National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-10
WHAT WE EAT.
The Farmers and Traders Who Attend the
Washington Markets.
The Products OF the Country for a Long
Distance Oh sale,

No park Of emigrant wagons on tho prairi es
of the far west ever presented more pic
turcsquo scene than that presented last night
in the inclosure which surrounds the stables
of the Washington Market company, corner
of Twelfth and B streets northwest. Country
wagons of every style were formed into true
western parks. They represented almost
everything in the vehicle line from shaky
Jumpers" TO "reminiscences Of the late civil
war i'm the shape of monster army wagons
and corps ambulanccs. They began to arrive
as early as noon yesterday, and at mid
night were still coming in Tho hoarSe
shouts Of tcamsters, and tho flashing OF
lights and the icy tread OF the wheels,
mingled in a chaos and picture hardly de-
scribable. The incoming farmers showed
plain traces of their long and checrless drive
over frozen roads and in the face of ireez-
ing north wind. Many of them were SO be.
numbed by the cold that they fairly stag.
gercd upon dismounting from their teams
red hot stove in an adjoining room, however,
soon thawed them out, and their horses were
unhitched and tethered about the park of
wagons in the inclosure. These busy opera
tions continued nearly all night. In fact, it
frequently happens that farmers from very
distant points are bclated by reason OF heavy
loads or bad weather. and do not reach the
stables until daylight.
y reporter VI HE olhEiNh Vhb
"a typical old Maryland farmer for an inter
view. He had just administered large dose
of Corn on the cob" to his horses and stood
watching them devour it Proedily. lie is
known among his fellow countrymcn as
Uncle Billy" and brought produce to the
Center market long before the present hand
some structure was erected A pair OF small,
twinkling gray eyes pecped from under u
bushy cloud of eyebrows, while his face was
cfectualy concealed by a shaggy growth of
gray beard which fairly glistoncd under its
decorations of frost and iciClps peculi1rly
constructed hat of gray cloth, with home
mnde "ear-warmers" attached, surmountCd
his head, and his feet looked gouty in their
WRAPS OF sections of an antique army blanket.
This is cold weather for travelling over
country roads," remarked the reporter, siding
US to the old farmer.
ayes, SIR" he replied, blowing out o
mouthtul of frozen steam into the icy atmos-
phere I" II is wuss than anything knows Of.
l tell you mister, when this north wind
comes a-blowen outen them pine trees it nigh
onto freezes the very blood in your veins.
There amt no cold in the city. You ought
to live i'll the country during this kinder
weather. Then you'd ketch it,
"Do you live far from the city,"
81 don't know what you'd call far" he
replied, "but l came about thirtytwo miles.
My place is ON the edge of Baltimore county,
not many mios from Baltimore city"
"Why don't you take your produce to the
Baltimore marketY
Because il pays me to bring IL here" Nege-
tables never sell high in Baltimore. They
bring good fggers here, specially when con-
gress Is sottin'.'
".What kind of produce is coming in now?''
quercd the reporter.
Winter cabbages, potatoes, turnips, celery,
dressed hogs, and the like. | made lots OF
off ,,xy palnrx, hala fhia int frhnrn
was plenty OF game in the market, and you
know game aud celery goes together. When
one sells high so does the t'othcr.
The reporter found another countryman
who travels twenty-nine miles every market
day. His farm is situated in Eondoun
county, Va. He stated that the weather has
been very severe and that travelling in an
open wagon is anything but pleasant during
this frigid spell.
In conversation with u large number o
these men the reporter learned that they
heartily favored the erection Of large brick
building in place of the present frame struc'
lures. They think 1t should be large enough
to accommodate both their animals and
wagons, with sleeping apartments in tn,
upper portion. 1t frequently happens that
farmers without money are compelled to slee!
in their wagons out-of-doors, even during
such icy weather as that Of last night.
where do you generally find lodgings?
asked the reporter addressing q small gather.
ing OF cOuntrymen who were discussing the
prices to be asked for vegetables on the NOR.
row.
AT different Places replied one of them
There's an old lady on the next square who
keeps lodging house. Then there's hunks
in tho office Of this stable that we use If W,
get in before they arc all taken. The old
Tyson house, corner of Seventh and Z streets
IS another hotel where farmers can get ac
commodutions."
What rates do you pay"
"All the way from % cents to $l.25," wa
the reply. IF we sleep in the stable here
we get meals at the neighboring oatiuj
houses. They cost from 10 to % cents each.
The keeper of the market house stable wa
next seen. He said the rates charged 10
country wagons are For one horse vehicle
25 cents per night; two horse, d
cents; three horse, G5 cents, ant
four-horse, 70 cents. In his experience he ha
seen much suffering smong those who cam
long distances during cold weather.
As the reporter was about 10 leave tn
vicinity an intelligent-ioaking farmer re
marked in significant tone, "lf those peopl
who buy from us farmers in the morning unl,
knew the amount of suffering and cNposur
1t costs to prepare and bring our products t
town, some of them would not try TO beat Il
down a fow cents on head of cabbage or
peck Of potatoes, as is frequently the case"
Commissioners Appointed.
The President has appointed the followin
commissioners to the worlds industrial oA