National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-18
WASHINGTON MARKET COMPANY
ITS TROUBLES UDDER RAIDS AND
PLANS FOR DEFENCE


ITS TROUBLES UDDER RAIDS AND
PLANS FOR DEFENCE.
An adjourned nesting of the stockholders Of
the Washington Market Company was held last
night at the ofdce OF the compsay. In the alb
sence Of the president, Hon. NJ g. Emery, Mr..
Thomas o. Connolly was chosen chairman, and
Mr.. Smith, secretary. .=
Mr.. Ordway submitted the following PROPOSE
ton; In the matter of the proposed sale of the
Washington market grounds for the assessment
for paving Pennsylvania avenue, between Sew
enth and Ninth streets, amounting to $l0, 1.32
with interest and costs, Il Is understood that the
market company shall pay that portion Of the
assessment arising from the paving Of Pennsyl-
Yania avenue, from the west line Of Seventh
street to the point where the south line Of Penn
sylvania avenue intersects with the south line Of
Louisiana avenue, and that the liability of the
ompany to pay the balance Of said assessment
shall be determined On Its merits by the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia upon q writ Of
'ceTtiorGTf to which process no objection shall be
interposed; and that in the meantime there shall
be no attempt to sell the market grounds for non-
payment of such assessment and interest or costs.
In connection with the above he stated that this
t VII he De % bs Ssd sIa5s tbs
District, and as q market company they do not
hold themselves liable. If the certificate is el-
lowed to be levied IL will have 70 be sued back in
court. All this requires the decision Of thecourts.
He submitted the proposition as a test, and moved
that the directors be authorized to carry out the
above.
The motion Of Mr.. OrdWAy was adopted.
Mr.. OrdWay further stated that the company
had employed ]. H. Bradley and W. Birney as
assistants to Mr.. Chandler, the attorney for the
company, who will prosecute all cases arising in
consequence ofthe company being unable to make
any arrangement with the butchers. The COM
pany had been informed that the holders Of stalls
would not submit to the closing up Of the mar
ket.
that If they did not pay their rents they would be
declared delinquents and ordered to leave the
market. It has become necessary TO use the power
Of the law, and the company have taken the mat
ter in hand and will compel them to leave or pay
up. There is one dealer who has not paid the
company any rent for the past year and nine
months, and he has taken out an injunction
against the company.
He moved that the counsel for the market
company be instructed to ask from the courts
adequate bonds, with sufficient sureties, to in
demn1fy the company for all damages sustained
by these iniunctions, and for the payment Of all
future rents pending these proceedings.
Mr. UrdWay stated that there are a, 400 in
coupon bonds over due and protested, and alarge
portion Of them have already gone into execution,
and q, 200 Of the bonds are in the hands OF the
marshal to be levied against the market prop
erty. The directors have been unable to take
them up, and he called attention to the necessity
of paying these notes within q very short time in
order 70 save me properly as one ,, Of me ~,
matter Will have to be met. The directors
not carry the notes, and the stockholders must
which are gaining every month.
Previous TO the raids on the company there was
no trouble Since that time the credit of the COM
pany has gone down to such an extent that now
It is almost helpless Before these raids the COM
pany was prosperous. This combination Of cir
cumstances necessitated giving this notice. The
matter should receive attention from the stock
holders. He thought the corporation had been
managed with economy, and he believed If the
public, Congress and the Butchers Association
would hear all in connection with the company,
all would come right
He reiterated what he had said at previous
meetiDg-i. G., "there should be furnished meat of
the best quality in this marketh-and IL the pub
lie knew how anxious the company were to have
this accomplished, great confidence would there
Mr.. Ella thought It was no business of the
market company to look after the class Of meat
sold. There is great combination with the
butchers, and the only way the same could be
beaten was to erect q slaughter-hsuse which
be purchased from other places and slaughtered
MI. 0rdway thought IT was the business Of the
for sale 1t is the desire Of the company to build
up this markethouse. Large quantities Of meat
are purchased in Baltimore that should come
from this market. He favored the idea Of build
ing slaughter house, and thereby break up the
combination.
because the meat could be bought cheaper. He
was Of the opinion that It was the cause.
Mr.. Ordway said the facilities of the railroads
should cause meat to be as cheap in W ashington
as any other city. Large quantities Of Vege-
tables are brought into " ashington that can be
sold as low as In Baltimore, and If the butchers
would make the effort they could furnish and sell
the same as in Baltimore. The Butchers Asso-
citation Of Washington is composed of some es-
Unable gentlemen, who are disposed to do what
is right, but are oyerruled BY the majority in the
association.
Mr.. Connolly thought the erection Of a slaugh-
ter house might be done by an Independent
company, but not the market company.
The clerk Of the market, Mr.. Smith, was d.
rected to communicate with cattle dealers Of
other cities and lay the correspondence before
the stockholders at the annual meeting.
The meeting then adjourned.