The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-16
A. | .E1M
THE MARKET HOUSE.
Opinions For and Against Its
Erection.
ROANOKE TIMES BUREAU,
BILLIARD s. PERSINGER BLDG,


BILLIARD s. PERsINGER BLDG,
SALEM, VA, Jan. Is.
At tho last regular meeting of the
town council Messrs. j. Il. Shipman, E.
VI. Chalmers and John A. Francis were
appointed committee to select suita-
BILE place and plan for public market
house and to report at the next regular
meeting.
knowing that this matter was jusC
now the leading topic with many of the
residents of Salem, THE TIMES reporter
this afternoon interviewed the mayor
and several Of the council as to their
ideas concerning the advantages of a
market house, its cost, style, location
and probability of being built, etc., and
the following is the result:
Hon. w. II. Younger said: II am in
doubt as to whether it is actually neces
sary here and whether or not the pres
emit population demands it. If i was
satisfied that the curbage and stall rents
would pay the interest on the invest
ment / would be in favor of its being
erected at once, but at present am not
sufficiently informed to be able to give
decided opinion. If one is put up
WOulu IKE W SS0 d CEcQltdDtC
of two stories erected, the upper story
having a large hall, in which meetings
could be held. I suppose the cost of q
suitable building would he $4,000.
Councilman John A. Francis thought
the whole business was premature on
account Of the town not being able to
expend Sl5. 900 or 100000 which, he
judged, would be the necessary cost.
He was in favor of a public market
house as soon as the population Of Salem
justifies city charter.
City Father Thomas i. Preston spoke
as follows: II certainly think Salem
needs public market house very badly.
There seems to be some difference of
opinion about obtaining alocation easily
accessible from all parts of town, but 1
think one can be centrally located, not
only to suit the citizens, but also the
country people, who claim to have more
trouble to sell their produce after they
get here than to get it hero. The town
ought to make an appropriation of
$4,000 for building useful and orna-
mental market house at the earliest
possible moment, and if it can't be built
any other way we ought to increase our
bonded debt, for believe it would be a
source of revenue to the town, and that
the curbage would pay the interest"
Mr.. L. b. Chalmers said that he had
not given the matter much thought;
if practicable it would be most excel
lent idea, but he did not exactly see
how the town could build it this year
on account of having SO much other
work on hand already mapped out.
He had not thought of any plans for a
market house, but was of the opinion
that substantial brick building to
answer all purposes, could be erected
for four or FIVE Thousand dollars. "Oi
course" said he, 1.-The 'curbage tax
would be source of revenue, but
whether or not it would pay the inter
est On the money invested I could not
say. / am of the opinion that our bus
mess men who pay license ought to lie
protected from those who peddle with
out paying tax for the privilege"
Councilman j. ID. Shipman gave utter
ance to his thoughts on the subject by
saying: The town is not able at this
time to put up such q building as !
think should be erected for a market
house. | am in favor of a handsome
and substantial bric9 building, of two
stories high, with hall on the second
floor. 1t should be centrally located
and would cost ten or twelve thousand
dollars, The market house Is needed
now, but in the present financial strin-
gency l do not know how we are to
build it, though j do not see why it
should not be built sometime during
this year "
Mr.. A. G. Duncan, who is the father
of the whole idea, is enthusiastic on the
subject and said: II think it ought to
be built by the town at once, and the
upper portion to be so arranged that it
could be used as a hall for public meet
ings and entertainments. j regard the
town hall as unfit for public use in its
present condition. l think thatthe build
ing We want could be erected for about
$500. Material is cheap now. j am in
favor of erecting this building during
this year. The curbage and stall rents
would in my opinion more than pay the
interest on the cost. The country folks
say that they cannot afford to come to
Salem to buy goods. as they cannot sell
their produce here without wearing out
their teams driving around town. Again,
public MARI ct would stop those who
peddle produce without paying tax,
to the damage of our merchants who pay
license and ought to be protected"
THE WHIST CLUB.