The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-19
CinciDnati's Market system.

-'~~N~
In his annual message, of which we
made mention the other day, our Mayor
submitted some very judicious comments
upon our City's Market System. 1t is
o topic that ought to receive far more
extended notice than the Mayor found
room for in his official communication to
the Council. While this subject does
mot particularly concern the safety, nor
perhaps the general prosperity, of our
city, 1t nevertheless deeply concerns
the health and comfort Of our citizens.
1t has been our fortune to have seen a
good many OF the larger cities of this
world. And we feel abundantly war;
ranted in the assertion, that there Is not
In all Christendom a city. OF the size Of
Cincinnati, where such inferior convent
ences for market are to be found; or
where such abominations as abound in
the markets here would be tolerated for
. single month. The sights and scenes
incident to our open street marketing,
where supplies for our tables are gath
cred and kept Tor sale among stamping
and stating horses; over reeking cutters,
steaming with stencil and foul with
flth; amid driving rains and binding
SHOWS; under broiling sun and caking
frosts; where everything during summer
is blackened by fies and peppered with
Aying dust swept up from the streets;
where all are jammed and crowded upon
the narrow pavement; where the seller
has. no space to exhibit supplies nor the
purchaser any chance to examine and
seleet-aH these are sufficient to revolt
the appetite for anything bought from
such sites of filth as our open markets
present.
II these things were needful to the
proper supply Of marketing to our citi-
.sens, they must needs be tolerated. But
We know that they are not. They are
tolerated, as the Mayor suggests, be-
cause sswe have been 80 long accustomed
70 the present system" But it is quite
time that Cincinnati should break down
shis kind OF Bourbonism in regard to her
market system. flour people could just
once see the comfort of going to market
In well arranged building, well lighted
and we'll aired, clean and welkordered,
covered from storm and protected from
airt; where the sellers presented their
meats and their vegetables, their goods
pf all kinds, in manner that would
tempt an epicure 10 stop and buy;
whore departments were systematized,
sothat all could be found in one vicini.
" without weary walking with loaded
baskets, to find some distant dealer;
where there were no rude and offensive
iammings and crowding dangerous Il
the weak and Insulting to the women;-
such market onoe seen, and our peo
pie would scout the old and obsolett
system Of our present practice.
The inadequacy OF our present plan to
meet the public requirement is shown
~ the springing up Of "daily markets''
q all parts Of the city, for the accommo.
dation OF families that can not or viii
not attend these open street markets
and there struggle for their family sup
plies through kennels and crowds. Blu
fhese ssdaiIy markets" can not full.
msst the public requirement, becaus
they are competitors Of the whole stree
market. This Ia, the reason why the ex
pertinent OF respectable daily marke
an Sixth street, below John, coui'
not succeed. The whole OF Sixth-stree
Market was its competitor, and directl.
at its own, door.
We do not believe that the "dail
markev' plan can ever succeed so Ion
as the open street market system cor
tsnuas. We do not know that tine "dail