The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
sWASHINGTONM MARKET
TO BE MADE OVER
Remodelled and Enlarged Many Times
Since 1771-.-City to Spend $4,000
on improvements

who lacked political pull would occa-
sionally ind that they had been entirely
or partially dispossessed during the
night by some more fortunate individual
blessed with the right kind Of political
connections. The dispossessed one gem
orally had no remedy. 1t was also about
this time that Thomas Lloyd. who As
Collector of City Revenues had charge
Of the market rentals. decamped with
something more than $4,000. With
part Of the $4,000 Mr.. Lloyd purchased
brig called the Hope and taking the
balance Of his treasure on board sailed
away to enjoy himself In extreme south
ern waters
In 1858 the city reclaimed . large plot
Of ground west Of Washington Market
and sold at a fixed yearly rental permits
to a large number OF persons to erect
stalls or buildings wherein to sell meats
and vegetables. While the city was In
possession Of this made ground the State
leased the entire plot to owen v. Bren-
nan and Joseph b. Taylor at q yearly
rental Of $1,000. Suits were then started
by Brennan and Taylor to eject the city
and the tenants. After number Of
lawsuits the matter was finally settled
In the form of a compromise by which
Taylor and Brennan received from the
city $500. 900 for their rights.
Fire wiped out q large portion OF the
market on July II. 1860. Approximately
200 sheds were destroyed. entailng a
loss OF about $500 to each occupant.
The market was partially rebuilt, but
the remaining portions were in such a
dilapidated state that the market was
an eyesore. However. with occasional
repairs which rather added TO the ugli-
ness OF the building than otherwise Il
continued to serve In q great measure
the city's market needs until 1854. when
| the present building was erected.
II was in the decade Just preceding
| the civil war and the period immedi-
ately following that the market probably
assumed tho most interesting aspect Of
its career. In those days II was GUS
tomary for the business men Of the city
and even bankers Of prominence 20 stop
at the market for the daily supply OF
meat and other provisions. 1t formed
common meeting ground for men in
| many and varied walks OF life.
| Not the least Interesting OF those In
| the crowd that thronged the market
were the butchers themselves. particu-
larly those in the wholesale department
! nese AtteT were tne Sports OF the Gay.
| In fact It Is said that there was hardly
n sporting man OF prominence who was
not identified in some way with Wash
ington Market The Dwyer brothers
the horsemen, were closely connected
with the market for many years
| 1t Is related that tho butchers came
to business in the early morning hours
! wearing silk hats, frock coats and shoes
! polished to such an extent that they
| made a mirror seem dim by comparison.
Arriving at the market. they exchanged
! their outward elegance for business ha-
! biliments and at the close Of the day
again changed their attire and went GU.
for a drive or for promenade on the
| fashionable thoroughfares.
The system Of selling meat was dif-
| ferent In those days. There was no
Chicago to Ak prices. This was gener-
ally done at I A. NJ, and II Ii said that
from then on until Q o'clock prices in
the wholesale market would steadily
drop. the rapidity with which they fell
! depending largely on how anxious some