Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-31
MARKETS OF CITIES.
New York Has the Largest and Best
Supply in the Country.
FISH FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
Harrisburgs Old-Fashioned Dutch Market
and Its Novelties
FRENCH BAzAARs OF NEW ORLEANS
rwRrrrEy FOR TIE prsrArcH.J

ing indication of the character Of q commu-
nifty. Quaint, primitive marts are found
only in remote corners where the people are
not in touch with the vigorous life OF the
century. Great bustling exchanges are To-
Gated where the heart of civilization beats
with full life. The noted markets Of the
United States are all located east Of the
Mississippi. Those of New York are the
largest and best. The facilities there for OBJ
tanning early vegetables, foreign and home
fruits, and the countless variety of fish are
far superior to those OF any other city. They
have vegetables before the Western cities,
and as the distance of transportation is less
they arrive in good condition.
The New York fish market is especially
fine. Walk down Fulton street to the ferry
and note the display of Holsters, shrimps,
crabs and terrapin. At the stalls are found
fnny representatives from nearly every part
of the United States, and an experiment
has even been tried of bringing fish from
the Pacific to this market. The Yaquina
Deep Sea Fishing Company, of Portland,
Ore, had steamer equipped last year for
the purpose Of travelling between the fish
ing banks and a convenient point of trans
portation, in order that the catch might
reach the East in good order.
THE LADIES STAY AWAY.
It is not customary for ladies to do their
own marketing in New York. The people
who usually frequent the markets are gen.
tlemen, who do the buving for their fami-
lies. stewards o. large hotels and boarding
house keepers.
The Washington City markets are of nee
esslty good, because epicures who reside
there the greater part of the year, depend
largely upon them. The Central is the main
one, but dotted all over the city are others
on smaller scale. Fashionable ladies do
their own purchasing. Carriages line the
entrances to the City Market, and society
women whose names are known from New
York to the Golden Gate can be seen fitting
from stall to stall leaving orders with the
butcher, the baker, and candlestick-maker
Among the picturesque features are the
country people, with their wagons backed up
to the curb, with the products OF the farm or
truck patch displayed on rough homemade
stands. Through sun, rain and snow, the
wives and daughters OF the farmers can be
found waiting for customers apparently
careless OF the elements. Some of the
women wear heavy wooden shoes or sabots,
such as are worn by the peasantrv Of France
and Holland. or the owners OF these odd
places OF business, goodly number are col
ored. A purchaser can easily detect the
difference in vegetables. Those OF the negro
fsrmer are not so varied ana usually not so
good in quality as those OF the white man.
Their farms are Of poorer soil, or they are
not so industrious as their white neighbors.
PRICES IN WASHINGTON.
Prices are very moderate in Washington,
especially of garden products. Huge boil
ers OF hominy, steaHsing hot; cocoanut and
grated while yoa wait; pot
cheese, with cream ready for the table; mush
prepared tor frying, and Hamburger steak
are few of the many tenn pting articles here
not to be found at other markets. Oysters
and fish are always plentiful in Washington,
the latter particularly being in great de-
mand. Not only can the housekeeper be
Supplied from the numerous markets. but
hvery day can be heard the cry OF "Oys,"
"oys' during the winter months 1t is the
colored oyster man on the street, with his
big tin can. His merchandise, good part
of it water, sells from 25 to 35 cents quart.
Some o the more prosperous venders have
cart. These vendors have different grades
of oysters for sale, ranging from 20 to 80
cents per quart measure.
Terrapin is in a greater demand at the
Capitol, especially when Congress is in
session, than in any other city. There is.
however, fair demand for the esculent
saurian in New York and Baltimore. Sa-
vannah is one of the terrapip supply points
for Washington. The animals are taken
there in fishing sloops, and command from
$15 to $25 per dozen. They are kept in
sheds, allowed plenty OF water, and are led
I ieob IN, Sfc of
shrimps and fish. One strange. thing is
that they are sold by measurement and not
by weight. A terrapin measuring five
inches or less is not sold as one, but three Of
that size are sold as two.
AN oLD-FA sHIoNED ONE.
A regular old fashioned market is that at
Harrisburg, where you can purchase any
thing rom tallow candle to pair of home
made wooden socks. Any one who enjoys
good substantial Pennsylvania Dutch dish
es, such as smearcase, sausage, sauerkrout
and Dutch cheese, can be made supremely
happy here, Tor in these substantlals it ex-
cells. AS in the case of Washington,
the farmers display is made most.
ly on the siewalks. Strangers at
the State capital enjoy the novelty pre-
sented on Market street. On the morning
of market day that thoroughfare is fringed
with Dauphin county farm wagons from the
Russ House to the public square. The far
mers are thrifty and industrious and the
city is cheaply supplied with fresh crisp
vegetables and luscious fruits.
The market hours in Harrisburg are such
that they compel the housewife, for the la
dies do their buying here. to be up bright
and early. BY 8 o'clock the stalls are
empty. Everything is 10 full swing at 4:30 |
in the morning, and at 6 o'clock business is |
at its best.
Cincinnati vegetable markets are sup
piled from the adjacent gardens in Ohio |
and Kentucky. On Saturday night |
weird and fantastic scenes are presented on
The side of the pavement an old-iashioned |
severed wagon forms back ground to the
honest country women whose sunburnt face |
NOT CoMELY BUT KIND,
and who, with looks of expectation sits on q
urned-up bushel basket, upholstered with |
he blanket rom the faithful old horse, who |
tands demurelv at the back of the wagon
eating hay. Stacks Of potatoes, beets,
and onions ornament stand made |
rom rough boards on trestles. Plump |
chickens dangle by the legs from the corner !
If the wagon, while baskets OF fresh laid |
Eggs. and stone jug OF cider vinegar, COM I
,letes this picture illuminated by smoky |
orch.
Chattanooga markets do not present very
thrifty appearance. The long bare market |
louse has not the attractiveness seen In |
Northern cities. Vegetables are of the |
ordinary variety, there being no specialties.
The groceries all deal extensively in market |
ruck, which accounts largely for the poor |
moving at the city market.
Philadelphia, although the third city in |
will. however, be found equal