Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-25
Market House. Meeting.

large meeting of the citizens Of Alexandria
was held last night in Liberty Hall.
On motion of W. II. Marbury, esq: George
BRYAN. est. was called to the Chair. and Col.
NJ d. Ball appointed Secretary.
Edgar Snowdcn, ir, explained the object Of
the call for the meeting. He said it was 4 fact,
pa tent to ALL that a market building was need
cd as speedily as possible-was called for not
only by the citizens, but by those who came
here to sell theirproduce; alluded to the growth
of the market and the greatly increased num-
Der of persons who attended it: made mention
of the stceplc, clock and bel and the mem
cries that chung around them, and appealed
for generous contribution on the part of the
citizens to aid the Council, thus reducing to
that extent the taxes already so patiently borne
by the people, who were ever willing TO do
their utmost for the good of the city. He con-
Guided by offering the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is the wish of the people
that Market House should be erected as speed,
lily as possible, not only for the convenience OF
ducc here for sale; and nasmuch as the Corpo-
ton is already deeply involved, and several of
our public spirited citizens have signiied their
willingness to contribute directly for the object
in view, that committee of five from each ward
and fvo from the city at large be appointed by
construction of the said Market building the
money so contributed to be deposited with the
Treasurer Of the city, subject to the order of the
committee of Council to whom the construction
shall be entrusted.
F. L. Brockett. esq, suggested that there
were natives of Alexandria now residing IN
other parts of the country who probably would
like to contribute to the object proposed, and
moved to amend the resolution by adding that
L. tol tc,,lc
tons from natives Of Alexandria now residing
outside of the city.
Mayor Latham suggested that the phraseol-
ogy of the resolution be so altered that instead
Of. as the corporations already deeply involved,
it should read as the people Of the city are al
ready heavily taxed which suggestion was &C
cepted.
John 3. Smoot, esd, said that the City
Council could and would erect the Market
House, but that III his opinion it would be adj
yisable to have it understood that the money
to be raised by subscription would be appro-
prated to the rebuilding Of the steeple and to
the purchase Of new bells and new clock, and
if any surplus remained it could be added to
the fund appropriated to building the Market
House proper.
Edgar Snowien. ir., supposed Council would
make the distinction in the appropriation.
r. H. Miller, esq, thought that the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Smoot could be embodied in the
heading of the subscription paper.
Mayor Latham said that more money could
be raised by subscription if it We're known that
the amount SO raised would be appropriated to
rebuilding steeple than could be raised to re-
build Market House. Let the idea be that
the money subscribed is to be spent in rebuild
ing the stccple--not to be tied up so that it
could not be used in the erection of other parts
Of the building, but if so used with the under
standing that an equivalent sum be devoted to
that purpose for which it was subscribed. The
none but Alexandrians knew. The beautiful
poem in Yesterdays Gazette struck sympa-
thetic chord in the heart of ever AleXandrian.
The sounds of the old bell are gone forever, and
the halls and stceple of the old building shall
not meet our gaze again, but by united efforts
we could erect others in their stead. AlcXan-
drans in other States would be glad Of an OPP
portunity to subscribe to that object, and when
they returned and looked ut what had been
done they would feel proud Of what their con-
tributions had assisted in completing lie hoped
that some plan would be adopted by which
liberal contributions could be made and the
money so collected placed in the hands of the
Treasurer subject to the control Of the Com
mittec of the City Council having the rebuild
ing of the Market House in charge, who he
knew would spend it judiciously
COL Ball said that he had migrated here
50 recently that he felt delicacy in taking part
in the proceedings Of the meeting, but as he
had lived here long enough to vote notwlth-
standing an assertion that had been made to
the contrary. rs he had an Interest here and
some sentimental attachments though not as
much as some others, he would say that he
thought the suggestion Of Mr.. Smoot good
one. There was Il strong desire among all
classes Of the community that the old stecpc
should be rebuilt and the old bells and clock
be regretted, and it would be better that the
resolution stated that the rebuilding Of the
steeple is the main thing for which the sub
scriptions are to be made No matter how
Strengthened We're the finances Of the corpora
ton there was enough energy and vitality in
the City Council not only to build the Market
House as it should, but to extend the building
all around the market square, hiding the fish
benches opposite the Mansion House and so
removing what had long been eye-sore. The
proposed building could be erected so as to
make it more remunerative than the old build
ing The City Council can and will raise the
money to build the Market House without
the aid of subscriptions. but all would like TO
contribute Il single or plank to the stccple.
For his part he wanted all the old things re-
stored; the clock and the bells-evcn Harry
Bell and his museum.
Col. Charles f. Stuart hoped that the sub
scriptions would be numerous and liberal: for in
that case some of his losses by the late fire
might probably be made up: but the building
proposed to be erected was to be built BY money
not by sentiment. Sentiment and poetry were
very well in their place, but would not build
houses, neither would interest He remember
ed but a short time ago. when an effort was
made to raise money by the sale of bonds bear
ing s per ct. interest to repair the old market
house 1t was supposed that the interest taken
in the improvement by the owners of property
in the neighborhood, tort certainly increased
the value of their property, would have induced
them to subscribe literally to these bonds but
instead of that the most of them had acted
with the greatest illiberality. He had sub
scribcd 5000, Mr. Green 81 900, the Messrs
Cooney $500, and with the subscriptions of
some of the nnnr market men the sum Of Sc 600