Richmond Daily Times

Local Intelligence, City News, &c.

TO THE PEOPLE OF RICHMOND.

The report of the Council on the subject of Markets,
By the late published proceedings of our City Council, it will be seen that the committee charged with the subject, have reported in favor of building the new Market Houses on the sites of the present ones, and a new Vegetable Market adjacent to the lower Market; the aggregate cost of which, amounts to the enormous sum of $73,000!

That the necessity exists for the enlargement of our Market Houses, or for the erection of additional ones there can be no doubt in the public mind, when it is considered that our population is now nearly three times greater than when the present Market Houses were first erected; but whether it is expedient, in view of the city's finances, to expend the enormous sum stated above, is quite a different question. If there is not to be another new Market, then the present Market on Shockoe hill must be enlarged, either by extending it to Broad street, or across Marshall street to the lot now owned by the city. To adopt the latter course would be to entail serious loss and injury on private property, whereas to extend the Market to Broad street, whilst it would not thus entail loss and injury to private property, would cost for the condemnation of the land and buildings alone, at least $20,000, to say nothing of the cost of the Market House itself. Besides, the city taxes alone, on the property proposed to be condemned, amounts, perhaps, to $200 per annum. Now it occurs to the mind of the writer, that the public wants can be better accommodated, and the finances of the city greatly economized, by the erection of an additional Market in Monroe Ward: the repairing of the Shockoe hill Market, and a new addition to the present old Market. On the South side of Broad st., from First to Foushee streets, or on the same side of the former street, from Adams to Jefferson streets, there are each two half acre lots, which can probably be purchased at fair prices: the former assessed at about $10,000, and the latter about $4000.

A handsome and convenient Market, 260 feet front by 66 feet deep, could be erected on either of these squares for $10,000. The location is convenient to at least one half of the people residing in Monroe Ward, and would be very accessible to the country people coming from Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, &c.

The present Shockoe Hill Market could, at a small cost, say $500, be repaired, painted, and otherwise improved, so as to present quite a neat appearance. With regard to the lower Market, the old portion of it could be pulled down, and a neat edifice erected in its stead, for about $5000. And if it be deemed advisable, the vegetable Market alluded to by the committee, could be erected at a cost of, say $3000.

Now as to the expenditure: Instead of having two Market Houses, costing the aggregate sum of $73,000 we should have three Market Houses, in location convenient to every citizen of Richmond, at an expense of from $22,500 to $28,500, according to the location selected for the proposed new Market, viz:
Assessed value of the two half acres first mentioned,
$10,000
Estimated cost of erecting Market House thereon, 260x66
10,000
Repair to the present Shockoe Hill Market....
500
Estimated cost of new addition to the lower Market.
5,000
Do do do Vegetable Market....
3,000
Total.
$28,500

Can any one say that there is any necessity for expending $73,000! upon two Market Houses, when we can get three for $28,500?

These desultory views are presented to the public, in order that our Councilmen may ponder before they vote so large an appropriation.

A Friend to the Prosperity of Richmond.