Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-29

year or two more. AS II stands today, Wal
labout market is the most valuable property
in possession Of the city, and If the revenue
derived from 1t continues to increase in the
same ratio that has marked its augmentation
for the past ten years, it will soon prove by
far the greatest source Of income Of all the
city investments.
The government of the market through the
department of city works is very simple, and
IS controlled by an act (chapter $500, which
passed the state legislature in 1894 1t au-
thorlzes the city to grant lot holders five
years lease, with privilege of two renewals,
and calls for the erection of buildings at the
expense of the lessees, such buildings being
subject to forfeiture should the owners de-
fault in the payment of rent or refuse
to renew licenses.
The following table showing the revenue
for three years, forwarded to Commissioner
White just before the expiration of mis- term,
speaks eloquently of the financial success Of
the market:
Rent from farmers. s,ol6,OO
oo, Total for year. w, @ a5d w w
1S9+-Ground rent. .$24 SIS 81
Rent from farmers. lO,95S.OO
Total for year. $35, 574. 81
1s95-Ground rent. $37 57S. Y
Rent from farmers. l., 592. 90
Total for year. $50, ,17OT
This shows that farmers drove into the
square Z, ,102 times more than they did during
the year 1894.
The cost of maintaining the market for the
year ending December 81. 1895, was $11,-
222.32, which leaves surplus revenue of
$3S ,947S5. AS to the possibility Of the in
crease of these figures for the present year
1t may be said that already an additional
number of plots have been leased, amount
ing to 1886 square feet, which will bring
in an annual revenue to the city of $500.
Payment will begin in the spring, when build
ings now in course Of erection will have been
completed.
The city spent in construction work during
the year 3320577, which amount was dis
tributed as follows: New brick and pipe
sewer system, covering every street In the
market, SIS, 1882 .43; new water mains, s3,-
G95.29; Belgian block pavement, $4,677; new
curb furnished and set, $2,501.O5; removal
of entire Washington avenue pavement. $500;
filling hauled to market streets and graded,
$3,3O0
The revenue for the year more than covers
this outlay and the prospect therefore be-
comes very promising when one realizes that,
while the yearly revenue Is bound to in
crease, the city may never again put out
such an amount in improvements, for the
work has been done with great care and
several generations will come and go be-
fore other improvements are necessary.
There still remains to be leased seventy
five lots, recently laid out which will bring
the city revenue Of $l924S, and when ne
receive annually from lot rental alone nearly
$6S, 600. Presuming few hundred wagon
rents may be added, which is more than
conservative, the annual income will event
ually amount to $4,000, against which there
will be the maintenance OF the market,
amounting to not more than $l1 900 or S12,-
600; perhaps less
SCENES ON MARKET DAY.
Not the least interesting feature of mar
ket life Is market day." when the wagons of
the farmers from all parts of the rural dis
tricts crowd the big square to oyerflowing
and the owners dispose OF their produce TO
ket day at this time of year is Friday. AS
early as o'clock on Thursday afternoon
the farmers begin to arrive and, Of course,
have their choice OF good positions In the
square. Late comers who follow them until
all hours Of the night must be content to
wheel into line where spaces are left. The
majority Of the farmers are greeted by men
in waiting, known as "carriers." and they
throw the reins over the backs OF their horses
and walk off with no further responsibility
than TO engage a room In an adjoining hotel
and mingle with their acquaintances In the
restaurants and bar rooms. The carriers un-
hitch the teams and take them TO the stables
at the ncrth end OF the square. the duty Of
a carrier engaged by farmer does not end
with the mere taking OF the horses TO the
stable. He must be on hand early next
morning and remain within calling distance
of the farmer, SO that should a grocer whose
wagon is at the end Of the street make
purchase, he will be ready to carry the goods
to the spot. thus allowing the farmer TO re-
main In his wagon continually. When the
farmer Is ready 10 return home the carrier
brings back the horses and receives a fee Of
70 cents. There are about i've boss carriers