Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
The Things We Eat.

The west-End market will soon be open
10 the public and will no doubt be Of great
service. though IL is not quite as centrally
located as is desirable A site might have
been found on Broad street which would
have been accessible TO a greater popula-
ton: but no matter, the West-End people
have got what they long wished and peti'
toned for and really much need.
Doubts are expressed "a TO the market
becoming a success. With soRe the
opinion obtains that public markets are
"things of the past" and that green
groceries are all that modern Richmond
needs.
No evidence supports this view. The
proof il TO the contrary. The two existing
markets are doing larger business than
ever before, and many times in very recent
wears the City Council has had to appro-
pirate money TO enlarge them. Even now
they are too much cramped for space. A
fact which indicates that public markets
will always be necessary is that the private
property surrounding them commands
higher prices, whether rented or sold. than
ever before.
II the West-End market is to realize all
the hopes Of its advocates and pro-
iector. il cannot be expected to reach the
full tide Of success for some years to come.
Habit is strong, and those who have been
dealing at the Second market all their
lives will not at once sunder their bust
ness ties there. But we expect to see the
West-End market grow into popularity
steadily. II will be by far the most con-
yeniently-arranged and attractive market
IN the city, and the time will come when
IL will receive the patronage of the veal
thiest and most fashionable families as
well as Of the thousands of mechanics and
laborers who in the years to come Will
densely populate that vast plain lying be-
tween Hollywood and the New reservoir.
Another benefit that may be counted
upon with good reason will be the relief
Che west-End market will give to the two
oyercrowded old markets. These are now
so densely crowded with provisions and
with sellers and buyers that it is next to
impossible to keep them as tidy as they
should be.
With three large public markets and
hundreds o" green groceries lnfuli opera
ton the citizens of Richmond will be able
70 "pick and choose" their daily bills of
fare with more satisfaction than hereto
fore. In the midst OF such plenty If we do
not live well it will be because we do not
care to expend our money that way.
tor xtfaO
of establishing an dbdttoir. All meat should
be butchered under the most cleanly con-
ditions, and the slaughter-houses ought to
be 80 located that they will not be an
offence TO the residents of the city, and so
that they may have access to abundant
running water and have the advantage of
che freest drainage. When we come to
talk seriously about the extension OF the
corporate limits. attention ought to be
given to this particular subject.
Richmond markets for domestic produce
have greatly improved in recent years.
Better meat is butchered here than ever
before. We crave no finer -four than our
city mills produce. Our easy communica-
tions with Norfolk, Newport News, and
West Point give ample supplies of oysters
md fish. We are ON the grand trunk line
which bears northward the rich fruits and
early vegetables of the South, and the
counties about us pour into our lap the
products of their prolific gardens and
orchards. Our situation is favored one
Luxuries that were very costly twenty oil
thirty years ago are cheap now.
Richmond is good homes