The New York herald., 1879-03-07
A NEW NJ ARKET.
Proposed Accommodation on the
West Side for Farmers.
SUPPLYING A NECESSITY.
The Prestige and Revenue of Washington
Market Menaced.

prospect OF soon having market place conveniently
located in this city set apart for their exclusive ac
commodation This is Il boon they have been hoping
and praying for very long time. For years the
farmers have been subjected to all kinds of annoy
ances in bringing their produce to the city, There
was room for them within the old markets. and
they had to occupy the streets adjoining. thus
making traffic and business inconvenient for them
selves as well as others. This led to constant
disputes and chickering's between the farmers and the
property owners. Some years ago cpace in the
North River was filled out and intended for the use
OF those who sold their produce from wagons in the
street. This space well adapted for the purpose
designed but the farmers enjoyed its accommoda-
tion for only brief time, as it was monopoized by
class of spectators who erected shanties on the
ground and froze out the farmers. 1t is now called
West Washington Market and is sort Of rendezvous
of wholesale dealers in meat and provisions
MAKING THE BEST OF IT.
The farmers have since been compelled to make the
best of the uncertain accommodation afforded by the
Streets and for this they had to pay fee of twenty
five cents head. Fifteen or twenty years ago the
nuisance of blocking up the curbstones with produce
wagons and carrying on the trading over the SIDE
walk might be borne, but now. with vastly in
creased throng OF wagons necessary to supply the
growing demand for produce. the thing has become
unbesrable, and property owners and farmers are
alike sufferers The property holders naturally OBJ
jec to having to their stores cut off by an &C.
cumulation of wagons in front of them, and having
the chief share Of the law on their side they fire.
quenty it lively for the rural traders. All they
have to do when they desire q wagon removed is to
call the nearest policeman, who never fails to enjoy
the sport of stirring up the countryman and plung
ing him in q of troubles.
THE ANNOYANCE THE FARMERS.
no 10 ucad and dio.
pute follows. The farmer declines to move. and
forthwith the policeman arrests him aud he is fined
$40. This state Of affairs bred unpleasant feeling
between the farmers and the property holders. The
latter in many carried their animosity to the
former fur as to put signs out notifying the farm
ers that they could not stand in such and such
places. A class of curbstope spectators came into
existence who hired vacant cellars and claimed the
right to the sidewalk on both sides. planting
boxes and barrels by the edge Of the pavement and
shutting off the farmer from any of it. 1t will
thus be the lines of the Long Island farmer
did not fall in pleasant places.
LOCATION OF THE NEW MARKET.
ALI this is to be changed. The farmers and gar
deners are to have reserved space OF ground to
themselves the west side of town, bounded north
and south by Gansevoort and Little Twelfth streets,
and east and west by Washington and West streets.
As far back ten years ago the agitation to secure
some special ground for themselves begun by
the farmers of Long Island. committee from au
organization formed ut Jamaica, L. l., OF which
Mr. John ODonnell is president. waited on Richard
B. Connolly then Comptroller of the city, aud repro
sented the necessity OF such provision but it
Mr.. Connolly was too busly occupied at the time
developing the expansive capacity of treasury warrants
to attend to the business Of the farmers aud nothing
was accomplished. MIR. Andrew H. Green, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Connolly. made fair promises of meeting
the wishes OF the farmers, but he too failed to do
anything, and the unsatisfactory condition of
affairs continued. By making presents to the prop
erty holders or the police officers in charge some
farmers were able to retain their places in the streets
but others not equally compliant were treated with
out mercy and an instance is on record where o
farmer who refused to move at the command of o
property holder had bottle OF vitrol thrown over
his horses burning the blankets with which they
we're covered.
COMPTROLLER KELLY TO THE RESCUE.
A committee finally called on Comptroller Kelly.
who took the subject into his serious consideration
and admitted that the farmers were subjected to
much annoyance. Through his efforts fines in many
cases returned to them, and an arrangement
made which saved them from further interference.
excepting when they violated some OF the ordinances
OF the city, Ultimately the plot of ground described
belonging to the city set apart tor the Of the
agreed on by the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tionment-
PLAN OF THE MARKET
The ground selected for the market forms ir
regular square, 392 feet Washington street by 377
feet Little West Twelfth street 1t is situated in
the duIlest and most obscure region of the city.
and is occupied by only one building Of
any value, three story brick, 30xcO, which
was formerly used for the Offices of the Blocker
Street Railroad. From this there extends south
along the line of Tenth avenue row of shanties
used at one time as stables by the same railroad.
blsh OF all kinds, which il will probably take few
weeks to remove. The Department of Public Works
will undertake the task OF grading and paving. II
is intended to carry through the block from north
to south series OF carragoways each twenty-six
feet wide capable of allowing two of wagons to
stand at either side and room between for other
wagons to drive past each other Between the car
riageways will be raised pathway. six feet wide. for
pedestrians, who, passing down between the lines
of farmers wagons. can make their pur-
chases conveniently The country wagons being
drawn UP at each side of carrageway the grocery
wagons from the city drive down between them
and make their purchases Ldssifu. driving in at
one end OF the plaza and out az the other There is
no structure shed contemplated but the old
stables will be rctted and retained tor the accomo-
da.ion oil the farmers horses.
WHAT sUpERISIESDENT OF MARKETS SAYS.
Calling on Colonel Varian. the superintendent of
Markets, inquiry was made Us to the effect the pro-
present Washington market. The Colonel said that
provided the farmers unanimously resolve on COM
ing to the new market the business of the other mar
ket must naturally suffer. "a grocer, said he,
''who comes down town to get hs vegetables ut the
new market from the farmers Will pick up his eggs
and butter at the same place If he can find them
around"
"Then you think that dealers doing business
to move up TO the ncighborhood OF the new plaoe!"
THAT appears to be matter OF course Vegetable
produce can be bought cheaper from the farmer
than from the commission merchant, with the al
vantage of having 1t in fresher condition. and the
grocers will 80 where tLey can find the farmers
'Dut are the farmers eager to move to the
narketY
Not all. for the reason. suppose. that it yet
un uutflGl experiment.. lHcy sure OF scillny
what they bring TO market now. for the crowd OF
buyers aud tie business are all around Washington
Market and they capt make sure of the same at the
new stand; but as thoy have asked Tor this thing
they ought to know best themselves whether ii viii
improve their fortunes not"
How many farmers wagons come TO town
dayr'
"from 900 to 1000 scattered all the way from
Dey street up TO Canal In the new market there
Will be two avenues the gardeners, and these
come chiefly from Jersey aud the upper part OF the
island. Tho uiagxet will Accommodate from
Igro Atai4t Al atsia
outside the market limits the farmers will DO
allowed TO stand their wagons from seven =. ~
til ten a. NJ. An order issued Dy me 60 that effect
has bten approved by the Chic of Police, and ho
ADMITS the right OF thoSuperiutcndcnt of Markets
60 make such regulations"
'WEcn VIII the new market be ready ?''
"Mc expect TO have lie ground ready for occupa-
ton by May i. Nh. Fitzpatrick, Collector of City
EeNenne, ANA myself prepared the plans. and the
t,uIn lnlsAlOncr OF Puhlic Mnrka snnti issua