National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-01
CORCORAN SQUARE.
A MAss-MEETING IN THE OLD SHEDS
Adopts Memorial to Congress, Protesting Against
the Proposed Abolition Of the Market-In.
eensed Citizens Give Vent to Their
Long Pent-up Indignation.

The citizens of North Washington met in mass
meeting last night in the market sheds, on Cor
coran Square, 10 consider the proviso in the pend
ing District appropriation bill, reported TO the
| House, which proposes TO demolish the market
and use the ground for high school building. The
meeting was largely attended, and organized by
electing the following officers: President, s. Nor
ment; vicespresidents, r. C. Hewitt, S. s. Henkle
Robert Downing, Colonel J. o. p Burnside, W. A
Cook, George Donaldson, ]. B. Wilson, Colonel E.
Daniels, John Weyrich, ]. r. Barr, and A. C.
! Spaulding, and secretary, E. W. Dom.
Mr.. S. R. Bond read a memorial to Congress
which was unanimously adopted, protesting
against the passage ofth clauseof the appropria-
ton bill which would take away the mar
ket which now accommodates the large and rap
| idly-growing population which it was intended
for. and setting forth
FlrSt-The purchase of three market sites by
virtue of the act of the Legislative Assembly, one
in the EASTERN one in the western, and one in the
northern part of the city; the erection OF market
houses IN the two former, which have been paid
for out OF the general treasury of the DStrct the
increased assessments of property in the neighbor
hood OF Corcorau Square by reason of the location
OF the market there, so that the property of North
washington has not only paid its proportion for
the other markets, but by this increased taxation
has also paid for the ground in question.
Second-That the site is absolutely needed for q
market and IS the best possible location for one,
as Is borne out by the fact of the large business
zone III the OIQ ,SheuS now ON It. ana by the per
sistent efforts of those interested in other markets
to bring about the sale or use of "Corcoran Square
Tor other purposes.
Third-That this site was selected after full dis
cussion of the question of northern market site,
and was bought of Mr.. Coreoran with the under
standing that it should be devoted tOmarket uses,
and he agreed to give the proceeds to the Cor
coran Art Gallery, which he has DONE and it
would be breach of faith to now divert it from
such uses.
Fourth-That as the District has not erected
permanent market building, the citizens are will
ing to lease the ground and build market on
terms which will yield large revenue to the Dis
trlct, as proposed in House bill 4I49, which was
avorably reported at the last session by the House
District Committee, by which the north half of the
ground will be devoted TO school purposes, while
the s0nth half will be kept for market; and that
this division was agreed upon rs a compromise be-
tween the conflicting claims of the schools and of
those wishing to preserve market upon the site.
The memorial closed by asking for the passage of
the bill last mentioned, and that the obnoxious
clause be stricken out of the District appropriation
bill.
The crowd increased rapidly, and when Mr.
Bond finished reading upward OF fifteen hundred
persons had cOngregated in and about the sheds,
and they seemed DESTROYS of hearing the matter
discussed, Judging from the frequent calls for
speeches.
Mr.. Norment said it was evident that the people
OF North Washington were interested in retaining
the market on CorcOran Square, and he regarded
this as the golden opportunity to prevent the
square from being diverted from the purpose for
which it was bought. If the high school was
one on COrcOran Square.
Mr.. j. B. Wilson gave an account of an interview
held with the District Commissioners, in which
Mr. Dent stated that he was opposed TO corpora
ton markets and advised those interested in the
Corcoran Square market to go in with some COM
pany. He and others had opposed such action
and had agreed TO compromise on half square for
the school and half for the market, but the Com
missioners had not kept faith with Them but
slipped in an obnoxious clause in the apprOpria-
ton bill to defeat the will of the people He knew
that the K-Street market largely interested in
breaking down the one on Corcoran Square, but
thought the people most interested should have
some voice in the matter.
Mr. r. c. Hewitt said he had advocated market
on this square against great opposition, and was
proper place for ii. He inquired why all the
lawyers on the school board were retained in the
interest of the market companies on street and
Pennsylvania avenue? The only desire OF the lat
ter TO break up the 0-Street market and divert
trade to themselves.
Mr.. George Donaldson said he had remained in
the O-street market shed when every one else de-
serted it. The first day they left Wednesday, he
sold SiSty-two cents worth of stuff, the following
Saturday he sold SOP worth. He had been told by
men in the k-street market that ii they could get
half square with the company they would leave
and go up TO o street (The remarks of this
speaker seemed the most relished by the crowd as
he was recognized as an old dealeT.)
Mr.. McGulre said that the market was O cOnven-
fence to the people, and the building should be
erected without any further delay: 1t looked TO
him very much as though the District Committee
in Congress had been paid to work against the O.
Street market or else why did they not give heed
to the wishes of the people most interested? In
he favored the building of market
fronting on Seventh street, which should take in
the whole square.
Mr.. s. X. Bond the last speaker, said
Congress did not want to disregard |
the wishes of the people, but they had only heard
0ne side of the question-from the enemies OF the
O-street market. The revenue derived from the
sheds now in use paid the interest on the 100000
and it would be a shame to cut down this income
for school site, which could be purchased any
where in the District for onequarter that sum- He
urged his hearers to their influence upon Con-
gresS to defeat the clause complained OF, and at
inc conclusion of his speech the meeting ad-