New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-19
BITS OF FULTON MARKET HISTORY.


BITS OF FULTON MARKET HISTORY.
INCIDENTS FROM ITS EARLY DAYS-MEAT FOR A
YEAR OFFERED FOR LIFT.
There are amusing episodes recorded in the
ancient history OF Fulton Market which have been rc-
called 10 memory by changes in the renting OF the stalls
which are contemplated by the Board OF Aldermen Tne
subject Of establishing market-pisce at the 1901 Oh
Fulton-st was discussed as early as 1919 fnaiy oy
act OF the legislature March IA, 1877 the Common
Council authorized TO take possession OF the lana
now occur by the market The work OF building was
Quickly begun. BY some the plan OF the house was
greatly admired by the old butchers the new market
was thought to announcement on account OF the high
steps which led up to IT, This brought out the following
peculiar notice printed in the Sspapers at the time;
PREMIUM. The butchers in the Fly Market who i eI-
pect to remove to the new market AT the oot o,
TO accommodate their customers, particularly tne eu
and nd hereby offer to supply wn neas n"r
best method Of hosg from the street up into ae
steps OF said market. The inventor is requested 70
submit model OF his machine TO aeommlttee OF puten-
ers before October next as IL wonu oe
TO erected before they commence Dusihess III s~
market
The first in regard to the rental OF stalls
hitter feeling the butchers and led to their
showing their spirit in the following resolutions
the Fulton Market is more than many butchers viii be
able to pay, and consequently will not only disgrace
Rsscpes That the method adopted by the Corporation
in fixing yearly rent GU the stands and W 'ns sa'
time selling them at public auction is novel witnoa,
precedent and preudcia TO the peace and harmony OF
society. ~.
poracn are calculated to set butcher against an
other. and finally make them the Instrument Oh tno'
own prosecutions.
TWAS st this time one OF regulations that per
son except regularly licensed butcher should OF
the stalls When the sale OF stalls took place the butchers
held their grounds but man, cigardeaer In oppo
siton to the madeby the butchers bid or
and got the fret stall When his name was announced
by the auonecr the purchaser OF the stall ne was
seized and dragged tDthe dock and thrown into inc 'e
and camo near losing his life.
The second sale occurred on Jsnary 3, 1922 In the
court room of the City Hall The Mayor presided. The
rent OF stalls ranged from sll5 to $500 and the sale
realized s65. Later in the year the cellars undcr tho
market were put up and sold at auction aud raised the
income from the market S7775. On February To- 1877
thirty -four poultry vegetable and fruit stands were sod
for 81 800.
The market was opened formally on January 90, 1922,
and IL was considered worthy OF record In newspaper
account OF the opening that appeared in the
market with ninety pairs Of fine caDvasbacs ducks
which had brought by wagon from the susquehsnna
River and which he sold for sixteen and eighteen sh-
lnrs a pair In the summer OF the same year yellow
fever broke in tho lower part OF the city ana ragged
especial
Market The fever put end to tho business there
for some time 40 the stand holders granted permits
sion TO remove to the space In Chatham square
There they remained unt cold weather drove away the
fever In the latter part OF 1928 all the butchers stands
I'm Beekman-st were removed and the fruit -deslers
came in.
The market being now well established and the busl
meas increasing daily II decided by the committee
In charge that a Waterman ought TO be employed at
night Later when the Waterman required 10
do duty on Sunday considerable hard feeling was ere
ated For some time the deputy clerk was compelled
to do watch duty" Sunday. Being pious man. no
sent the following singular communication To the Mayor
To Sfephen Allen, esq, Mayor Of ne Guy Of Neio- York
aud President ofme Common CoifneH
Exodus 10th chapter 9Th II II written: "Remem
Der the Sabbath day. to keep 1t holy First Samuel 9Th
fee and 10 hearken than the fat OF rams. In the
law OF the Common Council they have made u my duty
q watch Market after the closing Of said market
until 10 o'clock at night, and every Sunday till 10
o'clock m which dnty cannot on any cobslucrhtloh
consent TO comply with
The communication closed with formal resignation
signed by Ezra Frost September l. 1923
The hotel patronage OF Fulton Market the leading
feature Of the trade Every large hotel In the city buys
provisions here and ds the hotels at Albany. Boston,
Buffalo. Rochester and Philadelphia Probably the
largest customers arc the great sumner hotels. The
buk of their business begins hero In June. All OF the
Saratoga hotels we'll those nj Niagara Falls West
Point the and Coney Island rely on the market
in the height of the season. least thirty TO forty OF
nroyisions daily and from twenty 10 twenty-five
tons 10 Saratoga Long Branch, Sea Grt and Monmouth
Beach The growth OF the fish business has probably
IN got the great distributing centre FOR Isl. for
nearly the whole United states.
Tine market too has become one OF the attractions OF
the city TO visitors. Three distinguished Engshmen
recently visited and the Duke ofsutherend and th Mar
oas of Exeter repeatedly sent orders here for sh
with which stock their private ponds. Though the
resfaurants are a modern development In the market
az present they occupy about oneourth OF the cnte
his Inns
XII man wanted for start in the business pepper
salt vinegar and board on which TO set out the dishes.
Then the stand-keepers began TO have oyster-stews
cooked over n charcoal furnace: Tho business grew
rapidly, thoy fitted up booths ana served oysters
cooked In various tgles They had become feature OF
rho market The shops gradually enlarged until
they attained their present proportions Then the prob
lem came IN as to what should be done In the months
that lacked the mystic "R In their names This led 20
tine steak chops ETC. ana now the shops are fu
blown restaurants, doing very large business.
building gradually dccaycd and ilnay became
dangerous 10 life and health Nearly all the persons
engaged in the market became convinced that "A new
structure was absolute necessity committee OF
stand-holders was appointed but met with cOnsdera
ton at the hands OF the Sinking Fund Commission. Tho
committee went TO the Legislature but the Governor
vetoed tho bill Then the committee disbanded. Infu
eDce was finally brought TO bear the Board OF Appor
tiounent and $4,000 granted 10 repair the
ket In making the plans for the repars IL was found
that nothing would do short OF entire rebuilding OF the
marke. second appropriation OF $4,000 TO complete
the repairs obtained, and now the city owns
ket costing 100000, occupying ground measuring 200
by $50 feet IL is probably the cheapest building OF It's
sze constructed by the city, aud Is free from
faint of jobOery corruption There are 24O stands
cuped BY eighty three stand-hOders. There only
eight stand holders ana they deal mostly In
vegetables aud fruits