The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-30
nm rIErH WARp MARKEr.
small the city or the stockholders T.
TEND lis AccOmmO dations for the Pa


shall the city or the Stockholders Ex'
tend lis AccOmmO datIons for the Pub
lief
There has been good deal Of talk 70.
Gently concerning the insutiiciency OF the
accommodations furnished by the Fifth
Ward Market in this city, considered both
with reference to dealers and purchasers.
The space set apart for Market purposes Is
ample, but less than hall Of it is covered
aud those who are compelled to use the
lower portion Of 1t, are frequently sub
iected to much Inconvenience during tue
winter season, and during Indictment
weather at other portions OF the year.
Further than this, the wards lying below
the creek have now become the most
denseIy, populated section oil the
CITY, and as the Fifth Ward Market is
largely used by residents of other portions
of the city, as well as BIZ the south:siders,
and is now often crowded to an unpleasant
extent, the latter feel that they ought at
least 10 have Us good accommodations Tor
doing marketing as their uptown neigh
bors. ,
The parties who now control the Fifth
Ward Market, II is understood, are will
ing 10 make the needed improvements,
provided they are guaranteed possession oil
| Il, for space OF time sufficient to reim-
burse them for the outlay that would be
required, hut the uncertainty ofcontinued
possession makes them unwilling to 60 10
any unusual expense, unless such guarap'
tee is given.
In order to understand tho matter
thoroughly, the facts connected with the
establishment OF this particular market
will have to be referred TO, as well as sub
seQuent changes made by Council and the
stockholders. The market was established
about 1852, and was purchased and built
By tho city with money furnished by citl-
zens residingin the lower wards, who de-
sired a more convenient point for purchas.
ing their supplies than tho, Second ward
building. An ordinance contained in the
printed ordinance book Of 1855, provides
ior taking aud using, for the purpose. Of
Market space and building, that portion
OF Market street lying between Second
and Third streets, (uow. Twenty-second
and Twenty.third streetQ, together with
thirty.two feet OF the ends OF lots that
abutted upon Market street between said
cross streets. The ends OF such lots
were conveyed by their owners. to
the city and the consideration
for them, as well as the cost OF the build
ing and improvements, which were made
by the city, (thc Fifth ward Councilmen
acting us u building committee) were paid
for rs before mentioned, out OF moneys
paid into the city treasury by individual
citizens OF the lower wards. Certificates
Of the amounts 20 paid In were issued to
such citizens by the city, redeemabIe
without interest at the pleasure OF Council.
These certificates were Of the amount ol
$50 each, and the ordinance further pro.
vided that the net fcycnue derived from
the city, after deiucting from the gross
receipts the necessary repairs OF Saidm
ket buildings and space, and the expen-
SEES of the police and the management OF
the markets held therein should be diviyl-
ed amongtheir holders, such dividends 10
he made on the lst OF January and July Of
each year.
Under this arrangement the mari et was
run with. varying success Tor several years
but the profits to certificate or stockhoid'
ers did not amount to much, and the value
OF certificates ran downto sixty, fifty and
at times forty cents on the dollar. Finally
syndicate was formed. which bought up
most of the stock, aud the control Of the
market having been placed In the hands
Of the CouncilmeT from the Fifth ward,
the market began to yield some revenue
to certificate holders. Under tho careful
management OF the present stockholders
il is understood that the market is paying
handsomely, the dividends averaging
about twenty per cent annually. AS be.
fore stated, It Is understood that the hold
ers OF the certificates or stock, arc will
ing to make any needed improvements,
provided the city will guarantee them
possession OF the property for term sutli-
cient to reimburse them, and twentyyears
is mentioned as period OF possession Tor
which they would be willing to make the
7 outlay needed. ta.
i On the other hand, there arc a good
many who think that the city ought to
\ avail Itself OF its reserved privileges, pay
the certificate holders thc amount OF their
certificates as provided in the original
contract, and make the improvelne cuts
itself. They claim that the markets OF the
city ought 70 belong 10 the city, and that
in this case tbs property under consider
alton would pay for Itself aud needed Jun.
provements in comparatively short Pc
Rod. a 20.
Whichever way the question Is settled
it ought to be settled promptly. Tho peo.
pie need the increased market facilities
and they are not likely TO get them until
this matter undetermined, ''.' '''