The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-17
FEW YORK MARKETS.
Inspection by the Common Council Ccn,mitte,
af xIyu sI.insrsan mud ISnitan Mn nfs

Inspection 0y the Common COUNCIL ConlmitlSe
OF Washington md Fulton Markets.
visit to the principal markets Of the metropolis
at any time during business hours would well repay
seeker after curioslties in the way Of architectural
contrivances and peculiarties OF human nature. In
the latter respect it is safe to assert that the metro
politan market people no. different from market
people generally and II Is equally safe to assert that
the market buildings Of the metropolis are entirely
mike the market Buildings of any other city in the
world. With broad, clear river flowing on either
side of the city and the chief market depots
located on the river fronts 1t might
naturally be expected that the buildings
would be kept clean and wholesome; but unfortu-
natey, such is not the case This, however, is not
new subject. The people OF the city have long COM
planned of the disgraceful condition of the markets.
The subject has been taken up by the press and the
attention of the authorities has been called the
matter by petitions and appeals without number.
In answer to these demands for reformation the
market buildings have been tinkered and botcbed so
much that what were intended to be improvements
have only tended to increase the ungainliness and
disgracefu appearance OF the places they were sup
posed to have improved The constant agitating
OF the subject seems at last likely to be of some
avail and the Committees on Markets Of the Boards
OF Aldermen and Councilmen have taken hold Of
the matter and commenced personal Investigation
which, it is expected will result In eIectng the
long needed and anXi0usly hoped for improvements.
Yesterday morning the committees, comprising
Aldermen OBrien, ConnOr and Ward and Council
General Nlee. visited the Washington and Fulton
markets and made an extensive and thorough exam
nation of the buildings and their surroundings and
the causes which lead to their present unhealthy
condition. They first repaired to
WASHINGTON MARKET,
which, az If well known, Is nothing more than an
toward the river front from miserable, dirty, dhap-
dated old churchke edifce fronting on washington
street, This market, be it known, affords the means
OF livelihood to at least two hundred thousand per-
SONS in various capacities, Is the purchasing depot
circuit OF from thirty to fifty miles, and covers an
area 0f about two hundred acres. What Is generally
termed the main building is that portion Of the mar
ket bounded by Washington, West, Vesey and Full
ton Streets and on the westerly side OF West street.
out toward the pier line, has grown what might be
voted almost exclusively TO the wholesale trade, and
is composed entirely OF shanties built to suit the
ideas OF the trade OF the occupants.
The visitors found the main building in most
miserable condition; doors walls, rafters and roofs
all rotting rapidly. The roof in parts covered with
else could be most readily obtained by the unfOrtu-
nate vendors when the severity of the elements de-
ing evils. they found however, nothing new;
nothing that the hundreds OF thousands doing bust
ness In the market cannot find at any time, except
new accumulation OF filth and fresh heaps of oyster
shells on the West street pavement between the
rear capboards Of the sidewalk stands and the rail-
road track. They found West Washington Market
OF course, reeking with filth; the gangways mix.
ture Of rotten wood and decayed vegetable matter,
while the piers at the back they could scarcely find
at all the stencil from the dumping ground at one
side was almost enough TO make them ''shut their
eyes to hold their BREATH, while the mounds OF mud
were such as to almost Obliterate any semblance Of
Along the sides of the main building the walks
laid out, where vegetables and fruit are
dispensed, and by means OF which the
of tue market are most completely cut or.
The streets In the neighborhood are fully filthy
the N e market IKE n he oed OF sn me
mud, and the drainage OF that portion OF the city
being totally inefficient to AFFORD proper relief the
decayed vegetable matter and oozes through be-
tween the cobbie stones, leaving numberess stag
surrounding atmosphere with poison.
A pleasant ramble C( OF one hours duration
the City Fathers with the idea that something should
be done. and done Immediately, to give relief to
parties having business TO transact In the market
insure additional means 10 avoid the generating and
propagating OF disease from the masma which
arises from the streets and slips in the neghborhood
Leaving this quarter the committee crossed over
FULTON MARKET,
which, although not quite 80 blessed in the way OF
dirt. was found TO be in miserable condition. The
roof Ia rotten IN many places and affords little shell
ter from the effects Of severe weather. In the rainy
season the weather finds easy ingress and lie sifted
through the roof on the meats and produce exposed
| for sale, oftenumes so completely damaging the
venders' prospects for iraflc as to cause them to
| close their stalls. In very warm weather the tar
with which the roof has been in some places coated
is melted and streams down into the building, cals-
Ing almost as much annoyance and inconvenience az
| the rain. The gangways which formerly existed
opening on to South street. have been closed up by
somebody and leased ont as stalls for the sale OF
nuts aud ochre pies. ON the Fulton and South street
walks are numbers OF these stalls, from which hot
sickening smells are constantly emanating, and
which, by closing IN the side entrances 10 the
market, render the Interior as unwhOlesome
as Washington market from the same causes.
There are but two main entrances for the
dealers inside the market to carry In and out their
wares-viz at the functions OF South street, with
| Fulton and Beekman streets. In the basement OF
the market bookstores liquor stores and saloons
while in the market proper-0r what should be
such-almost one third OF the space Is occupied by
dalton Of Brooklyn pleasure seekers and for which
the propretors pay to the city treasury not more
to pay for similar establishments in any other part
OF the city. Is averred, indeed that one OF these
establishments driving trade OF from $50 TO $500
per day pays for leasehold not more than ten or
twelve dollars per week.
on the opposite or river side Of South street is the
fish market, which was found 10 Ice in as good con.
| dtion al could be expected. Being built directly
over the water the refuse ilnds ready means Of
escape, and the inside OF the structure beng plept
! fully supplied with water Is kept "a clean as the
nature or the business transacted In II will permit.
The drainage this side OF The city IL fully as bad
as that the west side, aud the stencil arising at
times from the offal OF fish and meat and decayed
vegetable matter, which is forced TO accumulate In
must undoubtedly prove to be fruitful means Of
disease.
THE REMEDY
| for the existing evils at Washington Market pro-
posed Ny General Niee appears 70 nc quite feasible
| aud Ia certainly worthy OF earnest consideration
There has been great deal OF agitation OF the
ject OF moving the market up town. but the amount
! OF business now Transacted In Washington Market
| forbids such an undertaking. An entirely mes
| building IN absolutely needed, but the great pre-.
ventve to a new building has been the plea that the
business .of the market would be materially inter-
tllr inp of
posed by Genera Niele to erect iron columns on the
Nesey and Fulton street sides, and these columns
! by means OF derrcks, place well braced trnsses,
forming an arCn completely spanning the present
| miserable collection Of sheds. This Gould no
| done without disturbing TO any grea. extent
| the business OF the market, and would
| when competed give structure like the New Jer-
sey Railroad depot at Jersey CITY, The roof could he
covered with corrugated IRON or wood, and in 1t
could be constructed akylights and ventilaiors 10
carry on the font air. The sides could be flushed in
Mansard roof style and below the Mansard windows