The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-29
FULTON MARKET EXAMINED.
DIR. JAMES FINDING IT A DANGEROUS
PESTILENCE BREEDER.
Coneurring with the Marx etmen - Nothing
short ofits Demolition aud the Erection Of
EntIrely New Structure viii Answer.

Coneurring with the Marketmen - Nothing
short Of Its Demolition aud the Erection OF
an EntIreiy New structure Will Answer.
Comptroller Kelly, at the suggestion Of
the Sinking Fund Commission asked the
Board Of Health and the Superintendent OF
Buildings to report the condition Of the build
ing known as tho Fulton Market The reports
were received by the Comptroller yesterday
Dr. L. II. james. Assistant Sanitary Superin-
tendent made the report Of the Board Of Health.
He says:
"On Thursday. the 18th inst. inspected the
premises known rs the Fulton Market. occupy
ing tho space bounded by Beokman. South. Full
ton and Front streets. including an area OF
some 10000 square foct. The building as II
now stands is constructed mostly Of wood. bears
evidence Of frequent alterations and repairs II
considerable portion OF the original brick struc-
ture having been removed. aud. on the whole,
presents an old and dilnpidated appearances.
/, Is devoted not only to the sale OF meats. hsh.
vegetables. fruit. md other articles Of human
food hut a considerable portion OF II Is occu-
pied for other business purposes, some OF
which do not properly belong to the public mar
ket; II contains four drinking saloons tone on
zach cornerl. six restaurants, six coffee and
cake shops. One book store, one boot and shoe
store, and large number OF variety stands.
W it'll a view 10 uscertaining It's sanitary con-
ditto commenced my inspection at the lower
or basement floor Of tbs side fronting on u, ok
man street. where found thnt the hoor. which
was in many places loose and decayinR. was
resting upOn tho wet ground. with no lnterven.
ing space, so that the pressure OF tho foot upon
the floor forced up tho underlying somi- liquid
matter between the boards. showing tho wot
and llthy condition OF the ground underneath.
This may have been In part due To tho tide NJ
WINS Informed thnt sometimes from this cause
these basement floors are flooded to tho depth
OF several inches; but on further Investigation
found that the waste pipes from the basement
sinks discharge on the ground underneath
the floor, thus constantly eennntribpting to its
damp aud flthy condition. The only means OF
drainage which / found was on the South
street side near the corner Of Beck where
n small well nad boon made TO receive the leak-
age from tho foor and soakRc from the ground.
aud from which this lthy winter IL daily
pumped and made to now across the sidewalk
To the street gutter. 30 far Us | could learn.
there were no bettor facilities for drainage in
other portions OF the basement. the rub being
to discharge all waste upon the ground under
meath tho floor, with the exception OF those
drinking saloons which have water closets with
sewer connections.
TO enjoy good health. the soil on which we live
should be dry and loose that Is to say. II should
be deprived OF iis excess OF moisture that air
may freely circulate through It's porous siruc-
ture. Careful study and observation have
shown that pulmonary consumption is more
frequently. and rapidly developed on a damp
thnn on a dry soil TO say nothing OF the liability
OF pereons 80 exposed 10 suffer from other pull
monary and bronchial affections. rheumatism.
or some ono OF the many forms OF malaral dis
ease. The condition OF the ground underneath
and OF the foor in immediate contact herewith.
above must subject the Etmosphe to continual
eNhHations. which cannot b. otherwise than
detrimental TO health and although persons
may Tor some time endure this exposure with
no apparent y effect yet even In such instances
there Will DO gradual undermining OF the
strongest constitutions. which will tend TO
hasten old age and to shorten life. Besides the
want OF proper drainage. many OF tho basement
which condition adds 10 their insalubrity.
Leaving the basement proceeded 10 the
man hoor. which l found to be constructed
ri ly ~ NEtNu nal flW NJ at Ihn paH
work shows in places tho evidence OF recent re-
pairs. but much Of II Ia old and saturated with
grease or other animal matter. giving II an
offensive odor, especially that portion OF II de-
voted 10 the fish trade. The middle portion Is
drained by tive drains extending along the
the sidewalk and discharge into the street gut
ter. whore all the filth and washings are col
lected and made to flow along the said gutter TO
the receiving basin. not only denling the gutter
but communicating the atmosphere with foul
exhaations. BY a somewhat similar arrange
ment the Beekman street side. which H. devoted
10 the fish trade. is drained perpendicular pipes
connecting the drains on the floor With those
| the arrangement Ia tho same. with this excep-
| ton, that instead OF well constructed drains
surface, along channels formed by slight de-
| preston Of the Tagging. This System OF dis
charging tho waste Of q large market. including
the washings from fish aud oyster stands. the
Stops from restaurants. &c.. into the cutters Of
adjoining streets. is not only. annoying 70
passcrs by. but. in my opinion. is detrimental
| to public health.
Along the middle portion there are several
| open fires covered with grlds where large guam
titles Of food are cooked. Although each ofthese
is supplied with a hood. 1t Is n question whether
! the gases OF combustion aud other EN- nations
due TO the operation OF cooking are so effectualy
carried away rs 70 prevent "A serious contami-
NATION OF the atmosphere OF the market.
Under those circumstances have the honor
TO state thut | consider tho condition OF this
market rs detrimental to life and health that
| no amount Of repairs and alterations will place
| It in a proper sanitary condition. and that in
my belief the public health requires Its removal
and the substitution OF q new building supplied
with the best sanitary improvements OF tn q dav."
The Inspectors of the Building Department
| who Inspected tho market report: 3" We ind a
| number OF the piers and columns supporting
the roof out OF plumb, and particularly the coli
umns on the northery side near the northeast
| corner where the roof Is badly defective. The
| general condition OF the building IL very poor.
| II Is such that We are unable to recommend at
| what part 10 commence 70 repair. rs thu entire
structure shows evidences OF decay. In our
| opinion II would be impracticable TO undertake
the repair and make Il NJ and safe for mari ct
| purposes. The entire building should be taken
| down TO the bottom OF its foundation and re-
| built"