The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-18
NEW YORK PROVISION MARKETS.
Annual Supplies Of Meats, Vegetables, Fruits.
What II Costs to Feed tie Great Metropolis,
&C., Sc, Sc.



street, short distance from its present Site aud at
that time did not contain more than seventy or
eighty stands. 1t was, then, probably the largest
in New York, and transacted what was consi.
dered most extensive business. Now. it NAV be
sad to be the greatest in the world for there is per
haps, no other whose aggregate yearly sales are as
large Many Of those who keep stands or stalls there
receive in the course Of their business between one
and two hundred thousand dollars yearly, and some
oi our weahest citizens have made their fortunes in
It, commencing with vegetable poultry stand.
The ground on which it stands was taken in OF the
river, at different times, until it extended over
an area Of at least four acres. This includes
the market building itself, which is bounded by
Washington Fulton, vesey and West streets, and
The sheds erected within the last five or six years on
the other side of West street. The market proper,
in which all the retail businesses is done is about one
hundred and eighty feet by two hundred aud fifty,
and contains about four hundred stands and stalls Of
MI kinds. The ordinance in relation to public mar
hets fixes the daily rent Of these as follows For
stand for the sale of vegetables and fruits out Of the
country market, which is situated between West
street and the river shilling per day; for every
stand for fisherman, six and quarter cents; for
every stand occupied by countryman, bringing the
produce of bis own farm to market, six and quar-
Ter cents; all woman hucksters, twenty five cents
per day, aud all men hucksers, fifty cents The or.
dinance provides that no person shall occupy
any part Of the street, within three hundred
yards OF The market without having first paid the re-
gulsr fees, under penalty Of twenty-five dollars.
There is no fixed rents for butchers stalls, the
amount being regulated by the quantity Of meat sold
The market rules very stringent but, like many
others, they are dead letters for they seldom
never carried into execution. 1t would indeed be
next to impossible for any clerk or even half
dozen clerks, to perform all the duties re-
qnired OF him. There are ut present two clerks
in the market, whom the ordnance says shall
collect the rents Of the stands, exclude from the
market all persons engaged in combinations to raise
The price OF provisions cause oil the dirt and filth to
be removed daily see that all the laws and ordinances
relating to the public markets complied with and
report all violations Of the same to the District At
torney. This is herculean task, and any two
clerks who could perform it, would be entitled to four
times their present salary, which amounts to five
hundred dollars year, each.
The Market Committee is composed of three of the
pnembers from each branch of the Common Council,
and forms the judicial tribunal by which all offences
were ever called upon TO exercise their legal func-
hons. To them is entrusted the entire control di-
recton and regulation Of all the markets in the city
and they have the power TO grant permits to many
persons as they think proper to occupy stands and
also to demand such SUN for the same As they may
deem proper"
The market has beer enlarged at various times to
meet the demands Of the constantly increasing bust
ness, but still there is not sufficient room to accommo
date all the applicants. Every morning West street,
Tor several hundred yards, on both sides of IT, is
crowded with wagons loaded with vegetables and
other marketable commodities while the docks in its
vicinity are throngcd with boats ireighed with pro.
uce Of various kinds 10 be disposed Of TO the whole
sale dealers. In view Of the limited accommodation
afforded by the present building, proposition was
made to erect another, three stories high. upon its
site. In this way, it was argued the market room
would be increased 10 three times its present area
But it would not do; the dealers were opposed
TO the project, and the Common Council, who had
the matter under consideration and had entered
into contract for the erection Of the proposed build
ing, were forced to abandon it. The market people
objected to it mainly on Ne ground that, while i'll
process oil erection, it would cause suspension OF
business. and as natural consequence, great loss
TO themselves and the community 1t was also urged.
that even when completed, It's form would render it
unsuitable for market purposes, as the removal Of the
produce to the upper stores would necessarily incur
great amount Of expense and labor.
Since the design was abandoned. another and a
better plan has been adopted, which meet, with
general approval A space Of about four or five
acres is to be taken in from the river and when the
work is completed market story high is to he
erected on the ground This work is at present
.nder way, and nearly half the space is already
iled in 1t will be about years before is flu.
Shed. Various suggestions have been made in relation
80 its form and size, but far we could ascertain
nothing definite is known about either. Some are in
favor Of constructing it entirely of iron as the most
durable, and Of having it lighted by an immense
dome Of glass in the centre of the roof Whatever
may be the plan, there should be no delay for the
present market is in most ,llapdatcd aud filthy
condition The floor, where il is made OF wood is all
solutely rotten in many places and perforated with
innummerable rat holes Cart loads Of decayed ami
NAL vegetable, and oth,r matter might be taken
from under the stands ard in wet weather the streets
are several inches deep with mud The market PEG.
pie, despering of the Common Council ever repairing
the thoropghfaie between the sheds raised the ne.
sessary money themselves and had Ia plank road con-
structed II this improvement were extended to the
stler parts of the market, its business would not
only he greatly facilitated, bn large saving of mo
sey effected. Until the new building il erected how
YER, il is not likely that this will be done.
There are only three Or four markets that pay"
and OF these Washington market yields the largest
revenue. Last year, we were informed by the
Superintendent of Markets That il amounted To
thirty three thousand dollars: and this year it will
probably exceed thirty-tour thousand The small
paid to the Corporation, in rents for the stands,
sre no criterion Of their value TO the persons renting
them. Some of the large dealers would not dispose
of their right of possession os five or six thousand
dollars. and it is very poor stand indeed that is
sot worth three hundred.
There is very little burinssa, Of any kind. trans