Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 165, 6 April 1891 — THE NEW MARKET. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW MARKET.

A gingerbread framework of antiquated design is being erected on the e8planade for the purpose | ©f a raarket. The design and the ]ocation were adopted bv the Thurston administration, but the last Legislature disapproved of both. and a 0®mmittee was appointed to report on it. The CommitteQ found, that while the plaii was not what might have been desired, the inatter of eeono:nv supgested its retention, l>ut thev disapproved of the si.te and

reccmr»ended another, but finding that several fcureaus woukl be involted in the question of site, they recomended the matter to be N left to the discretion of the MinistHr of Interior. But the present Minister evidently doubtinir his own original exccutiv.e abilitv has #imply builded upon the li-ie handed dowu bv his predeccssor. In all modern cities, wh(-n puhlie building or improvc7)ieuts are undertaken, it is gen'*rally with tV vinw to omamep.^., the city, and to adopt a location an<l surroundings in harmony i with th~e pnrposc. The design and site of our market is not in accord with the idea; it is a great barn-like structure, situated amo*g tht eoal piles, lumber yards and workstiops of the esplanade.! It is placed in the centre of a Jot, the four remnant quadrangles of | whieh are practically wa8ted; it j might have been placed at ihe foot of Alakea Street, and made to form an ornamental vista, bnt it is eet to one side and out of gight from many of the approaching 8treets; it provides only a series of stall8 or tables in stiff parallelograms, and has none of the eonveniences or accessories that render markets in foreign cities an attractive places of resort. With but little extra expense, we might have had a market on the water front, that would be our pride and a plaee to be ad-1 j»ired. To the East of the pre- j sent site is ample unoccupied | space fr@nting the harbor ; that only requires filling in to be made availāVle. The main market building could have been placed in a eentral p®sition, whieh would have afforded a view from approaching 8treets, and an ornamental appearance from the water front. j Bmall wh'irfs for the acconimodatiop of fishing erafts and other emall vessels bringing market produce. The general plan in other places for a market, includes 6talls for the accoiamodation of istock and poultry dealers; trees are planted about the plaeē; ®ne or more pavilions, a restaurant, plaeee of refreshnient ( or small 8tores from all of whieh a large revenue is derived, making it self supportiBg t* the goverament instead of being an expense, as no doubt the new market will be. to this country without any reason ! for being so, except the laek of originality and self - reliance of our worthy Minister of Interior. I Such is the usual plan adopted in other countnes, and nearly every village springing up all over the United States, take every paius to excel it, by ornamentation, making the whole as attractive as their parks—and why not ? If our markct were laid out, as far as feasiblo, on the pl|ins guggested above, it would iiuve

feeen one of the most »ttractivp points ofinterest in the city, an#l of comfort to the routinc- ■■-visit pf hecessity of the populaee to such a plaee. It then would be the pleasant and convenient and bartering ground for dealers in farm and field produce; and so wou!d stimulate the commerce of the small farmers; marketing would be plesant and fashionable to our ladies; the caterer wou!d 1 have a wider scope, and the visitor find many arllurements. Above all, as we have said, the revenues would make ji handsome return* for all the outlay. We regret that so mueh of the publir funds has be< n sp(.'nt on the present strycture and site, a plaee, we feel assured, that will never be as popnlar and attraotive as it shou!d have been if the ' Minister had sufficient ambition or pride to take reasonable advantnge of his o.wn gifts and the i discretion glven him, and instl-1 tuted a mark'et- plaee that would i have been a monument to his 1 admini.stration. l