The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-08-20
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

Fulton Markot-Its Early History-Intem-
perance On the lncrease--Three Terrible
Examples-How the Temperance Evan
latetl-Inf1ux Of Foreign Criminals-Rus-
sian Nihilists and O'Donovan Rossi Pa
triOts-Camp Meetings. etc.
New YORK, August l3, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The persistent efforts Of years have at
last eliminated in something like action,
and that which has been standing dis
grace to New York for half century is
at last doomed to destruction. Scarcely
Il city in the world is more abnndantly
supplied with every thing that grows on
or in the ground. that flies in the air or
that swims in the sea, than New York.
Here in mid winter, when the snow lays
two feet deep upon tho ground, and the
rivers are locked with ice, you can get
the most luscious of grapes, the finest of
oranges, melons of all kinds, if you arc
willing to pay for them. Fish Of every
kind that man consumes, from a whale
to q skate, all kinds Of birds and wild
fowl. Bear, venison and buffalo meat
at less cost than in any other great city
in the world, but with all this abun-
dance there is not a city OH the globe 81
i'll provided with markets. In the whole
city, there is not q market worthy Of the
name. An attempt was made about ten
years ago, by tho principal members Of
the Tweed Ring, to provide Il market for
the city, and magnificent structure
was erected, at the foot Of 2eth street
| aud North river, but the fates were
| against it from the first. The combined
influence Of tho holders Of stands in
Washington Market proved too much,
even for the willy politicians Of the Tweed
dynasty, SO that the inf.my of Washing
ton Market still remains; but Fulton
Market is doomed to destruction. 1t was
opened in 1922, the occasion being con-
! sidcrcd worthy Of Il general holiday. AT
night the apprentices made u tour Of the
city, demanding money for drinks; the
town was Illuminated, and q grand sup
per was given by IL party of merchants,
! at the old TOntine on Wall street. Ful.
ton Market was evidently considered a
very fine affair, aud fifty years ago, some
| Of our most substantial old merchants
might bc seen with a huge basket on
their arm selecting the material for the
days dinner, which was always served
at twelve o'clock. 1t was not considered
i beneath the dignity Of J. fine lady to Dc
the marketing, and for matter Of that to
supervise the preparation of the dinner
1t will probably astonisl, some Of the
present generation to inform them that
the rickety, shambling old structure
| which seemed ready to tumble to pieces
was raised on line of marble pillars, fil
for palace. For many years they have
been covered with unsigLtly ruins, but
when the roof fell the other day, and tllt
debris was cleared away, the marble
pillars were brought to light, whose ex
istence had been entirely forgotten. Be
tween sixty and seventy thousand peopl.
pass it each day, on their way to ant
from Brooklyn, and to every enc of then
this execrable market has been !: stand
ing otfenss. It will be two years before
the now market is completed, and vi
arc in hopes that now the good work ii
begun, it will not stop till Washington
Market is levelled with the earth.
The week has been marked with som.
terrible examples of fintemperanee, whicl
seems to be on the increase notwith
standing the sporadic efforts of the 50
called temperance esangelists. It is ;