The Wilmingtonian., 1884-12-20
THE CURB-sToNE MARKET.

i tne masses, III tne 1nluSI OF tIle pTeseue pusi-
ress depression afford, out of their limited
wage, to pay an additional charge or tax
upon the daily necessaries Of life. Nothing
Else but that will be the outcome of abolish
ing the curb-stone Market. 1t is the only
free market Wilmington can have. Those
who assume that an equivalt mt can be gain
ed by the city locating and erecting GER
tain free market house where farmers may
resort with their produce are as blindly i'm
periling the institution of free market for
our citizens as its avowcd enemies. II is
notoriously the experience in all cities that
the moment such restrictions are instituted
the fate of free market is sealed. First
not be efficacous to lay small tax, say Of
two or three dollars year upon each far
mer, just 10 pay the EXPENSES of the build
ing, for cleaning etc, tlen there will lie GER
tain preferred stalls, which, no matter what
the municipal regulations may be, certain
farmers or producers will after a length
ened term of occupation consider they have
a vested right to occupy to the exclusion of
others--thus abuses will crop up, addi-
| tional levies will be made, AID premium
will be offered for the best placs. Again
what enclosed market place could be found
in the city of Wilmington to accommodate
the hundreds of small producers, whom we
see every Wednesday and Saturday ranged
all away up from Front Street along King to
Tenth Street
The advocates of au enclosed market for
get, or purposely ignore the truth that it is
by the fact of very large number of small
marketmen, and not at all by limited num-
ber of large stalls, that a live and thriving
mark ct exist. 10 that fact also is to be
attributed the revenue accumulated by the
storekeepers along the market streets. They
world OF receive the multiplicity of varied
small orders from few rich butchers or
truckers. The thrift of all the stores on
King Street is impeiiled were the curb-stone
ordinance revoked Surely the citizens of
that they would be at the mercy of limited
number of provision men, green-grocers sc.
They would charge just such prices as suit
ed them, there being no competition, the
buyer would be at their mercy.
There are certain facts however in regard
to this controversy that all citizens should be
informed upon. The butchers, that is to
say the regular butchers, those renting stalls
not object to the farmers on the curb-stone
What they do object to is the ''shinner, +"
that is the butcher who drives in to the MAJ
ket twice week with his wagon laden with
meat picked up from the country around,
which he has not raised himself, but bought
here and there from different farmers. This
man is undoubtedly butcher to all intents
and purposes. But he puts up his stall or
stand at the curb-stone ard sells his meat
at price inside that of the regular butcher
as lie has no rent or tax to pay. There is an
ordinance against such practices, they ex-
list, and did council diligently see that it
were not infracted there would be none OF
this curb-stone commotion. For the only
really aggrieved parties are our Legitimate
butchers who are greatly undersold in beef
and pork by the SINNERS. The small guam
titles sold by the farmers raised on their own
land being only an occasional pig or eep,
now and then, and does not initiate in any
extent against tue annual trade of the
butcher. This these tradesmen concede and
assert they have an arraignment only against
the SINNERS who every market day break
the ordinance. It IS asserted by the regular
butchers along King Street that men who
come twice week with to 800 lbs. o.
meat in their wagons, as they do, the Who'll,
year round, canuot bs farmers, they mus
be butchers, because it would take all theil
time to prepare the meat that they bring tt
the market. The SINNERS then come unde
the municipal ordinance and should be tax
ed just the same as the rogu ar butchers
Some Of the SINNERS in King Street marke
are known to have been carrying on usi
ness in this way for years. The tax-payln,
butcher has real grievance in this matte
and will get the sympathy of citizens o
Wilmington.
But there is another point of greater i'm
I por tance to the people of this city, to tn
!, masses. 1t is that there is well grounded
fear that certain parties are taking this OF
. portunity, of apparently acting in defence G
e the butchers when claiming that the munic
4 ipal ordinance discriminates in favor of til
SINNERS, to make a covert attack upon til
curb-stone market itself, as an institution
1t is the duty of all citizens who believe
y the imperative necessity of a free market, t
e closely watch these proceedings. If IL
Q. court decision in the test case that is con
RS ing up on Wednesday next be that the shil
E. ners are infractng the city ordinance, a co