New-York tribune., 1879-12-29

inevitably drive away cllSloni "h" 'i'i'' ~"
attention of the Health BpaTd-and fecelV"
it. too; whereas political influence keeps the
butchers of Washington Market from falling
under the serious displcnslTc OF these yisilnnt
guardians of the public health.
The political influence alluded to Is with
out doubt the real cause of this hlihy
condition. There are something IKE
200 stalls IN Washington Market
alone, OF which threc-lourth3, problhly
are owned by small dealers all of whom are
local politicians of m lre or less personal in
flucnce IN their neighboIh0ods. The incvI-
table conclusion of reform in the markets
hy the construction of ample and decent
buildings would be to wipe ont the business
of the sma Ter dealers, or turn them into
middlc-menr scattered in various parts of
the city. They can neither afford in the first
place, to erect costly markets, nor IN the second
place To become middle-men" " and cease 10 be
wholesale dealers. Hence their combined po-
litical action against any reform of the City
Market management or any elaborate improve
ment of the buildings contemplated by the
big dealers. II remains to be seen how long
such opposition can stand against the growing
popular opinion in favor of cleaner and better
~
sentiment on this question has been clearly
apparent for year or two past.
The Importance 10 the consumer of re-
mOva OF the depots of supply to points nearer
the centres of demand as really greatly under
estimated, not only by the consumer, but by
the producer also. Within the past ten years
the slaughtering-h of New-York have
been driven from the lower part of the city.
Few or none of the 5000 head OF cattle
slaughtered each week in thus city are killed
below Thirty y-fourth-st. Nearly all the large
slaughtering g-houses are above Fortieth-st.,
three miles away from the market. These
supplies are sold in Washington Market,
after being brought three miles or more. to
dealers in the very regions of the upper part
of the city in which the slaughtering was
done One secs no butchers and green grOcers
below Canal-st. In other words. before reach
ing the consumer, the supplies have TO be
carried three miles to market and three miles
back again. The cost of this needless double
TRANSFORMATION has t. be eventually paid by the
consumer. of course. Further than this, personal
marketing by individuals residing three and five
miles away from the market is impracticable.
The distance alone would deter if dirt did not
drive the average citizen from visiting Wash
ington Market. The consequence has been
the great increase of "middlc- men," and in
hundreds of cases what may be called double
"middlc-men.' There are IN this city sub
dcp0ts Of supplies of meats and vegetables.
Middle-men have grown to be, rs il were,
Wholesale dealers They purchase largely of
the Washington Market dealers, transport
their stock to uptown stores miles away,
and then supply smaller dealers in their
vicinity, to whom the consumer applies. Of
course, the latter must pay all these needless
commissions.
We shall probably never he rid of the Wash
ington and Fulton pest-holes until the DOliti-
cal Influence which maintains them rs such is
broken by public feeling on the subject. But
it seems to us that the large dealers of these
markets ought 20 recognize the supreme inn
portance of saving their customers the need
less costs of transportation and commissions
by bringing their markets nearer to the places
and persons to be supplied. And, also, they
ought TO consider the demand for cleaner mar
kets. A combined movement nOIthward of
such men as contemplate rebuilding Fulton
Market woud have beneficial effect on the
city markets not to be calculated it might
eventually abolish them altogether.