Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-29
HOW A PUBLIC MAllEET GREW
Advantages and Benefits shoyn by the Bx-
perience of Brooklyn.
PROFITS OF A BUSINESS VENTURE
Suggestive Facts for Omaha Drawn
from n Project Nearing Com
plction-Buiidines. Cost of
and Regulations.

Il is conceded that a market is the ideal
means of cheapenng the cost of living in
Omaha. By bringing the producer and con-
sumer together, the services of the middle
man are dispensed with, truck farmers
dispose Of their produce promptly and house
keepers secure table necessaries at first
hands and effect material saving in the
cost. That a public market would demon
strate the claims Of its advocates is beyond
question Similar projects have proven Of
incalculabls public benefit in other cities
and like results may be confidently expected
from the maintenance of a market in
Omaha.
In this connection the experience OF the
city of Brooklyn in establishing the Wall
about market, as detailed by the Eagle, Will
be Of interest. Up to very recent period
the city had no regular market place, and
truck farmers hawked their product here,
there and everywhere. frequently grouping
Themselves in one section, then in another,
to the annoyance and discomfort of store
keepers and residents. A common market
place became a necessity, and the city
authorities, ten years ago, set about pro-
curing one. AS a preliminary. notice was
served on the farmers that at the end OF
five years they would net be permitted to
stand their wagons for the sale of produce
on any street except the locality to he
chosen for a market place. lease of
portion of the navy yard reservation, ad-
jacent to the Wallabout bridge, was eff
fected by the city. The leased area COM
prised eighteen acres.
Immediately upon completing the transfer
the city engineers filled in and graded the
land and divided 1t with streets. Following
these improvements came paving and the in
PRODUCTION of water and lighting systems.
Then the farmers were allowed to leave
Washington avenue and take stands alorE
the interior streets. for which fee of 20
cents a day was charged. This amount re-
mains the same tcday. Some of the enter
prising marketmen among The wholesale
dealers secured lots at rentals varying from
$S to 500, and erected cheap frame buildings
at their own expense. The transfer Of the
market from Fulton street, however, was
not looked upon with favcr by many OF the
retail dealers. who. as soon as the change
was made, transferred their trade across the
bridge to West Washington market, New
York, and for a long time the marketnen at
Walabout had hard times 10 meet running
expenses. A great impetus was. therefore.
given to all interests when, in January, 1889,
Washington market was moved TO It's present
site on West Thirtee lth street, and many of
the Brooklyn dealers transferred nearly all
OF their business TO the Walabout. Then
followed a grcwth so capii that the necessity
Of a permanent market to-, Brooklyn IRE
sented itself. In consequence Il ;nis, over
lures for the purch,s by the city of the
feo simple Of the land occupied by the NAL
ket were made to the federal government in
$780, and congress passed. an act authorizing
the transfer of the title 10 Brooklyn. Late
the area Of the market was extended TO Wal
labout canal and in November 1891, the
city authorities completed the purchase at
valuation Of 100000. Is
IT'S VALUE APPRECIATED.
10 vi. ba,
recognized 1t assumed such Importance ind
business increased SO rapidly that 1t became
necessary to consider the possibilities of the
future. The result was that application was
made at Washington for additional lands of
the navy yard reservation, embracing the
tract bounded on the north by the East river
and Wallabout canal, on the east by Wash
ington avenue, the south by Flushing
avenue, and on the west by the Clinton ave-
nue. extension, the eastern boundary Of the
navy yard. The government authorized the
SALE the terms of which were 81 ,200,0 coo, and
this amount, with $S,666 interest, was paid
over on June IL, 1894. The funds for the
purpose were obtained through the sale of
special market bonds of the city, which were
readily taken by Brooklyn and New York
bankers and trust companies at premiums
ranging from to 31-10O per cent.
Long before the contamination of the lat
ter purchase by the city the marketmen
began to clamor for the establishment of
permanent plans, so they could enlarge their
stores and continue business with more GER
tanty. The commissioner of public works
advertised for plans and five architects re-
spcnded The matter was given the most
careful consideration and in July, 1894, one
month after the second section became the
property of the city, the plans were approved
and the erection of the new market was
begun early in the spring of 1895. Under
the hands of the hundreds of workmen this
little city Of tradeSmen grew like the magic
development of mushroom growth yet car
ried with 1t the strength and power of the
sturdiest oak.
THE MARKET BUILDINGS.
The buildings are of colonial Dutch de-
sign, two stories in height, with bodies of
wash brick with terra Gotta and blue stone
trimmings. The stores are separated by
brick party walls thus insurlng considerable
safety in case of fire. and also reducing the
cost of erection. The interior construction
throughout has been planned with view
toward giving the greatest possible strength
without the introduction Of posts, pillars
and other distractions The mansard roofs
and the peak roofs on the corner and center
buildings of each block are covered with
red slate. The cornces, ridge rolls ETC.,
are Of galvanized iron and the same material
is used in the construction of the awnings.
The frame work Of the awnings is made of
steel with trussed brackets thus giving per-
feet freedom on the sidewalks.
FOuT Iull DlochS III washington avenue,
two in Flushing avenue and two interior
blocks, beside number of buildings against
the navy hospital wall. are now completed
with the exception of two or three unfn-
ished interiors, making a total of 5,235 run
ming feet Of fronts now erected, represent
ing owners to the npmberrof eighty-e!ght
and 144 plots In all.
There are yet to be completed 1T plots,
making 5,154 running feet of new fronts.
Prominent among the new buildings are the
office building or clock tower, the city
stables and the fire engine house. The latter
will be in a block by Itself occupying a
space CT 44x100 on the lower end OF Wash
ington avenue. In exterior design this build
ing will harmonic withithe general market
plan, but the interior win be fitted up to
meet the requirements Of the fire depart
ment. The Office building viii be situated at
the southeast corner Of the market square,
adjoining the hospital wall and from it
commanding view Of the entire square and
the majority of the market buildings will
be obtained The main tower will be TWEEN
ty-fve feet square and Will extend 100 feet
from the ground to tho gable walls. with a
turret on the peak roof running about forty
feet higher. Clock faces will be placed in
the north, south and west gables. The pri-
vate and general offices on the frst floor
will be handsomely fitted with interior deco
rations. The stables, also to be erected on
the east side of the square, Will include car