The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-18
GIRARD AVENUE.
The Mayor Vetoes Bill TO Put More Mar
ket Sheds on it.

ket sheds on IL.
The following veto message was sent into
Councils this afternoon:-
rZe the erection OF certain market houses Girard
between Otis and Elm streets, in the Elgth-
eenth ward" without my approval
Instead Of increasing the number OF market
houses on the line OF Grard avenue, regard that it
would be to the advantage OF the city, as also the
property heldeIs and occupants on this spacious
thoroughfare, were all the market houses and other
distinctions entirely aemoved, the inelosed
done away WITH and the avenue paved with
some improved style OF pavement fr'rs curb
to curb. It cost the the county county Of Phlladel-
Girard averue, the western portion through private
property, and the eastern portion by the widening
OF street h 40 feet in BREADTH then called Prince
stres. by absorbing so feet of private ground along
its western line thus making what was fret called
Franklin avenue and now Girard avenue 100 feet
wide and as the pubic expenditure at that time was
a large one the citizens and tax payers were mainly
reconcied TO the outlay by the impression that the
city would thus be in possession OF a beautiful and
spacious thOrOughfare stretching clear across from
the river Schuylkil in an easterly direction until 1t
reaches Frankford road, and thence northeasterly
parallel with the other streets in that section, up to
the limits Of the built up portion OF the city, then
the upper boundary line of the Incorporated district
of KensiDgton And there are those who even at
this time look upon the market-houses erected In
various parts of that avenue as violation OF the
public faith SO generally understood at the time of
its opening, and an improper occupation OF what
ought to be and was intended Of the graudest
thUroughfares in our city.
Instead OF this, it substantially reduces a 12O-feet
wide avenue to two small streets opposite the
market houses, there being by actual measurement
but % feet space between the line Of the roofs and
the curb OF the foOtway on either SIDE Besides the
market houses at best are but uBsightly structures
and 1t uniformly follows that after the market hours
are over and the cleaning takes place, much refuse
matter s washed out into the street on either stde
there to decompOse and tester, creating most un-
pleasant and unwhOesome eXhalatlon, to the dis
comfort and injury OF those who dw'H In such
localities.
The question as to the effect the construction Of
such buildings have upon the value OF the property,
has sufficient answer in the difference in the puo-
lie assessment between that portion opposite TO
which the ODstructiOns are and that portion in
which the avenue is free and paved from curb to
curb. An objection also arises as expressed by
storekeepers opposite to where market houses are
now in operation, in that persons frequentlng the
market for purchase of articles for the table mostly
enter them from one corner OF the street,
and only leave it when they reach the other, thus
drawing away the stream of people from the side
walks in the intermediate space, to the business
damage OF nearly all but those occupying the corner
stores.
clearly shown that far as the question of supplies
Of provisions is concerned marget houses Off If the
line of the highways, or provision stores where the
necessity Of the same shows ITSELF and at about the
rate for ateria as obtains in the old market
houses, do and always will spring up, and that, too,
furnished with an abundance and variety suthcient
to.satisfy every demand 1t has been argued that
the spaces whereOn it is proposed to erect these
market houses are now frequently occupied with
spare lgmber and other MATERIAL and, therefore, i5
would be better to have them occupied with market
houses than have them idle, or in their present con
and paved as suggested, no such cause OF complaint
would arise.
Another and to my mind an exceedingly important
thought is that Girard avenue is OF the same width
Broad street. and, ntersecting it at right angles,
leads Off, one portion to our beautiful Park ana the
other nearly to the Delaware river, on the north
east portion OF the city; and regard it, that were
all the market houses along its line, as also useless,
unoccuped. curbed.iu spaces now in portions OF its
CENTRE done away with, and the whole avenue paved
with some improved style of paving, such as shall
similarly obtain as regards Broad street, clear across
from curb to curb, so as to make it, as 1t were,
angular extension Of Broad street, Councils would
do more for the advantage OF the city and the
residents and property-owners In that part of the
city than can possibly be had 10y outays for market
houses and other distractions, and thus having
hanced the value OF property not only along its
entire line but also in the immediate adjacent
streets, such a return would be made to the City
Treasury by increased revenue from taxation as
would far exceed the rental received for the of
stalls in such structures and fully justify the re-
moval OF all buildings now thereon.
For these reasons return the bill for your con-
sderation. Very.respectfully,