The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-02
CANNOT ASTORIA
HAVE A MARKET
Other Coast Cities Now Establishing
New Market Places.
MERCHANTS FAVOR SCHEME
Business Demands 1t, and Large Profits
TO the city VIII ResuIt-Time for
the Council TO Act.

Cannot Astoria have a general mar
ket place where Clatsop county farm
ers can freely offer their wares for sale,
II the question being daily asked by
merchants. housekeeps. citizens and far
mers.
The benefits 10 be derived from such
a market place in Astoria have been
fully dwelt upon in these columns. II
Is conceded by all that the establish
ment Of such market means dollars IN
the pockets Of the farmers. citizens and
the storekeepers. When a thousand
people in the vicinity Of cathlamet and
nelghboring points as well as a large
number Of people in Pacific county,
Washington. openly come out and urge
the founding OF a market In Astoria,
and pledge their trade and support even
the most skeptical must be convinced
that there Is something in It. 1t has
been alleged by doubling Thomases in
Astoria that the idea is old-fashioned,
impracticable. and that market can
not possibly benefit anyone in this COM
munlty. The facts, however, are just
TO the contrary.
Look at Seattle on the north OF us.
A few days ago in the face ofconsid-
cradle opposition, the council OF thar
city passed an ordinance. and the may
or signed It, establishing a free market
place. The question was recognized as
an important factor in the community,
and II is anticipated that the new mar
ket will add largely to the commerce
Of the city and benefit both producers
and consumers.
The daily Journal Of Commerce, Of
San Francisco. under date Of Noyem'
ber Is. says;
Last night the beautiful new Unior
square Market was opened to the pub
lie. In the center OF the market on Q
raised platform, surrounded by palm.
and ferns, was the Park band. which
rendered an excellent program. Tn
market itself was beautifully anC
gracefully decorated with tropical anc
semi-tropica plants. while in all part
OF the building the national color
greeted the eye and helped to enhanc'
the display of California products with
which the various stalls were stocked
Thousands OF people took advantage o
the management's liberal gifts of pref
ty souvenirs, and as they fitted in anC
about the handsome building under {
glare OF hundreds OF electric lights. th'
scene presented gave the place lool
as IL vast fair was in progress. The
markets OF San Francisco have lonl
been a source OF pride to the residents
of this city and show places that have
called forth the wonder and praise OF
visitors from afar. Almost anything
and everything eatable can be found on
the stalls in the proper season from the
fruits OF the earth, the birds of the air
and the fishes Of the sea, and the sea-
sons so run into one another, that such
wonders can be seen as strawberries al
Christmas and oysters in July. and
these extremes seem almost wonderful
to visitors from the Eastern sesboard
and the middle west"
The possibilities to be accomplished
by a general market place in Astoria
are almost unlimited. The merchants
favor il and the people demand it.
When seen yesterday Messrs, Foard q
Stokes, Ross, Higgins & Co., Webfoot
Commission Co., and other prominent
dealers, were unanimous in their opin-
ion that Astoria must have a market.
How can the market be secured, was
the question asked by one interested
gentleman. 1t would seem that the on
ly possible way to establish a market
is to adopt the plan pursued by Seattle
pass city ordinance establishing a
free market. The plan is simple one,
and the expense almost nothing COM
pared with the immense benefits to be
derived from it. Is 1t not time for the
Astoria city council to take in hand
this measure which concerns every man,
woman and child in the city as well as
the farmers in Clatsop county and their
brothers on the north side of the river!
II they are waiting for a leader, doubt
less one of the new councilmen who will
take his seat under Republican auspices
in short time will supply the bill II
the matter is still in allegiance when he
is qualified.