The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-18
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
Made to the Board of Aldermen With Refer
ence to the Primary.
March II, 1900.

| In order to give the voters the views OF the
Board of Aldermen on the proposition to sell the
market house we print below the report made to
| the board by the special committee:
Your committee after considering all the facts
| which were presented to us decided to make tie
| following recommendations:
l. To submit to the voters of the city the
| question of selling the Market House. we dc
| not believe it is the purpose or desire OF this
| Board to take any action in regard to the mat.
| ter which fails to meet the approval of the ma
ority of the people our city.
9 II che decision Of the people is in favor OF
| selling the Market House, we recommend that the
| sale be made at public auction, and that no bid
| less then $4,000 shall be accepted We believe
| that the Market House is worth at least $50,CcC
| and could not recommend its sale at price less
than this amount We believe that if it is put
up at public auction it might bring as much as
| 500, Geo, or $1,000.
g. If the property is sold for $4,000 over,
| we recommend that the proceeds therefrom be
used in purchasing the city lot now occupied
| by the city, which can be purchased for $4,000.
The city has an option on this lot for twelve
months at the price named above.
4. If the city lot is purchased recommend
that the upper part of it located Salisbury
and Davie streets or as much of it as may needed
be set aside as a suitable location on which to
| build an auditorium, and that it be donated to
anv person or syndicate that will erect thereon
building for this purpose. The plan of the
| building to be submitted to the Board of Alder
men, and approved by them before the site Is
donated.
s. We recommend that before the Market House
| is disposed of in any way, either this committee
| or another committee from the Board of Alder
men be authorized to secure options on a suita
bic site for a new Market House. and that these
options be taken in the name of the city and be
fled with the city clerk; extending for period
| of twelve months No definite action to be taker
in regard to the sale Of the city Market Hous
until after suitable options have been taken in
/ various sections of the city, and that these OPP
tions be submitted to the Board of Aldermen
| After the Board Of Aldermen have become salts
| fed that we have options on sufficient number
of goods sites to justify us in selecting a good
| one for the new Market House. we then recon
mend that we proceed with the sale of the old
| Market House, provided a price can be obtained
! for it stated above, to justify us in making
the sale. We believe that if can get as
much at $50. 600 for the old Market House, we car
/
| the site for the auditorium which will practi
cally guarantee to Raleigh the building of 6
suitable auditorium We will own the city lo'
| and thereby the yearly rental OF $500 whicl
we are now paying. Beides it is very essentia
| for the city to own lot for city purposes. Witt
$50, eco remaining we can purchase desirable LOT
/ on which to locate the city market. We
do not believe the site would cost over $500
GO sQl
with which to build new city market. twlc,
large the one which we now have; witt
/ cold storage accommodations and up to datC
improvements In front and on top of the market
house we could build Offices for the accommoda
ton of our city offces-the mayor office ant
! clerks office, tax collectors Office, station
house, etc
! If these recommendations can be successfully
! carried out it will give us the possession OF a
city lot; it will insure for the city an audito
rum, besides giving us an up to date market
house, capable of accommodating twice many
renters as the present market, with much better
city Offices than we now have, and all o.
these results accomplished without any expense
to the city. Besides it viii remove from ouI
main thoroughfare an unsghtly building, and
do away with the bad odors and disagreeablC
SneilS winch frequently greet our CtlhelS III pass
ing down Fayetteville and other streets adjoining
the market house. The market house will prob
ably be sold to a syndicate who will erect on tho
site a handsome building, which will improve
very materially that part of the city.
We recognize the fact that the site is very
valuable one, and as the Board always looks very
carefully after the interest of the city, we be
leve that it should be disposed of at public
auction, giving every one chance to bid on
it. and that in order to guarantee that good
price shall be obtained for the building, we recon-
mend, as stated above, that the minimum price
be fixed at $4,000 all of which is respectfully
submitted.