Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-15
ICommupicated.l
The Centre Market Qaesiion.

The agiiatlon of the sub ect of re:s'nipS tn"
control o. our ma n sewer, the Washing ga
cana, by The city-an important, though very
expensive priyIlege-has diverted pabhc AZ
ten iICn from strong movement 10 spirit AWAY
Smother very rpmuneratiye munlcipa. fran
chise, the management of the Centre Market
The vigorous efforts, in this direction. have been
aided, thus lar by an apparent apathy and IN
difference OF the citizens, favorable 10 one
sided explanations of a bold scheme.
Senator Rice of Arkansas, has introduced
aud Mr. Fessenden reported upon bill '.to in
corporate the Washington Market Company"
with capital OF Sl,0O,OO0. The City Councils
endorsed the bill in one night. great malority
OF the members relying implicitly upon yar AZ
oral explanations.
As If to aod insult to injury and in defiance
OF the fact that the erection of suitable market
houses, commenced by the city four wears ago
was abandoned on account of a special act of
Congress, prohibiting the erection of any per-
manent buildings on the square, the preamble
10 Inc Dill impllcedly makes this obedience OF
Inc IN unlcilS.l authorities to the laws reason
for deprlying them of the auth GRITTY over Csn-
re Market Space, which they had exercised
Wlthoue molestaiion since the founda.io of tR-
city, under clause in all the charters OF tn
city.
Since the preamble starts with Center Mar.
ket space, the presumption would he that the de-
scTiptIon OF the land IN the ball is merrly
copy OF the legal metes and bounds of Rsserva-
non NO. ., con tanning 16l,HU square feet But
nay, me ground described in bill includes about
ing upon streets, more particularly Louis ana
avenue, street north and street north, con-
irary 10 the old map of the city, signed official
ly by President Washington and J. Adams
THIS ground was rated, IN ISIS, by sworn as
SCISSORS, at - 50 (gold) per foot, which with s.
per cent Increase for rise of val ne and prices
NJ tins time, makes the value of the ground
claimed equal 20 Si,O6S 100. The company asks
10 De- vested with the "use, right, and title of
me nlted states" IN tn real state. They shall
be empowered 'tO build stores and halls, MT
fp2t al rha
OF. pennsylvania avenue, from 1th 10 9TH SITS
From the rear of the building on Pennsylyanla
avenue, along 7th street, there sh all be erecte
'stalls, sheds, and so forth, for market pur.
poses. Over the first story (of che latter
building) there shall be constructed halls,
rooms, aud apartments, for the ample accon-
modauon OF the Mayor, and all other city OF
hcers, City Councils, and Police Beadquartars
(anoIdlrg The later room for csHs,) ali free of
rent"
THIS new fashioned City Hall. being on tor
OF the market stalls we cannot do better than
To arrange this upper part of the house in al.
pha betlctl order, for archives, cells coal bins
council chambers. fire proof vaults. ~ jinItcts
rooms lobbles, Offices, water .cIo ets wood
sheds, and so on. For heat we had better send
Tor the old stoves now being dispensed with In
the school houses, since tue garrei would hard.
~ ne a saie OF practicable place for boilers
generating modern heating power and all other
place IS cramped for ordinary purposes in this
com busfible structure.
The corPorators may close the subscription
D.
scribed sufficient ~ commence tcorI. The firs,
board of directors to be selected by the stock
noiuers from an 0f.g The corg1dtors. They may
call IN the stock at the rate OF Is per cent, DPr
month. and shares NAV, if not maid m no n :,
Glazed tCI-ei'ed Or not at TIE optior of said dlrac
tors, These directors 10 have power IL contra.
WIN any persons Tor the work construction OF
buildings, stands, stalls, and fix the amour oi
compensation. Such are 4 lew 0. the 1h,.,.
uonable clauses of the bill.
IL Congress agrees 10 an improvement of The
4 70 nv flvr- hVstl "A
De granted 10 the city, SO that every tax payer
participates IN II, instead of 8 few indi yidua.S
being benefited
The net revenue Of the market amounted for
100 10 S24,212.H. After toe war n relaxed bat
estimates based on the current business of this
year bring IL up again To about S27,WO New
inpro'eme hts must largely Increase this rev
tnue, ana thty eau be carried out by pledgng
tfis revenue 80 that special bonds can easily b..
negotiated upon terms equal TO those offered
py TIE government. Those interested in the
b'il urge that The Ices OF the city's revenue
would De compensau by tie income derived
IRON the taxation OF the valuable store.prup-
eIty Oh Pennsylvania avenue. The same
arg ument was used when the privileges of civ
railIoaos were given away for mere songs,
We reIoin that if the right is given away co
occupy the mont by store buildings. let he city
depth OF 100 feet, will bring, at Sc per foot AZ
much as @Al2,Jn. The proceeds may be in
vested IN the erection of the most splep.iId
market house In the world without borrowing
pledged or laid aside for a few years. would
enable Us TO finish our part of the City H,lt,
hTeproof and IN best style.
men we could have another prour onipcr of
attraction in the city-cleaRly, model market
houses, with plenty of air, light, water, VENT
ia'IoD, drainage, and need not repeat the sad
experi ence OF other cIties-(ieoreetowI ytth
Us town nall, and Baltimore with its Mary'a d
Institute Included-who tried the experiment
OF combining The incongrUous market houses
sno ball rooms, and sIgnally failed. side
from all-imp OTtant sanitary reas ons, the So
Drefy OF The n arket should be kept faravty
from occasional orgies CT the ball room in ne
earIy hours OF dawn. We should derive tax.s
IRON the valuable property on Penn yiyanIa
avenue, own the market houses, enjoy the r. :,
enue, and be gratified 10 own our CORPORATION
Offices at the quiet place where they have been
Jndlclously located. In fact, We should ha -
hesh instead OF he dry bone offered by the
Company. The current effer IT'S OF this ompauy
when crowned with success, would mark an
DINER epoch in the history OF reducing our
chartered corporation to the position of an nm.
possessed and exactiDg pauper, helplessly
sandWiched between powerful railroad, canal
market, and other monopolies, Mr. Garrett
Ubiquitous. The Baltimore and Ohio Rail road
Company obtained ats hold upon this CITY
when, unmindful of the bearings on the future.
a silent consent Of confiding citizens was given
IN view OF the pressing wants of the past Let
rs Ike warning, and forestalI future commit.
cations before il is too late!
INCUBATION BADGE.-From Shepherd A.
Whitaker, corner 9TH and ID streets we bav.
new and BEAUTIFULLY woven silk bsdUa for ,ha