Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-02-07

vessels, and lying for sale on the
Levee side, defies all enumeration =
In one place vast heap Of oranges,
pine apples and hannanas, fresh from
the groves Of Cuba, scent the air with
their fragrance; close By, is pile of
Yorkshire paving stone, exactly like
that which is tlse ornament of our mar
ket place side walk; contiguous IS
cargo OF logwood and mahogany, and
at short distance vast mass of
cookie shells, brought in ships TO coat
over the sides Of the Levee.
There are probably along this line
not less than fifty booths for oysters
and grog, as many stalls for The sale
of shoes, shirts, and many other cloth
ing, not emitting stockings, which,
like certain well known raZors, were
made rather for sale than for use
Close by are the two markets of Or
leans proper. The first, halle DIES
beucherieS (shsmbles) is perhaps two
hundred feet long and thirty feet wide,
neat erection, one story high, the
roof supported by pillars. which form
twenty five arches on each side
This is generally well supplied with
all kinds Of meat, not however of the
very first quality. The price depends
much on the state Of the OHIO river,
though one thousand miles distant -
Take one example: i went down on
my first "trip to New Orleans, in Jan.
1896. Our boat was the first for the
season, W hich had scraped the sand
banks of tina, river. Meat fell the
next morning from 25 to IL 2 cents
per 10 but The Ohio became closed
with ice, and locked up the boats -
About February 9Th, beef had risen
to 81 2 cents The city was foil of
strangers, and famine was predicted;
in another week boats came down in
fleets, and before left the city on the
9Th of March, good beef could be
booght at 6 4 cents per ID.
Next comes the vegetable and fish
market, nearly of the same size and
appearance as the meat hall. The
variety aud delicacy of the lettuces,
crosses, carrots, artlchokes, green
pease, kidney beans, &c. which
flourish here ihro' the winter, is as
ltonishing. Nor is the richness of the
fish to he complained OF; but the wild
fowl of the various lsgoons (small
lakes) in the vicinity, is the most
finished dish for the epicure. Market
at New Orleans commences at sun
rise, and continues, for some articles,
till near noon, but the high press OF
attendance is from seven till eight
O'Clock. It's remarkable that here it
| is the fashion, contrary to most south
err cities, for the ladies TO 90 to mar
ket themselves which they do in a
costume not much less gay than that
in which they appear al the church o.
the theatre The market indeed is
quite fashionable promenade, and of
course is extremely crowded.
have thus attempted a flint sketch
of the busy Levee OF New Orleans
On Saturday, May 5sh. as wander
ed for the last time 10 its utmos. limits,
my mind was led to a review of It's
changes. known and supposed, dor
ling The fifty years which are to consti
tute the first half of the nineieenshcen
liury. In the year 1900, the same ri
yer flowed past its limits as al present,
bringing as it does now the superflu-
Gus moisture drained from one million,
two hundred and City thousand square
miles, space nearly equal to the bali
lof Europe, but there were no steam
boats on lis surface, and bat few arks
| of freemen ventured within the limits
of Spanish tyranny and corruption.---
Ships did not visit port where there
was nothing to sell, and but few per.
sons to purchase their csrgoes. The
Levee itself instead OF being coated
with small shells so as to produce a
parade oh which the most delicate foot
can tread with pleasure and without
lmbibing damp, was either swept be
fore The winds in clouds OF dust, or
was ANGLE deep in rich mud from the
river. No drains or ehannels carried
off the rains of heaven Hence dis
ease like pestiience infected the at
mosphere, and the capital OF Louisiana
WA iuxtIx copssdsra5 a common con,