The national Republican., 1869-01-25
tCommunIoated.l

Mr.. EDiToR: As the proposition 10 now be.
fore Congress to establish a city market, and
az 1t 10 10 vital question to the citizens OF wash.
ington, all the facts bearing on the case should
be fully discussed. The necessity for q mar.
ket-house no one will deny. But the question
whether II shall be built by the city or by an
incorporated company, seems now 10 be the
main question.
The lneorporators propose TO erect, on the
site Of the present Centre market, q structure
that will cost over one million dollars, II
But shall they or the city build Il Il 4
wise Scripture rule to hrst count the cost
and see II We are able. What 10 the present
condition OF our city hnsnoes, and what work
dollars.
The canal, a pestilsntiaI eye-sore and dis.
sfaee 70 me city, will soon require an OUTLAY
OF one or two millions more. But the great
work before US, and one which towers sbove
every other, 10 the education OF the children OF
this city. We have over twenty-five thousand
attend school for want OF sohool-houses. In
Boston, for instance, they have the same mum.
Der OF seholsrss. We. They have invested over
we have only hhres hundred houtand, and three
quarters OF this amount 10 Invested In two
1t 10 shame and modification to publish
such facts, nevertheless truth must be told.
Our streets are unpsved, we need q more
thorough system Of sewerage, and the demand
for Improvement 10 constantly Increasing. The
work above enumerated must OF necetsity be
taxation.
form school for trusnt children, . city hos.
pital and other Institutions, the hand-m aids
OF civilization. Now, In face Of these facts,
can tht. eisy expenG one million more to erect
known by me personally, but I presume they
are all men Of means and enterprise. They
are enough hpown, however, 70 insure q,
the city gain II this company builds II, and
what Will the city lose BY ~ In the nrst place
they will have oonyenieut and well.arrsnged
hall for the Councils to meet I'M Mayors,
Registers, and Collectors ofhces; also police
headquarters, anording every conyenlenee,
and also one prime requisite,. nre.proof
free to the city and worth to them over t2s 900
per annum. The tax on the improvements
and the licenses on the business II will stimu.
over ssoSce. The % city wv Vii % ssin $500 sna
lose only the revenue from the sale Of stalls
10 the market, not exceeding 10000. 1 know
Congress Tor appropriations. Such 10 their
habit. But am Of the opinion that the time
has come when the child ought to be wesned.
not promote selErelisnce, without which no
individual or community will prosper. Con-
gress should pave the avenues and decorate
will not give you dollar, and II you do not
make all other needed improvements we will
compel you. know Il 10 the purpose Of some
to ask Congress to give to the city the ground
where the market stands and then solicit an
appropriation to build the mAtkethouse, but
Congress will do no such thing.
Now, in view OF these facts II 10 fair to pre-
sumo that the city would not be able to build q
suitable market-house for ten years, and 10
my judgment the only course to pursue 10 to
bid these corporators God-speed, for to con-
tinue our present market system ten years
longer would injure US more than the value OF
the Investment they propose. CITIZEN.