The New York herald., 1871-09-03
OUR PUBLIC MARKETS.


A Card from the Washington NIarketmea1
Protest Against the Report Of tho SANITARY
Iuspcctor-ProposaIs Of the Mnrketmen d
the Sinking Fund Commissioners.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
On Thursday you published the report OF the SanS
tary Inspector with the usual flaming headings q
"tilth or the Markets." ''Dlsease and Dirt IN all W
Ear" &C., &c We wish to call the attention OF thp
public TO a few OF the mlsstatements contained N
this report. With reference to washington Markt
the inspectors say that 'almost all the stalls in IN
market are IN a filthy condition for want OF prope
care anu cleaning" There Is but one answer neces
sary to this, ana that Is to say decdedly-and thj
we do say-that 1t is not true, nor is there a sen
blance OF truth in 1t. The same answer Will applH
to the assertion in relation to 'pies of SWEEP
ings under benches, behind barrels and choppng
blocks" That the streets around the markets. a
well as In other parts OF the city. not kept clea
i will not ATTEMPT to dispute. but fail to see an
peculiar force In the statement that the mud Il
black and slippery, as / do not remember to hav
seen any, even on Fifth avenue, that did not pos
sess this color and quality. Taking this report for
basis, you gave US on Friday editorial that is no
In your usual temperate style. You say that ''ncarl
all the markets are as noXious as would be al
abattoir or fat-boiling establishment IN the very
heart OF the city," Now, ask you honestly. dom
you think you Overdld the matter III that little sen
tence You also say 'that the marketmen WELD l;
powerful political influence and that for years they
nave eXerted 1t to preserve the wretcheu building
call markets.. Now. ler us give you plain state
ment OF facts III relation TO our position We are af
earnestly OF having proper market oua
walks around the markets kept clean
as any class Of people can be-. But yo,
at stake and we cannot afford TO have them de
stroyed by the city authorities undertaking her
belongs to us-the control OF our own business in
tercsts In order TO erect such buildings as would Of
an ornament to the CITY, and AFFORD us greater facli
ties tor the prosecution Of our business Years age
we PROPOSED to the authorities TO clean the streets
around Washington Market every day at our OWL
expense, but as all the dumping grounds belonged
to the contractors for cleaning tile streets we cou
obtain no place OF deposit for the refuse collected
and were compelled to abandon that project. We
have within the last year twice proposed to th'
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund to take a lease
OF the Washington and West Washington Marke
property for twenty-onc years, with the usual re
newal covenants the property to be appraised by
competent men, and the rent TO DC ten per cent OF
appraised valuation, Dinding ourselves In case o
lease or purchase to erect buildings with all m0derI
improvements to cover the entire ground. We az
perty but as the authorities have always claimet
the right to do so, aud have thus compelled US u
occupy their property; we clam that we are Justly
entitled to the possession OF IL by paying fair vain
alton tor It, and whatever political or moral innu
ence we may possess will he exertcd to IT'S iulies
extent to compel a RECOGNITION OF our rights. we
ments or any one else. We orer to give full value
for the property we occupy and, firmly believing
that We know how to manage our business better
than any one else knows how TO do 1t for us, we
mean to tight 1t out on this line Let US obtain pos
session OF this property, anu NewNork, instead OF
being ashamed OF her market buildings Will be aOle
to point TO them with pride.
ROBERT G. CORNELL,
ii. W. KNAPP,
JAMES l.. STEWART. Committee
WILLIAM II. JOHNSON, ! on behalf OF the
r.. II. THORN, (Marketmen.
s. LlCHENSTEIN,
JAMES KAY,