The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-08
Tho Now City Hall and nfarkst.-A Few
Plain Facts and suggestiona.


Wigg to the city, that City Council will
hold special meeting aud adopt mea-
sures to protect the city in the late nego-
tiations of city bonds made Ivy the Com
mittee on Ways and Means. No doubt
this bond matter will be satisfactorily
arranged. but very little has been said as
to action to be taken relative TO continu-
anco of erection Of City Hall aud mar
ket, upon terms OF contracts entered
into. What of the now market? More
than four-ffths of the bona -Gae tux
payers, by petition to City Council, en-
tered their solemn protest against the
erection Of new market. Will it pmy
as an Investment? It is conceded that
by the time OF completion it will have
cost $40. QUO, considering contract price,
architects fees and interest on the
money; there will 6e only sixteen stalls,
consequently each stall would cost
81. 25O. The revenue from sixteen stalls,
OF 50 per month, (tho rent in present
market. but petitions for reduction have
been frequently sent to Council,) would
produce Sl,728 per nnnum. Now, de-
duct from this the salary Of new CIurk,
or additional salary to present Clerk, in-
surance. wear and tear, &C., nl inclusive
at least S700 per annun; therefore, the
net revenue would he but fraction
over $1,000 per nnnum, aud, OF course,
the market would pay for itself in Just
twenty yearsi It is snid that the city is
at present paying fifteen per cent. per
annum for the use of money, and us
figures show the mnrket might pay au iu-
terest of five per cent. per annum, We
have spectacle of sublime stupidity on
the part of city borrowing money nnd
loanlng it ut u loss of ten per cent. per
annum.
Cnn the handful of market advocates
calculate how long u private individual
could stand this? The writer did not
ID opposed to the erection Of this new
murket, and. in fact. is opposed to II
market house in any portion of tho city
as city property. Public markets are
pnbl,c nuisances. They are being abo-
lished by the authorities of Northern
and Western cities. Why compel citi
zen to travel mile, or even three
blocks, to obtain meats and vegetables,
any moro than to compel him to 20 to O
specified, depot to obtain his sugar aud
cuffee? 1t is restriction that American
citizens should not submit to. Abolish
the present market, do not erect the
new market. sell the bricks and other
materials, then license ono or two "meat
and provision stoi os" in each block, aud
make wise regulations rs to the conduct
of such business. The revenue derived
by the CITY from license tax aud tux on
personal property, requisite for con-
Quoting the business of "meat aud pro.
vision dealer" would exceed by 100 per
cent. the revenue derived from any city
market house that could be erected,
and, rs great public accom- notation,
could not be surpassed. We do not be-
lieve the taxpayers intend to quietly
submit to this nnwise. nncall, dior and
totally unnecessary outlay of $40, 600 of
their money. Better by fur use this
money in lighting the city with gas, re-.
pairing streets aud caring for the sick
and poor properly. Let Il public indig-
nation meeting bo called. of rich aud
poor. black aud white, aud have free
talk" If nothing else is done, let Pc
tition be circulated for signers favorable
to the total abolition of city market.
Will the City Counoilmen pause and re.
feet?
What OF the new City Hall? It is
conceded that nine.tenths of the tax
payers do favor the erection of City
Hall, but do object (so does the writer)
to an outlay Of S138. 600 to secure one.
1t has beeu asserted thut fraua has been
practioed in the award Of tho contract at
Sl38. 900, and that the building could be
erected for $4,000 or 800. O.0OO-the
truth or falsity OF this assertion will
soon be ascertained by the COMMITTEES of
the Board of Trade We do not bslisve
fraud has been piacticed, but think the
high cost arises from tue extrayagant
specifications" nude by the architect.
From ona who has carefully rend the
specifications, we learn that the CON
tractor III required to furnish the finest
aud most costly materials throughout.
including handsome chandeliers. gas
fittings. marble wash stands, nrinals.
wmterclosets und general plumbing work.
lls also the entire fitting up Of opera
hall. fresco work. &C., &o. Herein lies
the high cost. We dismiss the ohnrg,
Of fraud for another reason; our fellow
townamen aud ex-Aldermen, c. Wnripp
aud r W. johnson, made written bids:
aud it cannot be possible TINT either ~