Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-08-12
For the oxford Democrat.
NEW York. Aug. lst. Is

NEW okh, mug Isl, iV'''
Editor Democrdt:-As am one Of the
"Inrortunatcs, and destined 10 spend
vacation" surrounded by brick and NOR
tar. and breathe the foul air of = great
metropolis. instead Of taking trip to
old oxford County and snutfing the fra
grant breezcs that float around her hills
and mountains, | will give 10 such OF
your readers who have not had the Ill
fortune TO visit this grcn, and wicked city
Of New York. q little account OF the Mar
ketS from which SO much food is daily dis
tributcd. not only to the citizens of this,
but TO many other larger cities. There
are twelve Markets in this city, covering
an area OF 500 SOP feet of which Wash
ington market is the largest, and of which
we shall write, covering an area Of Co., 532
feet, and is located on block of ground
bounded by Fulton Ferry and Washing
ton Street, and is the most dilnpidated
structure that can be found on Manhattan
Island. 1t is certainly The most incongru-
Gus structure probably ever used for mar
kct purposes 1t consists OF a he,eroge-
nous collection of sheds and booths which
have been added at different times TO the
main structure, the remains OF an old
brick building fronting on Washington
Street III the last stages Of dilapidaiion,
lis walls liable at any time. 10 fall and
crush its occupants and the paSserS by.
The shanties are rickcty and dccayed, be-
sides being infested with vcrmin. All
the approaches to the Market arc OBJ
structed by stalls and market wagons,
and of the crowding, jostling tmnult and
confusion during busy hours, language
fails to convey any adequate conception.
The Imagination fails to conjure up IN
ideal market from the midst of the mass
OF rubbish here presented. The filth and
nausea arising from the constantly de-
caying vegetable matter that lem aims
here, is enough TO disquiet any rcspecta-
bic person. \ little way to the rear OF
the market is public dumping place Tor
garbage and street refuse. The poison
Gus vaporS which arise from the heaps of
impurity OF every description thrown
here 10 rot in the sun, and which tain: the
air for \ thousand yards around, are
enough to SOW the seeds of a raging pes
thence; and notwithstanding all these
things are against it, Washington Market
is the main stay for the supply of meat.
not only to New York's million OF inhabit-
ants, but to the million or more persons
who reside in Brooklyn, Jersey City, and
vicinity. The quantity of produce that
change, hands there daily, is surprising.
1t is estimated that no less than 1882
market wagons occupy the streets adjoin.
ing this Maj ket, from three till nine in
the morning, and on Saturday morning
the number is increased about one-third
during the busiest market season. There
are 5000 stalls or stands in the markets,
and thirty thousand persons earn living
therein-.a number almost equal to the
population of Portland. Seven thousand
cattle. three thousand sheep, twenty
thousand hogs and calves, are needed
weekly. to supply the millions of in
habitants of the metropolis, and are
brought from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio.
Texas, Kentucky, and some from the
interior Of this State.
The following estimate will show some
what of the business in fruit and vegeta-
bles. OF Potatoes, not less than seven
thousand dollars worth are consumed
daily, and OF other vegetables, about five