The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
EPICURES OF WASHINGTON
HOW MUCH OF THE GOOD THINGS
THEY DAILY CONSUME.
Game, Poultry, Oysters and Foreign
Frufts Eaten with Lavish Ap-
petites and Relish.
washington Times.

what they eat" and that 1.-The physical and
spiritual man are but correlative terms"
There is deal Of homey truth in these
pertinent words of the old philosopher.
though ne died a confirmed dyspeptic and
the very prince OF pessimists.
The food question OF to-day is one that
Is occupying the attention. not only OF the
wisest scientists, but Of the learned edu-
Gators OF to-day. and is being brought before
the attention OF the people In many ways,
by the introduction and by the analysis OF
our various foodstuafs and the numerous
cereals we advertised throughout the
land. The food question, therefore, is one
appealing not only directly TO the individual,
but likewise to the Nation at large, for
Americans need not, only as a people, to be
intellectually up to the standard, but phys
ically as well, so as to be able to win in
the great battles OF life pregnant and poten-
ual during the present century.
Washingtonians as a rule give little
thought. perhaps. to the demand and supply
OF the food they eat Not one man or
woman In a dozen have any idea of how
they are supplied every day to keep body
and soul together. when partaking Of
bountiful repast. or a slim, scanty meal,
as the conditions may exist. representa-
tive Of the Times spent all Of one day last
week In making the rounds OF the mar
kets and In interviewing the provision mer-
chants, dealers and factors in the food sup
plies OF Washington In order to approxi-
Snately obtain idea OF how Washington
is fed
Take the meat supply as probably the
most important, and IL was ascertained
that Washington's meats, including beef
sheep. lamb, and pork. come largely from
the West-Chicago, st. Louis. Omaha and
Kansas City-and Is known as Western
meats.
From eight to ten carloads of meat
arrive here daily, consigned to the nine
western packers OF this city. Twenty thou
sand pounds to the car is about the aver
age 1t generally takes from three to four
days In transit and as these cars are re-
frfgerator cars, cool, clean and carefully ar
ranged, being reiced at different stations
along the route. they arrive here in the best
possible condition, with the meats ready for
the consumer. These shipments for the
washington markets alone, and are con-
eumed In the city and Alexandria. Then
there Is pork and its products. such as
coming In daily, which gives some idea
what Washington consumes I'm the meat
line. Another item Is the home-dressed
peer which we obtain from nearby terri
tory, over 1900 pounds per day OF which
as shipped here. and 20 per cent. that Is
slaughtered at the Washington abattoir
v
out the district. When Il is known that so
Fer cent. or the meat sold here comes from
the West. one cannot help but wonder at
meat-consuming center, and the question
naturally arises, why not market for our
home product IL properly fed. cured and
GREAT POULTRY MARKET.
In the poultry line, including game and
wild fowl, the Washington markets are
ff,rIIv
noted saying among epicures and connois-
seurs that for wild fowl and game. 60 to
Washington The home-fed chickens,
ducks and turkeys, the shot and captured
quail. woodcock and wild turkey. living on
natures storehouse Of insect and grain, are
said TO possess a most peculiar and piquant
havor, which is so eagerly sought after
IN this market by the leading clubs and
hostelries throughout the country. The de-
mand In this line Is far in excess OF the
supply. as the home market generally
absorbs what there is at the beginning of
the season.
From 5000 to 10000 crates of chickens
arrive weekly at our markets, showing a
toothsome liking for the fowl that
scratches the soil.' indicating the Southern
taste for chicken. q dish which when prop
erly fried called forth from an English
diplomat the remark, "a dish ht for the
immortal gods, and one to tickle the palate
ek modern Archestartus." These chick
oos come largely from nearby places while
ersat quantities come from the West in
cold storage.
Quail. woOdcock. wild turkey and the
chesapeake bay and points South, will soon
begin to arrive In large quantities, and,
70 the Times rspresentative. ssN "wsshinxten sten
becoming every year the resort and homes
OF the retired and wealthy. whose tastes de-
pand the best the markets AFFORD, especial
Y In the game line, hence IL Is no wonder
the game stalls OF Washington have such
national reputation" Ever since the
Iamented Thomas +. Bayard and the we'll
groomed and diplomatic leader OF his party.
Arthur Pue German, began going to market
for their own health and palates, with their
market-basKets on their arms, for the dia-
mond-back terrapin and the canvas back
duck. making it fashionable for men OF
wealth and position to do the marketing for
psctaIly old Center market, may be seen
crowds representing the wealth. refinement
and culture Of the city doing their own
The representative Of the Times was in
formed by a prominent game dealer that
as many as 5000 quail have been sold daily
ciamond-back terrapin retailing at from SIS
70 so per dozen, 1t has been no unusual
thing to sell eight to fifteen dozen terrapin
daily. OWING oftentimes TO the scarcity OF
this great epicurean dish, 1t is a hard mat
Ter 70 supply the demand. most OF the
0laxuuuu-OdChS 81 QlreCL 10 Boston. New
York. Philadelphia and Baltimore. but 4;
2s a well known taot that during the ses-
sions or Congress Washington has outbid
the leading markets for terrapin. paving or
two occasions high $ss per dozen for
them.
In the line OF sea food. such as ovs.
ters. fish. crabs and Holsters. the supply
being drawn from Boston, Chesapeake bay
Virginia and North Carolina. WashIngtor
fairly humps herself. There is nearly hall
million OF bushels OF the toothsome
ofvalves consumed IN this city each ason
Besides the supply brought up the river
from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina
waters, the Washington dealers receive a
food many by rail from Baltimore. from
Norfolk, from Connecticut, and other
sources The Times representative learned
from number OF oyster dealers and by
consulting the records OF the United States
dsh commissioners reports, that the area
OF the Potomac river from Its mouth TO the
southern border of Prince George county
the northern line OF the oyster beds com
prfses about go square miles. In addition
the tributary waters in St Mary anc
Charles counties, and opposite TO them or
the virginia shores. cpntain at least sixty
square miles. All this territory is pretty
wsn stocked with oysters.
OYSTERS FROM POTOMAC
The tong men work here from September
u 70 April Is each year. The water beine
comparatively shallow, dredges are not al