The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-16
$4,000 WILL BE OFFERED
THE BIDS WILL. BE SUBMITTED
TO THE BOARD.
MAY HAVE TO SELL BY PUB. &c AUCTION
Mr.. Drewry, Chairman of the Special Commit
tee, Gives Some of the Reasons Why
He Thinks the Market Ought
to be Moved.

Today is the time appointed for the
opening Of rhe bids for the Market
House property They will be opened
at noon, in the Office of Mr.. John G.
Drewry by the special committee APP
pointed by the board OF aldermen for
the purpose.
This committee is composed of John
G. Drewry, chairman: J! S. Wynne, NJ.
j. German, Ii. II. Croker and Lynn
Wilder. 1t is certain that there will be
two bids for the property, one of them
not less than $4,000. The bids will be
submitted to the board of aldermen for
acceptance or rejection.
While bids have very properly been
asked. it would be we'll for the com
mittee, before final action is taken
touching the matter, to consider the law
in regard to the sale Of city property.
Section 1924 of The Code provides as
follows:
The mayor and commissioners OF any
Incorporated town shall have power ut
all times to sell at public cutlery, after
thirty days notice. to the highest bid
der, any property, real or personal be-
longing 10 any such town arid apply the
proceeds as they may think best
This section is part of Chapter 62,
volume = Of The Code. Section 3S21 of
the same chapter provides:
This chapter shall apply TO all incor-
porated cities where the same
shall not be- inconsistent with special
acts OF incorporation or special laws in
reference thereto and the word commits
sioners' shall also be construed to mean
aldermen or other municipal authori-
ties
Some question has been raised in view
of Il recent decision OF the Supreme
court Southport W.. Stanly 12J y. c.,
1911, as TO whether the city has power
to sell this property in any manner cX-
ctpt by special act OF the Legislature.
But this will not hinder the committed
in its plans. When it is aSceItained
what price can be obtained for the
property, and to what use it will be put
there will be time enough to consider the
scope and effect of the decision. and if
Il special act is necessary for its legal
sale that can be secured ut the June
session OF the Ii gislature.
Il think the mass meeting the other
day made Il mistake if it was its purpose
to enlist the sympathies of the people Of
Raleigh against the sale of the old
Market House." said Mr.. John {.
Drewry yesterday. 1t ought 10 have
started subscription and formed Il
stock company and build the auditorium.
Had they started the subscription there.
and then raised $4,000 which would
practically have insured for the city of
Raleigh an auditorium, il would have
settled the question Of selling the Market
House for sometime to come, | think.
The main question which confronts
the people Of Raleigh now is. that we
must have IN auditorium, and | think
that question is definitely settled in the
minds Of every patriotic citizen of our
capital city; the only question in doubt
is. which is the best plan TO accomplish
this end | think the Market House is
badly located at the present time; it is
too small for city Of the size Of RAJ!
eigh: il has out-grown lis usefulness
and it's location and il is only Il matter
of a short tine when ii will have to
be sold. 1t is well ecough in small
towns 10 have the Marker House i'll the
centre of the city, but that becomes
very unwise and unnecessary when the
city out-grows its reputation as Il coun-
try village.
Il note that some one has objected on
the ground that to move the Market
House would means moving the centre
Of the city. Raleigh is the only city OF
its size. that [ know anything about,
which centres around Il Market House
This WAS probably Il good thing fifty
years ago when the Market House was
built. but il seems to me il would be
unwise to cling 10 that old idea now
simply because il was Il good thing half
Il century ago.
The moving Of the Market House can
not, in my opinion. effect the business
centre OF our city. The bus ness houses
and business interests on Fayetteville
street are too we'll fixed and too wen
established for the removal of the
Market House TO effect them. l belle