Evening star., 1897-01-15
DIsApPEARED IN THE NIGHT.

Story of the Old Northern Liberty
Market Told I'm . Senate Report.
A report from the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia submitted to the senate
by Mr.. Martin, on House bill S726 to pro-
vide for the payment of certain claims
against the District of Columbia by draw
back certificates. recalls an interesting
event in the history of the city. The older
residents of the District of Columbia re-
member the unsightly wooden sheds that
stood on the square, now transformed into
a beautiful park. between 7th and 9th
streets on X street
Mr.. Martins report recites that a great
many years ago. by permission of the
United States authorities. the city of
Washington constructed market house,
now known as the Northern Liberty Mar
ket. on portion of the public grounds at
the Intersection Of 7th street and New York
avenue, then unimproved and unoccupied.
BY ordinance of the city" the report
says the rights and privileges to the stalls
In this market were sold at public auction
to the highest bidder for a term of. years.
generally five years each, the amount of
the bid to be paid annually, and in addi-
ton the city charged and received In ad-
vance an annual rent for each Of said stalls
and for all privileges granted in the mar
ket. and also a license for conducting any
market business. The city, in this way de-
rived a large revenue from this market.
1t by new constructions.
During the existence OF the board of
public works extensive Improvements were
inaugurated In the city, and the board de-
termined to remove the market house. Ac-
cCrdingly on the afternoon Of September 3,
1872, the board issued an order to their
agent. Thomas NJ. Plowman to remove the
market house that night. In obedience to
these instructions, Plowman gathered
about 200 laborers. and. marching to the
market house about Z O'Clock in the even
ing, he proceeded at once with pickaxes,
shovels. etc. to pull down and destroy the
building. This was entirely without notice
to the stall holders; and 10 their utter sur
prise they found on the following morning
that the building had been torn down, the
roof and stalls falling II. upon their tools,
implements and the provisions and supplies
that they had provided for the4-next days
market and that the work had been done
IN such reckless. sudden and violent man.
rer as to destroy their property. ruin their
business and result in the death of two
unoffending citizens. In order to make
their work complete the board Of public
works had succeeded in having all the
judges beyond the District limits, or at
least beyond reach OF any of the parties in
interest who might have applied for an in
junction.
Whatever may have been the justifica-
ton In the eyes of the board of public
works fer this sudden and unexpected and
heroic manner of removing this, market.
there is question that just compensa-
ton should be made to those citizens whose
property was thus sacrificed. Not only
should they receive compensation for the
property actually destroyed or injured. but
they should also receive repayment for any
sums of money which they had. In accord
ance with law. paid for the rights and
privileges of conducting their business in
the market house, to the extent Of the un-
expired term of which they had paid and
of which they have been deprived These
two matters alone are covered by the bill.
At least one party had paid In August for
his license to do business there for twelve
months, while the building was destroyed
within three weeks after the amount was
paid"
The report concludes: y, >.-.-.4.4..
The Commissioners report that there
has never been any tribunal to which these
claims could be presented for this violent
destruction of private property. The bill
makes no appropriation Of funds from the
United States treasury. or from the Dis
trict funds. but simply provides that these
parties shall be issued drawback certifi-
Gates which may be receivable for unpaid
taxes. There are past-due penalties and
taxes amounting to at least 81, ,5OO,OOO due
the District of Columbia, some Of which
have been due since 1877, and in the opin-
ion of the committee these Just claims
against the District can be liquidated in
this manner. without any material expense
to the District. and probably with a bene-
fit resulting from the settlement of some
of these past-due taxes. which will result
in restoring property to the tax lists which
will pay its share of public burdens in the
future"