The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
MARKErs HERE AND abroad.
In How Much the "UaIIes CentrnIes" ofParis
Diner from Our Embellishments.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: From
time to timo complaints appear in the papers
regarding the state of Washington and Fulton
Markets; complaints that have real founda-
ton both in regard to their situation rs well as
the crowded way in which the stalls are packed
together. That the American metropolis re-
quires better and more convenient market is
already sufficiently we'll known and acknowl-
edged. and the day cannot be far distant when
some changes will havo TO be made
Your correspondent took special pains to
examine tho Hallcs Ccntrales at Paris dur
ing n visit there in March last year. and 1t may
prove both interesting to your readers and to
your Town Council to know how things are ar
ranged in the Metropolis Of the World" by
which expression he has no intention OF do
tracing from the claims OF this city.
Tho " IIallcs Comrades" or chief central mar
kct OF Paris. Is composed OF two lofty covered
structures. arranged in the form Of n parallclo-
gram. cut i'm half by n broad roadway; the two
blocks comprising IL are again subdivido1 by
covered roads ut right angles, broad enough for
three carts to move abreast. the whole building
bcing under the direction and superintendent
of special OIL 'ors Of the department CONTROLLING
the markets Of Paris. From the central mar
kct nearly all tho outlying markets nre sup
piled, all Of them being arranged ON the same
In the ITancs Ccntrales" everything ia to be
found. section or two being set apart ior each
cluss of goods. The butchers and pork BUTCH
crs have their particular portion; eggs. cheese,
butter, w.. are In another part OF the building
while fruit and vegetables have stronghold TO
themselves. One compartment Is set OIL Tor
auction sales.
At "a. NJ. the arrivals begin peasants and
market gardeners arrive with their carts.
After taking up their allotted posts. according
to the nature Of their wares. they can 20 to tho
having been on the road since 2 F. NJ. the pre-
vious day. At $3.50 A. NJ. the market begins;
everything II laid out ready for the early pur.
chascrs. consisting OF tho restaurant, hotel
keepers, and exporters. The flower sellers are
the earliest dealers. and the rows Of statesmen
with cut flowers il a most agreeable sight.
Then next in turn come tho mushrooms and
cnulin0wers onch of which nre sold only at ono
part Of the building. At 3 A. VI. many wagons
arrive with eggs conveyed by trains from tho
north; the butchers get in about A. NJ, also.
At the auction sale beglns these are chiefly
early goods sent from distance for sale.
Your correspondent saw large quantities OF
early potatoes packed away IN small boxes IKE
strnwherries or grapes. enormous heads OF
artichokc from Algeria. a.. Seeing ono man
purchasing largo quantities OF goods. he was
tempted to ask for whom he was purchasing.
He was purchasing agent for the dealers in
Covent Garden Market. London. and that all the
store he was buying was TO be sent of the samO
day by express to LOndon-a curious circum-
stance in itself as the writer saw the whole Of
the crop Of early potatoes then on sale in Paris
bought up for sale in London. and Paris had to
wait for q fresh supply The sales 10y auction
are for the most part made for distant pro-
duccrs. the authorities at the market UNDER
the risk Of the seller.
by trains. chiefly BY the " Chemin dc Fer ie
FIST" | noticed that the salmon nearly all
came from Prussia. A Scotch salmon are sup
posed 20 be- tho best those that come from Ger
many are sold rs coming from Scotland and
consequently command higher prices.
special arrangement is made 10y which the
cafes aud restaurants near the Haes" are
allowed 10 open at \. NJ, for the convenience
OF IN" persons attending the market.
Your space is too limited. perhaps TO allow
mo To give "a fuller and more detailed account of
the French market system. but in view to
future arrangements Of markets for New York.
the management Of the Halles" may be a
profitable study for her town fathers W. W.