National Republican., 1883-08-11
THE DINNER BILL OF FARE.
A Chance to Arrange II and Figure Out It's
Cost Before Going to Market
An Immense Army Of Hucksters Waiting
for Their Customers,
Sights and Scenes in ard About the Markets al Mid
night--The Price List for To-day.
Where All the Struck" is Grown and
How It Comes to Town.

That some idea may be formed of the i'm
mense traffic carried on in garden truck every
Saturday at tho Center market by country
men from adjoining counties, REPUBLICAN
reporter paid a visit to the market about mid
night last night.
The vehicles which lined street from
Seventh to Twelfth, on both sides, were of
every conceivable shape, from rickety
wheelbarrow to large four-horse army
wagon which had probably figured
in many hard fought cam
paign. They began coming into the
city at o'clock Friday morning and will con-
tinue until noon Saturday. Those country
men who arrive first get the choicest stands,
which is considered large enough induce
ment to got in the day before, and hang
around town until market morning. II was
estimated last night that over 500 country
vehicles were in the lines before midnight,
and others continue to ramble in all night,
extending up Eleventh street and along
Louisiana avenue. Some of the Wagons
come long distance--one as far
as fifty miles. Some of the countrymen
bunk in their vehicles, with bags of potatoes
for pillows. Others spread blankets and
quilts on the sidewalks, while one old colored
woman, who had walked ten miles with
huge basket on her head, was stretched out
Each wagon is assessed by the marketmastor,
ten cents for single and twenty-five for double
teams. The truck brought in is such as small
farmers generally produce, with watermolons
and cantaloupes in tho lead, and the prices
generally range quite low
The Wholesale and retail markets were al
most as alluring as the electric light is to the
giddy May flies. Smells of fresh and salt beef,
pork, fish, decaying vegetables, &C., driftcd
past the reporter at every move, penetrat-
| ing his olfactories with n mixture ofodOrs rs
difficult of analysis as boarding house
hash. Penned up calves and sheep in strong
wicker baskets bleatod and bawled upon
the morning air. Watermelons were stacked
up in great piles on tho stands and sidewalks.
"Where do most of these melons come
from ~ queried the reporter of an attendant.
principally from the eastern shore of
Virginia, Then large number of them come
from tho farms and gardens adjoining this
city, OF course the latteer supply is still
limited, but will increase as tho season grows
older"
Pineapples are very scarce, and only one
dealer had nerve enough to keep a supply of
them.
Watermelons are unusually plentiful this
season. They are being received from Nor
folk and the eastern shore of Virginia. The
average number brought up on tho river
steamers is five thousand each. Eastern
branch melons are being sold mainly by the
small dealers.
The canteloupe trade is also brisk. They
are being received on the Baltimore and Ohio
railway from Anne Arundel county ut the
rate of about 10000 daily. Large numbers
are also received from the eastern branch.
Bananas are high, and the market slow.
Only 500 bnnches were received yesterday.
There is a light supply of lemons and oranges,
and an equally light demand for them.
Florida lines arc scarce and high
The fish market is running along evenly.
Spanish mackerel are being sold cheaper this
season than was ever known before. The
| reason of this is that there has been big run
of them along the sea coast. The general fish
supply is quiet. The sweet potato market is
dull. Most of this vegetable received are
from the eastern shore. They range in price
at wholesale from $3.50 to 81 per barrel.
An old colored woman on the curbstone.
with an assortment of herbs before her, was
approached by the reporter who asked,
what are these green things?'
"Them is green persimmons," she replied,
"and we Use 'em for babies. Dey makes a
good wash for de mouth in case of thrush
A smoked meat dealer was found who
didn't know what bacon was
"What is the price of bacon?" queried the
reporter.
Il don't know what you mean by bacon.
Is it shoulder or middlng?"
4" | mean bacon" insisted the reporter.
"Well, I'll tell you," responded the clerk,
when q colored man comes in and calls for
bacon, we give him shoulder, but when
white man calls for bacon, we give him mid
ding"
From this the reporter inferred that bacon
was an unknown factor in the pork market.
MARKET PRICES.