, aud the proceeds applied to tho
redemption of the public debt, or, ii not ad'
vsablc to sell it during this period Of depres'
sion, it should be put up at auction, Ike our
ferry and other franchises, and its manage
ment tarmed out to the highest bidder.
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The precarious tenure of Secession is por'