The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1914-11-12

market has been sounded. declares the
New York Times. The board of al
dermen recently adopted n resolution
TO abandon the famous place which. In
its palmy days. was the largest hsh
market. not only on Manhattan island
but in the United States. As early as
1927 the possibilities OF Fulton mar
ket as a great fish headquarters we're
SO well recognized that the wholesale
FISH market, now In existence. was es-
tablished in the slip opposite the pres
ent market building. In late years
most OF the market has been confined
to the large wholesale fish dealers,
and there is no intention Of doing
away with this supplementary. but
very important FISH market.
over two years ago the city officials
discovered that Fulton market was
costing the city more than II brought
in. The health department condemned
1t as insanitary, and In January, 1912.
Borough President McAneny and Con-
troller Prendergast recommended that
the building be abandoned and the
property turned over TO the sinking
fund commission. Considerable oppo-
sition was aroused from some Of the
old stall keepers. and no definite ae-
tion was taken.
Meanwhile the old building has been
getting worse. II was never properly
repaired after the fire which de-
stroyed most Of the roof about three
wears ngo. and In wet weather many
OF the stallkeepers found Il necessary
to use umbrellas 20 keep the rain from
them ana their meats. vegetables and
cheeses II would have been neces-
sary 10 rebuild the market to put Il In
proper condition. and the city did not
feel that the business warranted the
expense.
Building Almost In Ruins.
The Fulton street side of the mar
ket today looks like a venerable ruin.
Sections OF the roof are entirely gone.
the windows in the upper story are
broken. the iron railing slants danger
ously over the sidewalk. The big
doors are nailed up. and as one views
the red brick pile from the opposite
side OF the street. the appearance Is
dreary and miserable in the extreme
In its present condition the market is
a real detriment TO the business activ-
iiy Of the neighborhood.
The norfherly. or Beekfran street.
side is the only portion OF the mar
Net that stiil remains in use. with the
exception Of few small fish stalls on
south street. near the Beekman street
section. Most OF the occupants are
Wholesale FISH dealers. and they VIII
probably move out In shor, time
40 action as TO she disposition Of
the property has yet been made. but
u the suggestion OF Controller Prem
fergast two years ago Is adopted II
viii be sold. when good opportunity
Offers n cne or more buyers for com
mercial Improvement Aithouch ex-
emnt from taxation. the market fig
ures AZ a valuation of $3.50 .000 for the
land. on the assessment books II
covers a whole block fronting over
200 fcot on Front and South streets
and about one hundred and seventy on
both Fulton and Beekman streets
Hurt by Shifting OF Travel.
The opening OF the Brooklyn bridge
was one OF the contributory causes OF
the decline OF Fulton market Its
proximity to Fulton ferry made II for
wears one OF the greatest retail mar
kets in the city but when the resi-
dents OF Brooklyn used the bridge TO
the exclusion Of the ferry. trade fell
on rapidly Then. little later. the
ferry itself was abandoned. and that
practically cut away the last prop for
retail business. and were it not for a
few large wholesale nsh and meat
dealers who supplied the uptown ho-
tells. the market would have been near
~ empty years ago.
Fulton market Is one of the oldest
in New York city. II was the logical
outgrowsh OF the ancient Fly market.
which stood from early Dutch times
above Pearl street AT the Intersection
OF Maiden Lane and Liberty street.
As early as 1918 the city corporation
decided to move the Fly market north.
ward 10 the Fulton ferry. aud I'm 1917
Pn net Of the legislature authorized
the city 70 buy the block now occupied
by the market Nothing was done un-
III 1921. when a fire destroyed the col
lection Of cheap wooden sshanilaa on
'he plot. and steps we're then taken
to erect the market a frame build.
Ing bui partly covered was erected.
and y was formally opened on Janu-
arr p. over ninety-two years ago.
The opening was not entirely peace
ful. ~ Il resulted IN what amounted 20
n strike Of the butchers against the
city officials. The market committee
advertised the stalls for sale by auc-
tion. but stipulated that none could be
bought for less than one hundred dol
lars. Tho butchers OF the old Fly
market had a strong organization in
those days. and they presented n pc
tition to the common council. stating