New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-04
FRUIr-SrAYD NEWS PR0FITS.

| THE BEST PLACES FOR The BUsINFss-sOME OF
THE TRIALS OF THE CURB.ToNE vrNDERs
To thousands of New Workers. the corner fruit
stand and its proprietor are frequent cause OIL
| speculation and wonder How a man can manage
TO support himself and as is generally the case,
family besides of tho profits arising from the
sale of few apples. oranges, bananas figs or
! grapes in the course Of the day puzzles many
thoughtful observer. Yet this is done by between
| 5000 and 5000 sidewalk merchants in this city.
Some of them do even more. Strange as it may
seem, there are a few dealers who have grown rlch
out of this business, and the number who are in
con- Portable circumst ances is by no means so small
as might be supposed. An intelligent old Italian.
whose years of dealing with Broa iway merchants
and clerks have given him comfortable balance
IN savings bank and fair knowledge of the
| English language was discussing his business the
other evening with one of his regular patrons
! How is business ~ he said. repeating his Gus
TONER'S inquiry. Poor, poor. my friend, very poor.
TN, is the worst time of the fruit trade ALI kinds
now in market are dear aud people look upon them
as unreasonable This is true IN measure. bnt
they would soil all the If the prices were not
so nigh. An these are hard times l won't make
over RIO this month"
"What do YOU consider IN average months earn
! ings T. asked the buyer.
@Oh. S75 10 600. often make that much right
along when the fruit season begins and frequently
much moro. Bat then haven't the best place for
i
uon,7 Down by the ferries; fnlton. Chambers,
Cort andt Wall and Liberty sts These are the
places " mere the fruit men make money. People
gong out OF town aud business men starting tor
lhe'r country homes generally buy baskets of fruit
In preference t. ANYTHING else, and there Is big
profit IN uniting up goods in tins way"
Do fruit dealers rule pay rent for their
! stands !"
"Nn think not, unless they are IN a particularly
fine location. good deal depends upon the owner
or lessee OF the property. II lie generous sort OF
a fellow he'll charge nothing, while 0theis VIII
limo tax. matter bow small. The stands
aiUng the cuTbstones pay no rent OF course as that
Qarl OF tie sdewalk belongs To the corporation.
RES, squaiters, however are liable TO be moved at
any time. Trucks are continually backing on the
sdcwa H. and the police sometimes insist on keep
walk clear Just ont of pure crank mess. The
rOice bV TIE way. give good deal OF trouble 20
us. hey help themselves to fruit, and OF course
let them have it, 10 keep solid with them. but
II don't do much good. Let drunken gang of Irish
.oa!srs come along and upset stand. and ten to
one the police viii let them 60 or keep out OF the
way until the row is over and the crowd dispersed.
IS, ours risky business aud "a bard one. too
Fruit spoils unckly. We have to sell IN the
ANA lest quantities. ana along the lines Of travel
such ~ the elevated 70 al the stands are kept open
all ui. nt lust catch "A few cents worth OF trade
from iate passengers. Then we Lave To be careful
alDl; Offering decay ed stock for SAFE as the health
ocers are more alert tha' formerly and they show
little mercy to fellows like rs wnen they catch MS
vipai ng the health code But few deal ers. except
those in the streets ever attempt to do so, as
our customers would nOl stand IT,"