New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-17
MEMORIAL TO THEL GISLATURE

The following petition to the Legislature vss
prepared by z. Pilleul Esq, attorney Of the retail
meat and provision dealers Of New Orleans
To the Honorable Speaker and Members OF tbs
House Of Representatives.:
The petition of the undersigned citizens An6
residents of the city Of New Orleans and Of it's
suburbs respectfully shows that. in the year 1906.
the Legislative Assembly Of Louisiana passed an
act entitled IAN act to authorize ali poi SONS who
have obtained the proper license to open and keep
open, at all business hours Of the day, private
markets. stores lands in any part Of the city OF
New Orleans tor the sale Of meats game, poultry.
vegetables fruit and fresh fsh "-Ac; No. l3i Of
1866.
The circumstances which caused the enactment
of this law etiu fresh in our memories. The
combinations Of the butchers and other associs
tons connected with the public markets had
caused the butchers meat and the daily provisions
necessary for the subsistence Of the people to rise
to enormous price, beyond the means Of the
DOOR, The distance from the homes Of many TO
the nearest market, the loss Of time to reach
the market where they could buy their
daily provisions, added yet 70 their difficulties.
and rendered their situations more painful. such
an amount Of oppression and misery WIS noticed
and considered by the Legislature and the sad
act Ns. l3i OF 1866 was passed 10 remedy the
grievances of the people.
The be efcal effects Of this law were soon felt:
private markets. stores and stands. fer the sale OF
meats vegetables and poul ry were erected III
every part of the city, and the poor citizens Of the
remotest parts OF the suburbs, were soon relieved
Instead of marching ten twenty squares TO
reach q market the markets had gone to them.
and any poor man was enabled to buy all the neces-
sary provisions for his daily subsistence at his own
door, aud at reduced prices.
Vacant lots in the vicinity o, the private mar
kets began to be filed Up and built upon. and the
general population. we'll as the general prosper
ity became much increased. Amid this general
and public contentment Of the people. with the
institutions of free markets. after q large number
of citizens had invested their Ueans in the
erection of suitable buildings and i'm pr0vements
attempt is made to abolish, by legislative enact
ments, institutions which had been so beneficial
to the many, for the purpose Of enriching q few
wealthy monopolists.
Your memcrialists respectfully represent to your
honorable body that among the advantages which
the people derive from the institution Of free mar
kets are the following:
/. Private markets OF the greatest con.
venience and importance to all poor people, such
laborers, mechanics. draymen. clerks and a..
classes in general who are compelled to live in
cheap rents which could not be Obtain ed in the
neighborhood of any of the city public markets,
which are already too much crowded to be healthy.
g. Private markets are Of indispensable necessity
to small property holders who put up house to
rent as well to those who have their own homes.
They ought to be entitled to enjoy the benefits Of
private enterprise, especially when it costs nothing
10 the city or State.
J. Private markets increase the genera! pros
perity; they increase the value of the suburbs Of
the city, adding thereby largely to the revenues of
the State and city by an ipcSease Of taxation and
taxable property.
g. Private markets have always existed IN all
large cities of the United States. where they ar.
considered a necessity. which they really are.
s. Private markets have been in operation ir the
city of New Orleans since the first Of January 1867.
under the protection of the act No. 1884, approved
March ~. 1866. and have given entire satisfaction
to the public. without giving any cause for any
complaint whatever as to the public health.
G. Private markets are as much looked to for the
daily supply of food by the poor man at present
the retail grocery, and it would almost be mat.
ter OF impossibiiity to get along without them
without causing the greatest Inconvenience. if lot
distress, to large number Of our population.
Your memorialists respectfully pray your honor
able body 10 consider this. their petition:
They pray that the act No. 1874 approved March
q. 1866, remain unchanged. They tremain con-
WINGED that this act act beneficial to the PEG.
pie of the city of New Orleans, and that the power
Of the City Administra' ors to interfere with the
private markets. well with the industry OF pri
vate citizens, justly and wisely limited by your
predecessors of 1876. and respectfully pray your
honorable body to adhere to the same wise policy
and legislation.
duty bound, ial7 Pr