The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-12
Providence Should Have
Central Market.
EXCELLENT LOCATIONS.
Many Business Men Favor Old Rail-
way Station Site.
TIE BRIDGING OF THE RIVER.

Not so many years ago there was con-
siderable agitation for n public market
building on Market square, beginning
at the south side of the great bridge and
extending to Crawford str o. bridge.
When the subject was first broached in
connection with the big improvement In
this large central square, the location
was considered an ideal one for the pur-
pose.
The legislature VAS petitioned for per-
mission to puild the market on this site
time limit of three years In which to
complete the work Like a number of
other things talked about but never &C.
complishcd, the project fell through and
the three years slipped away so that per-
mission must again be granted by the
legislature to erect building over the
river at this point.
1t was about year ago that the leRis-
lature was petitioned to allow the city of
Providence to cover the river from the
great bridge TO Crawford street bridge
ana there were large number Of infu-
entail citizens who believed 1t would be
a profitable thing to do.
A NEW LOCATION.
Those who are must interested in a
public market are now of the opinion
that the space in question Is not large
enough. and they advocate the taking CT
the big tract of land that will soon be
open in the vicinity of the new railroad
station. There will be room enough
there after the old station is removed to
build a public market that will meot
every requirement. for the next hundred
years to come.
1t would be source Of revenue 60 the
city and be a wilma breaker In the big
square. Business men do not think that
the city can afford to devote this valuable
space to park or any ornamental public
enterprise They say there is little likli-
hood OF the government selecting the
place for postofiloe building and the
natural site for public market Is here.
Many important cities know that public
markets are veritable gold mines Of
revenue to municipalities. and IL they. are
profitable as investments elsewhere, why
not, say the business men. have such an
enterprise for revenue and convenience In
this citvp
1t is said that many of the markets
now established in paying quarters OF the
town would oppose any IN ovement look
ing toward tho established in paying
quarters OF the town would oppose any
movement looking toward the establish
ment of public market, because IL would
ruin their trade. Even 80, there are
plenty of other dealers who would be
glad to avail themselves Of public GEN.
trail resort, believing that in time all or
nearly oil the marketing business would
be done on Exchange place, should the
space DO devoted to the purpose.
A BUSY AND VALUABLE SPACE.
with the Capitalization Of the business
paying rents or stalls could be COM
manded by the city. and in time the
market place would materially assist in
paying the constantly growing expense
of maintaining the municipality. At all
events the big tract OF land would not
DO valueless rs revenue maker for the
city, as IL would be IL IL were devoted to
park or other ornamental purposes or
even given 20 the government for little or
nothing as q site for the postofiicc.
Besides being useful tho public market
located on Exchange place would make
that space one Of the busiest in the city