New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-19

bad market system couldn't be more painfully
illustrated than 1t is at present in the City of Mobile
1t il exposed by The Tribune of that city, and the
moral of the exposure will benefit all cities new
market was built in Mobile in 1867. Special permits
were granted by the municipal government to GER
tain persons TO sell necessary articles Of food and
they restricted the sale of these TO the compass of
few hundred feet In the market building. There
could be other consequence OF this than high
prices so that the system levied an enormous direct
tax upon the inhabitants. Take the single article Of
butchers meat for illustration 1t sold at from Is
TO 80 cents per h. at least 10 cents per ID than it
would have commanded under a free market and
green grocery system. Estimating the meat eaten
by and animals at 100 lbs per capita and stating
the population of Mobile and its enyirons at 5OOOO
the consumption yearly would be 100000 lbs. This
brought up the unnecessary cost of this
article to $5OOOOO. Add the reasonable
estimate of half that sum on yegeta-
bles. fish, and other commodities sold in the
market, and we have the animal sum Of S75O,OOO
which the people of Mobile were indirectly taxed
The city derived q direct revenue from the rent of
stalls of from $4,000 to $4,000 Could anything be
more clumsy, absurd. and oppressiveH The result
was that a free market ordinance was passed, and
meat in from thirty to sixty days fell from 80 cents
per pound to Is cents. This was too good to last
The Municipal Board with the wisdom of Municipal
Boards in general, repealed the Free Law. The
price began at once to 20 back to the old eXOrbiant
rates We have heard Of nothing of the kind more
ridiculous, and we may say wicked, than this Op-
pTessiye way of raising public funds Seven humid
red and fifty thousand dollars paid by the people
that the city may collect fifty thousand dollars stall
remit OF course it would be infinitely better to
raise the money by direct tax, or even by putting
up a toll gate the street leading to free market
1t is supposed that the matter will affect the next
municipal election, and it certainly should
For many months THE TRIBUNE was assaed by
all the Grant organs little and big for the alleged
sins of one Hank Smith Police Commissioner.
etc Suddenly this abuse ceased it appearing that
the Hank" Smith aforesaid was an enthusiastic
opponent of Mr.. Greeley. 1t had also been assailed
for alleged unwilingness pursue with sufficient
severity one William NJ. Tweed. This abuse, too.
came TO a sudden end when il was found that the
William NJ. Tweed aforesaid was equally enthus-
astic in his opposition to Mr.. Greeley. There still
remained, however pet point Of attack. II was
always in order to assai THE TRIBUNE because
Of the misdeeds Of one Oakley Hall, Mayor of
the city. Now at last comes Thurlow Weed in
q card over his own signature to express at great
length his grateful thanks to Mr.. Mayor Hall for
the support he gave Commissioner Davenport on
behalf of the Grant Republicans in this city at the
late election. just hear Mr.. Weeds summing up.
After reciting the victory his party won, he eX-
claims " And for such suspicious results the city is
indebted, first, TO the Intelligence zeal aud patriot
ism OF the electors then TO the efficiency of the
various committees and. finally, TO United States
COmmissOner Davenport, Police Commissioner
Superintendent kelso"