The New York herald., 1869-02-21
NEW YORK MARKETING DAY.

a Look Through the City Markets On SRtmr.
day-Whnt the Markets Are aud What They
Might observation-disclosures Meats and Facts
and Hints ON the subject
Saturday is particularly busy day at our city mar
kes As il well known they open from early In the
morning till late at night the only day in the week in
which, according TO the estimate OF those having
stands at the markets, the public requirements de-
mand they should be kept open In the afternoon and
evening. visit on any Saturday to any OF
our markets gives substantial proof Of the fact
that cur people not only eat to live but that they
live to eat. We do not propose to describe the
markets They have been often described, and
particularly elaborate description Of them appeared
only . few days since in the HERALD. The fact
need not be repeated that Washington Market is
nothing else but dllapidated wooden shed OF cx-
tended dmensions that its nauseating odors smell
rank TO heaven; that there Ia a sufocation Of
stands and market men and women; that, in short,
1t IL anything else but what II should bea decent
and reputable market, worthy q city like ours.
lthas already attained longevity that runneth far
Mck Of the memory OF the oldest inhabitant. The
location IL good as convenient and speedy deposit
tory Of meats and vegetables and other market pro,
ducs reaching the city. There Is ample ground, ana
no reason why o suitable market building should
not be erected, such would be q lasting ornament
and OF lasting usesto the city; such as would give
more room to the sellers and obviate the present
compulsory crowding and uncomfortable jostling Of
buyers, and such, above all, as would be guarantee
OF cleanliness. Fulton Market n not much better.
Time though writing no wrinkles on the dzure brow
OF Ocean, has covered all over with deeply indented
likewise the marks OF debilItated old age. Essex
Market by way OF comparison, may be set down a.
in the zenith OF It's prime; but y requires bare
stretch OF imagination to characterize Its present
condition as one OF hardy and satisfactory vigor.
Tompkins Market does very well, but even
sls should be. " The up town branch Of the w wash
ington Market, though small, shows what
little OF the right kind Of enterprise put forth
in the right direction win do, and how very EASY It
Is with proper. determined spirit as they have to
keep market tidy and clean. There Is good deal
ncit and pleasant surroundings. TO know that the
places where they are sold are kept clean and pure
is next to hearing that the marketable products
At noon yesterday we looked through washington
Market. vesey street was choked with the crowded
from f,uis the market, and so, too, Fulton street
and the other streets centralizing here
Abundant liiputan p, markets ss oossruct y every
ones way through surging crowds Of men and wo-
men, principally the latter, carrying huge market
BASKETS TO Jump over heaps OF cabbagcs to nank
peaaut and orange stands, TO take in the savory
scents OF deceased dweIlers In the sea or fruits OF
inc ocean as py ~ p1ess ,ncy sre
ancnnt fishke smells The market IL even worse
crowded: what an ebbing and flowing OF the great
tideof buyers: what babel confusion OF voices;
wnm a labyrnfhan OF meats, vegetables.
eggs fruits. butter. cheese, ef III onlp genus.
pSs pSgiv penSan a sma a ron e
supne on counters or tops OF barrels and boxes,
with their long necks and inanlmate heads nearly
touching the ground From still stoutcr hooks
pendant huge hogs. monster sides OF beef, the
corrses OF nfantile Dovncs alias calves, shoulders
W %,, npH tner SKINS sui on And thcn there are
biseeted and double bsected and, In iact infnics-
malF bisected portions OF meat-porternousc
steals, roasting pieces, rump steaks. pieces for
stews aud any kind OF pieces wanted for any kind
OF purpose. Ham abounds, and 40 dried and corn
ed teef and bacon and pork in the brine. Very ro-
pnitively white, but now very bloodstained, stand
ready to cut and slash and saw and and
ant fruit stand preside many women
women Of particular obesity, whose look OF exccs.
siye fatncss would indicate that they must cat all
they DO not seli. The vegetables cover widely ms-
celaneous range, from dainty and crisp celery 70
common place potatoes. These iook very wen,
having nown Jack Frostwarti--a wilted appearance
Tne'e II good supply OF eggs and butter.
nut 20 20 back 10 the meats, and regarding which
more particularly we set out 10 write our present
article. Here Is the rub. There IL a good deal OF
meat m washington Market that has very un-
healthy huc--a look OF mortihcaton at being thus
exposed for sale. Meat OF premafurely killed
animals, meat that Is kept too long and meat
of diseased animals are too often for sale here.
Ade,ts az buying and good judges. u course, will
not be imposed upon, oui very many are, and par
ticu airy such meats are generally offered at re-
ducsd prices How much OF disease ~ engendered
m tls city by eating such meat no board OF vital
statistics or any other body can compute. There are
laws against exposing such meat for sale; there are
inspectors whose duty it Is to keep watchfu eyes
the subject to prevent IL; but the law does
no rood and the Inspectors, Judging from the
results, must keep their eyes conveniently closed.
We saw yesterday at this market poultry
and meats, u q look as though they had been
sprnkIed with Paris green s anything against them,
not III for dog 10 eat, much less for the consump-
ton df human beings. Some rigid rule should be
adopnd, or rather the present law should be rigidy
enforced TO put stop to this audacious crimInaiy,
for Il Is none other than this.
Fulton Market II not wholly clear OF unwholesomc
meat. There II less OF IL, however, than IN other
markets. For the present. IN view OF the general
looseaess with which this whole thing II managed,
we can only caution those buying meat and poultry
nj our public markets to keep their eyes sharply open
and ofactories particularly on the alert.