The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-21
WASHINGTON AND FULTON MARKETs.

Nuisances That Ought to be Abnted-The
Atmosphere i'm the Vicinity Of the Markets
and How it is POisoned-Work for the Board
Of Health.
There are great many things in New York which
are Justly called nuisances, and prominent among
them are the two markets which have Fulton street.
for @ common avenue. These market are, no doubt,
very great conveniences in their way, but they are
for all that decidedly detrimental to the public
health that it is wonder that the Board OF Health
foiks-who are never SO happy as when they are
uprooting, or talking about uprooting, some anti
sanitary evil in our midst-have not ere this, with
one swoop OF their mighty broom. tumbled them
into the rivers. Indeed, great deal has wrlt-
ten and great deal more has been said during the
past three years concerning these markets, and the
proprlety, rather the necessity, OF removing them
from their present sites has more than once been
subject OF discussion In official circles which have
the power TO make rewood OF the stalls Just when
ever they deem such proceeding public blessing.
But the discussions far unfortunately, have only
ended In resolutions declaring the marketG
nuisances and--postea nfha. Just at presen these
nulsances are making their presence felt In man.
ner that Is Enthusiastically nauseating, and any per.
son who doubts the fact may satisfy himself as to
the truth OF the assertion by paying Washington Mar
ket, for instance, visit any time during the day
or night.
The horrible stencil which proceeds from the
refuse Of the stalls, which is allowed to drip down
from the benches to the broken floors and which
soaks through the panks to the ground beneath.
there to rpen into rottenness from day to day. s
positively sckening To be sure, The stencil is not
very sensiby experienced in the interior OF the mar{
ket during the day while the business OF the placer
is being carried on, simply because the odors which
emanate from the fresh meats and vegetables como
bined overcome the bad smells; but when the stallQ
are empted and closed for the night the corruptons
beneath the floors, which the miserable sewerage
does not carry of, have full sway and the result is
by no means OF the most agreeable character on
Sundays especially, when the markets are left to
themselves and the butchers and vegetable men are
resting upon their laurels far away from the
scenes of their weekday labors, the action
Of the odors on the atmosphere is most OPP
day. and the sun beat down upon the old crazy sheds
on both eIdes OF West street very strongly. The
Railroad cars were compelled to haif smother them.
selves in their handkerchiefs while passing through
the neighborhood OF the market so noisome were
the horrible odors which weighed down the atmos-
phere. To add to this pleasant state OF affairs the
dies IN the city seem to hold Sundaygo connecting
convention at the markets. and the late arrivals nod
Ending room enough TO stand on the stalls, attack
every car aud vehicle as II passes, and take free
remain within five blocks of the stalls for twen-
y-four consecutive hours in the summer and live
is rather mystery to say the least. Indeed, the
boatmen who ~ 0mpehed to land on the PIERS adj,
loi1ng West Washington Market, and VINO have
DccH 80 dccu,inlueu 10 III Unc Vicinity VnaE
one would think they had got used to 1t by this time,
contend that on Sundays, when the weather Is
warm they never remain about the wharves II they
can possibly hep y, and when they do they TRY to
sleep without Breathing"
IL will be remembered by those who are familiar
with the vigorous way IN which the Board Of Health
lnauguraed rs career but which 1t hadn't the nerve
TO continue up TO the present day, that one OF the
Commissioners cher objection to these two mar
Eets was that meats and vegetables were sold from
stalls nearly adjoining one another. This he com
sdered wrong, lrasmuch as the meats were spoiled
~ tlStr proximity to vegetables Although at the
nrst blush TINS idea wOuld seem to be very rrdic-
lous one, yet when The manner IN which business ID
carr ed on In the markets Ia taken into cOnsidera-
ton, II nay not appear ridiculous after ALL The
TACT OF q LON OF beef occupying q table adjoining
another table loaded down with cabbages may not
be damaging TO the beef, but If cabbage leaves and
uecayed carrots aud what not all In the vegetable
line are allowed TO accumulate on the floor to be
tramped under foot and rot to pieces In the CUTTERS
the air thus tainted by the decaying vegetables has
very bad effect Oh the beef. lI4 n
Fut0n barHet, however, even on wet days like
yesterday when the mud and refuse OF the streets
thousand feet, Is lar superior In point OF cleanli-
ness, or rather heaithfuiness, than Washington
Market The meat stalls are all the second door
and as there are stores beneath all of them. the
aud dare not allow blood and refuse matter TO SOAK
through the plankng, MS their cOnferes on the west
side or town do with perfect impunity. The fact ls
II the TWO markets are to remain on their present
'sites or rather y the city does not intend TO tear
down the old stalls plough up the ground and soak
II thoroughly with some sort OF disnectant before
pnidag markets that WIN be an honor instead OF .
disgrace 10 The metropolis the sooner the Board Of
detrimental 10 health the better for hundreds per.
sons whose lives are daily imperied by breathing
Tue POISONOUS atmosphere IN their immediate negh-
bOrh0od.