Results for ‘Everybody’s Column’
[Welland Tribune, 22 March 1895]
To the Tribune:- MR. EDITOR-Some people seem to think that the council intend to stop the cutting of all meat on the Welland market. Not so. Those who pay a license to do so may continue to cut meat, and already licenses have been taken out for that purpose, so that there will be full competition with the butchers, as before. But, Mr. Editor, is it fair to rent the market building to a butcher at $50 per year, and then let peddling butchers who pay no taxes come out and cut and sell meat right under their nose and not pay a cent for the privilege? It is not the farmer the council is after,-it is the professional butcher who comes under the cloak of farmer, but who lives by butchering. These men should pay a license. They cannot cut and sell in Thorold, Niagara Falls or St. Catharines without a license. Our market does not pay its way here, then why should we not profit by the experience of other successful markets and get what fees we can to assist in reducing the taxes that come out of our pockets to support the market. The market is of mutual benefit to both farmer and citizen, and the load of cost in keeping it up should not wholly be placed on the shoulder of the citizen. We do not believe that one farmer in a dozen desires to cut and saw and chop meat on the market, and those who do want to make a business of it should pay for it, or else rent a shop in town and help pay our taxes. Every one knows that (directly) the market is quite a loss to the town. I think it should be almost self-sustaining. Why, on Monday of this week, the right to collect market fees in Hamilton for the current year was sold for $9,755. Of course there is better accommodation, and I desire to make no comparison, but at the same time I think there should be a little fair-play, and that the burthen should not all fall upon those who buy.
JUSTICE
[Welland Tribune, 29 March 1895]
F.F.V. SHORTIS
Shortis was a child
Of rich and noble birth
But sadly growing into years
Of folly, crime and mirth
Recently the pupils of a school section in Wainfleet were treated by the teacher to a description of the recent Valleyfield murders, and requested to write compositions upon it. One of the pupils wrote up the tragedy in verse, which has been transmitted to the TRIBUNE with a request for publication in Everybody’s Column. We regret to say we have room for but the first-which appears above-and that the other thirteen stanzas must remain unprinted and unsung. In fact we question very strongly if the recital of the details of horrible murders to pupils of tender years, and the encouraging of them to write essays and dwell upon the same, is a very proper or desirable course for a teacher to take.
THE MEAT QUESTION
If I understand “Justice” aright in last weeks TRIBUNE, he claims that in the proposed change in the by-law regulating the sale of meat in the market it is not the farmer but the professional butcher the council is after. It makes no difference who they go after, it is the farmer who will be bagged. The by-law at present in force cuts out the peddling butchers, or compels them to take out license. If it is not the farmer they are after why not except him from the scope of the by-law? Justice may be blind as usually represented, but he must not suppose that all others are the same.
FARMER
ANOTHER
I hope the councillors of our town will consider well before prohibiting the sale of meat at retail on the market. Every market day I go to the market and usually buy four or five pounds of beef cut to suit me at 8¢ a pound. If I cannot do this I am compelled to go the butcher shop and pay a shilling a pound; loss to me of say 18¢ every trip. 18¢ twice a week comes to nearly $20 a year, quite an item for us poor people. More than enough to pay most of our taxes. Is it right or profitable that poor people should be compelled to pay from $20 upward a year to benefit four or five butchers, or even to benefit the town to the extent of a few dollars in license fees?
A WIDOW WITH A VOTE
EVERYBODY’S COLUMN
The Removal of the Band Stand
[Welland Tribune, 22 March 1895]
In my estimation, Mr. Editor, the Welland band stand is in a much better position now than when located near Gonder’s warerooms. The ‘point” is more isolated from buildings, and I am sure the music will sound vastly better. The small boy will have no old machinery to rattle in the very ears of the players, and those who still desire to remain on the west side and listen will find the music “from over the water” much sweeter than when close by. Your contention, Mr. Editor, that the crowds will “clog the sidewalk” I think hardly a serious objection. Crowded sidewalks one hour a week in a country town, after business hours at that, is, to my mind, a pleasure rather than an annoyance. I wish they were crowded every evening. As to frightening horses, I think one location fully as dangerous as the other and besides I wouldn’t give five dollars for a horse that would run away from music.
YOURS, SOLO
To the Tribune- I understand that in police court in your town, Mr. Philip Stirtzinger stated that I had told him, or someone else, that William Reece was a murderer. Now I want, through the columns of your paper, to emphatically deny making any such statement to anyone. Further, I have never had any cause for thinking or saying so, because I have never thought, nor do I now think, that he is any such a man.
J.R. PHILIPS
EVERYBODY’S COLUMN
[Welland Tribune, 15 March 1895]
MR. EDITOR-I want to ask a lot of questions-Is it possible our town council have decided to refuse to allow farmers to cut up meat on the market and to charge one cent for weighing a pound of beef? Isn’t this pretty small business? I propose we take up a subscription and buy the poor town a pair of small scales. What’s the matter with the town council? Have they no back bone? Do they think the market is growing to be such a success it is necessary to muzzle it? Or have the butchers got them by the nose and leading them? I would not blame the butchers if the council is soft enough to pass a by-law compelling everyone in Welland to purchase their meat at 25 cents a pound, but what about the public? Does the town council say, like Shakespeare or some other fellow-”The public be d—-”. The council, elected by the public, are bound to see that the public pay a good round price for their meat. No difference if a poor man has a chance to buy meat cheap, our town council says he must take the farmer to the butcher and thus pay extra to give it a rich flavor. Of course some two thousand dollars of our taxes have been spent for our market, but do all you can to keep farmers away-otherwise the market might be a success.
There was an attempt to secure special rates on railroads to this town on market days, and this can probably be secured yet. Now if the council could prohibit the farmers from retailing vegetables as well as meat on the market it would keep outsiders from coming in on the trains. If they came here they might trade at the stores, and that would be terrible. It must not be allowed.
Our grocers have no sand (perhaps they us it is their sugar). Why don’t they ask the town council to prohibit farmers from retailing potatoes, vegetables and everything they bring. The grocers make a business to sell these. Why, bless their innocent hearts, the town council would grant it in a minute. This case appears to be legislation for five against two thousand five hundred people. Can any sane man say it is right? Surely, if carried out, the votes at the next election will give the council a much needed holiday. What councillor is man enough to get up and speak for the people?
A FRIEND OF THE MARKET.
EVERYBODY’S COLUMN
This column was established for citizens of the county to publicly ask their questions or make a personal statement.
[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1895]
Why is it that Bertie has no inspector appointed to see that the act relating to black knot is enforced? There is enough along the Limestone ridge to keep him busy for one month alone. If the matter is not looked after soon there will be no cherry or plum trees in this part of the country. It is to be hoped that the present council will not neglect the appointing of an officer for that purpose.
ANTI-BLACK KNOT
Bertie, March 1st, 1895
To settle a dispute will some one, who would be considered an authority, tell us whether any other than the Queen’s Own Rifles engaged the Fenians at the Battle of Ridgeway on June 2nd, 1866? If any beside the Q.O.R. to what regiment did they belong, and what was the number engaged on either side?
In reading an article on the South American republics the writer referred to them as the Latin-American countries. Why are they called Latin-American?
VERDI
OUGHT TO BE ADOPTED IN WELLAND COUNTY-A Missouri paper reports a unique sentence imposed on an illiterate prisoner by a magistrate of that state. The prisoner was totally unable to read or write, and was sentenced to imprisonment until he could read. An educated offender was at that time sentenced to be confined until he had taught the other to read. The task was accomplished in just three weeks. When such are convicted of (say some other light offence), why not make some such task the condition of liberty? I would like to see the experiment tried.
PERCHE
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