History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 126

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094

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WHOLESALE GROCERS & COMMISSION MERCHANTS

OGARS TEAS.COFFEES & SYRUPS

WHOLESALE GROCERY STORES OF PHELPS & BRACE, 81 and 83 Jefferson Avenue. Built in 1868.

the Falls of Niagara, and Congress was asked to undertake the work. On July 22, 1874, the city was visited by the Chamber of Commerce of Peoria. The guests were met at the depot by a committee, given a reception at the Council Chamber in the the evening, and the next morning welcomed and lunched at the rooms of the board.

In 1873 the board paid $5,000 to the owners of the hall to secure a cancellation of their lease, and arranged for the preparation of a hall and rooms in a new building on the southeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Griswold Street, at a rent of $1,600 per

THE BOARD OF TRADE.

791

year. These were first occupied on February 19, 1879. Among the privileges granted by the Act under which the board is incorporated is the right to settle dis- putes and differences of a business character be- tween members or others by arbitration. After the hearing and deter- mining of cases by ap- propriate committees. the final award is made by law to have the same effect as a judgment in the Circuit Court. For the carrying out of the purpose of this provision, an Arbitration Commit- tee of ten persons is elec- ted yearly, half only of them serving at a time. The fees for arbitrating, determined by a regular scale, according to the amount involved, go into

RATHBONE SARD&CD STOVES TINNERS STOCK.

DETROIT BRANCH STOVE STORE OF RATHBONE, SARD, & Co., 97 to 101 Woodbridge St. West. W. P. Kellogg, Manager. Built 1880. Foundries at Albany, N Y.

: 101 OUHL. SONS & CO . 105[] 109 WHOLESALE HARDW

BE . 111

WHOLESALE HARDWARE STORES OF BUHL, SONS, & Co., 103 to 111 Woodbridge Street West. Built in 1871.

the treasury of the board. A Committee on Appeals, consisting of nine members, is appointed yearly to review, when called upon, the deci- sions of the Arbitration Committee. If referred to the Committee on Appeals, the arbitration fees are re- quired to be paid again.

The first definite rules for the inspection and grading of grain were adopted on September 8, 1863. The grading has since been fre- quently changed. On Oc- tober 13, 1863, Joseph Hatch was elected inspector of flour, and soon after of grain as well. At the same time Benjamin Clark was elected inspector of provisions. Both inspectors were paid by the fees collected, and the board required ten per cent of the total amount re- ceived to be paid to the treasurer. In March, 1870,

792

THE BOARD OF TRADE.

J. C. Hatch was made assistant inspector of grain. already named, a president, first and second vice- In April, 1872, the grain inspector was voted a salary president, and eight directors are elected yearly, who of $2,500, and all fees thereafter were to be turned control the affairs of the organization, appoint the secretary, treasurer, and inspectors, and hold regu- lar meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. At each annual meeting they report the amount to be assessed upon each member the succeed- ing year. The revenue of the board is derived principally from the inspection of grain, at twenty- five cents per car load, and from dues of members. into the treasury of the board. In August, 1872, N. B. Rowley was appointed grain weigher. On March 4, 1873, Joseph Hatch resigned, and his son, the assistant inspector, was appointed to his place. On March 20, 1877, Duncan Thompson was ap- pointed chief inspector, and on February 1, 1883, Payson Hutchins became assistant inspector. H. C. Bates was appointed inspector of seeds and weigh- master at the M. C. R. R. on March 11, 1870.

The members of the board protect each other by agreeing upon a uniform scale of fees or commis- sions for buying or selling grain and produce. In the delivering of grain, the transfer of a receipt from one of the railroad elevators, specifying that the grain is in store and giving the number of bushels, is accepted as an actual delivery. From February 25, 1879, an initiation fee of $250 was required from all new members, and on March 4, 1882, it was voted to raise the fee to $500 as soon as one hundred members were obtained.

There are now about one hundred members. Per- sons seeking admission as members must be of legal age, residents of the city or having a permanent busi- ness therein, or be members of a similar commercial organization in some other city. Their application must be indorsed by two members of the board, and after five days' notice, seven affirmative votes by the directors will elect them to membership. The business acts of every member are subject to investigation by the Board of Directors, if called in question by any other member.

The annual meeting is held on the first Tuesday in March, and the term of office begins on the Tuesday following. Besides the two committees

On January 31, 1880, the board subscribed $10,000 in aid of the Butler Railroad, and on June II, $3,000 additional, and Detroit is largely indebted to the efforts of Secretary Erwin for the extension of this road to Detroit. The salary of the secretary has been gradually raised until now it is $1,800 per year.

The following have served as officers of the board : Presidents : 1856-1859, H. P. Bridge ; 1859, Dun- can Stewart ; 1860, W. H. Craig; 1861, G. W. Bissell ; 1862, Alexander Lewis; 1863, A. E. Bis- sell; 1864-1866, Joseph Aspinall ; 1866, G. F. Bag- ley : 1867, J. G. Erwin; 1868, H. J. Buckley ; 1869, C. A. Sheldon ; 1870, R. W. Gillett; 1871-1873, C. M. Garrison ; 1873, Alfred Chesebrough ; 1874- 1876, Philo Parsons ; 1876, Jacob Beeson ; 1877, Morgan Johnson ; 1878, Walter Bourke; 1879-1881, John H. Wendell ; 1881, E. K. Norton ; 1882, Wm. Livingston, Jr .; 1883-1885, R. W. Gillett ; 1885, F. L. Lazier ; 1886, W. Lichtenburg ; 1887, J. W. Flynn. Treasurers : 1856-60, H. K. Sanger , 1860. R. W. King; 1861 .- 1864, secretary and treasurer one office ; 1864-1867, Joseph Aspinall ; 1867-1871, Peter Young. Secretaries : 1856-60, M. D. Hamil- ton ; 1860-1873, Ray Haddock; 1873, Joseph Colt, W. Y. Rumney ; 1874-1878, W. Y. Rumney ; 1878 - 1882, John G. Erwin; 1882-1885, J. K. McIvor ; 1885- , George M. Lane.

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

MARKETS, MARKETING, AND PRICES.

THE glory of the ancient market-days has de- parted. The black-eyed, olive-skinned maidens, in short petticoats, from the Canada shore, no longer bring "garden-sauce and greens," the French ponies amble not over our paved streets, and little brown-bodied carts no longer throng the market- place. In the brave days of old, every one went to market, and most persons to the City Hall Market. Marketing and visiting were combined. In the market the rich and poor met together ; it was com- mon ground, and the poorest were sure of a "good morning" from the richest in town. Stately min- isters and noted politicians with baskets on arm, merchants and laborers, all alike examined, ques- tioned and bantered side by side. Thrifty ladies, making selections with fastidious care, swelled the throng, and younger ladies, in their morn- ing walks, here found zest and perchance a beau.

Originally only vegetables and meats were exhibit- ed for sale; in later days almost any- thing except a lodg- ing might be bar- gained for. Confec- tionery, fruits, shoes, poultry, stockings, vegetables, laces, meats, and fish were all set out for customers. Even now, on Saturday nights especially, the crowd- ing, jostling, busy crowd forms a unique and motley spectacle. Not only goods but labor is here for sale, and just as in Bible days "men are standing idle in the market-place." For the last forty years, a woodsawyer, when wanted, might be found at the west end ; at the east end, on Bates Street, white- washers and day-laborers are wont to congregate.

The Woodward Avenue Market.

The locating of a market, and regulations con- cerning it, engaged the attention of the trustees in 1802. The third ordinance passed provided that the market should " be without the pickets and next to the river, between the old bake-house and the

upper line of pickets." After the fire of 1805 there seem to have been no markets or market regula- tions until June 15, 1816. The records of the Board of Trustees show that a committee of three was then appointed " to estimate on kind and quality of timber " for a market-house. On September 21, $1,500 was voted for the erection of a building, to be in part raised by a poll tax of one dollar, and the balance by a tax on real and personal property. The building was erected by B. Woodworth, and completed in 1817 ; it was located in the centre of Woodward Avenue just below Jefferson Avenue. On April 26 a committee was appointed to consider a bill of extras. The building was thirty by seventy feet, and one story high, with a hip-roof supported by fourteen brick pillars. In 1827 it was enclosed

FORMER WOODWARD AVENUE MARKET.

by placing slats three inches wide between the pillars. The council, on August 14 of that year, or- dered a bill of $68 paid B. W. Merrill for doing the work. The yearly price for stalls was $15, one half cash and one half in a note on six months' time. In 1830 a stone pavement was laid about the building at a cost of $527.85. On June 3, 1835, the building was ordered sold, and soon after it was torn down.

The Berthelet Market.

On August 5, 1824, Peter Berthelet was author- ized to build and maintain a wharf, for ninty-nine years, at the foot of Randolph Street, on condition that he should give the city a lot fifty by ninety feet, on which to erect a market. The lot given in accordance with this arrangement was on the north- west corner of Atwater and Randolph Streets. On February 15, 1825, a committee was appointed by the council to consult with Peter Berthelet, and receive his proposals for building a market-house. No agreement was made at this time, but on August 27, 1827, the council

[793]

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MARKETS, MARKETING, AND PRICES.

Resolved, that Peter Berthelet or his legal representatives be authorized to build a Market House upon a plan to be hereafter agreed upon. Said Berthelet to be entitled to receive all rents of said Market House until such time as the council shall think proper to take possession of the same, upon the payment of such sums as it may be estimated to be worth by six persons, three of whom shall be chosen by said Berthelet and three by said Com- mon Council ; the said Market House to be completed in two years from this date.

Under this proposition a building, similar in ap- pearance to the old Washington Market, was begun in 1828. Stalls were first sold on June 3, 1830,- front stalls for $10.00 each, and others for $8.00. The building was purchased by the city on August 31, 1834, and it was then discovered that the lot had not been deeded. On November 28 following, a committee of the council reported in favor of paying $3,000 for a deed. This was done, making the total cost of the market $8,361. The city now became, for the second time, the owner of the lot, but still no deed was put on record, and in June, 1841, the city was obliged to obtain a new deed from the executor of the Ber- thelet estate. The building was burned in the fire of May 9, 1848, and about six years after, the prop- erty was subdivided into lots and sold.

THE VEGETABLE MARKET.

The City Hall or Central Market,1

The first vegetable market-shed in the rear of the building was built by Hugh Moffat. It was little more than a roof supported by posts, and was com- pleted on November 21, 1843. In 1845 it was enclosed with slats, which were removed in the fall of 1853. In the spring of 1849 a one-story brick building was erected between the vegetable market and the City Hall. Both it and the vegetable market were burned on June 13, 1876. The second brick addition, facing Bates Street, was built at a cost of about $3,000, and the work was accepted on July 12, 1855. Twenty-five years later, in August, 1880, it was torn down. The larger vegetable market, extending from Bates to Randolph Street, was con- tracted for on June 26, 1860, and cost $5,312. Its stands were first rented on April 22, 1861. In 1873 the question of a new market building was thor-

oughly discussed in the council and by the press of the city, and in May the council approved of a plan for the erection of a building by private parties. The project did not meet the approval of Mayor Moffat, and his veto defeated it. Two years later the council petitioned the Legislature, and on April 22, 1875, a law was passed authorizing the council to borrow $100,000 to build a market.

The question of issuing these bonds was sub- mitted to the Board of Estimates, and, as the expenditure was disapproved, this scheme also failed.

After the lapse of four years, on April 22, 1879, the council requested the Board of Estimates to consider the question of appropriating $50,000 for the erection of a central market building. On June 30 the board approved of the expenditure, and on July 8 a committee was appointed to obtain plans for the building and bids for its erection. The committee de- cided on a building three hundred feet long by fifty feet wide, the front to be three stories high and the rear portion two sto- ries.

The plans of Mason & Rice was accepted, but the bids, opened on September 26, were so largely in excess of the pro- posed outlay that on C.WIEIMMER AFE September 30 it was decided to erect only the front, or three-story portion. The contract was awarded at $46,880, and on August 23, 1880, the new market building was formally turned over to the city by the contractors. It was opened for business on September 11. The second story was fit- ted up with offices for the Board of Health, the Poor and the Park Commission in the fall of 1881, and the third story, for the Superior Court, in March, 1883.

The property owners on Michigan Grand Avenue have frequently objected to the continued use of what was originally a public highway, and, at different times, have sought through the courts to prevent the erection of new market buildings, but their efforts have always been unavailing. The council, on Au- gust 15, 1848, especially set apart a portion of the street for market buildings; and the Supreme Court, on January 23, 1880, decided that the city had the right to occupy the street.

The Washington Market.

This market was located on the northeast corner of Larned and Wayne Streets, on the line of the

1 For a full history of the original building, see article on Old City Hall.

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MARKETS, MARKETING, AND PRICES.

old lane leading to Fort Shelby. Its erection was ordered by vote of the council on March 19, 1835, and the building was fully completed in January, 1836, at a cost of $3,000. On February 22 a com-

RESCUE H NLNT

OLD WASHINGTON MARKET, NORTHEAST CORNER LARNED AND WAYNE STREETS.

mittee examined the building account and reported it correct. It was never a popular market, and was frequently closed. The building was used for school purposes by the Board of Education from January, 1843, to May, 1847, and then again became a public market. In 1852 it was leased to private parties for market purposes at $200 a year, and in 1856 was turned over to the Fire Department for the use of the Hook and Ladder Company. In 1870 it was torn down to make room for the present offices of the Fire Commission and two engine-houses.

The Cass Market.

This building, a one-story brick, thirty by forty feet, costing $2,000, was first opened as a market on August 17, 1866. It is on the south side of Adams Avenue at its intersection with Grand River Avenue. The site was given to the city by General Cass on condition that the city erect and maintain a market thereon.

Market Clerks.

These officers were provided for in the Act of 1802, and the records show that in 1805 the trustees appointed John Connor to the office. From 1805 to 1815, during the administration of the Governor and Judges, there are no records concerning mar- kets. In 1816 the office of market clerk was revived, and has since been continuous. The origi- nal duties of this officer were to see that no unsound provisions were exposed for sale, and that cleanli- ness and good order were observed. From 1832 to 1836 the salary was $90 yearly; in 1856 it was $400; in 1883 the salary of the Central Market clerk was $1,320. Under the amended charter of February 21, 1849, the office was made elective, and so continued until the charter of 1857 took effect,

since which time the clerks have been appointed by the council. Prior to 1880 they were appointed in January of each year. Since amendment to charter of 1879 they are appointed yearly on the second Tuesday of June. It is the duty of the clerk to collect fees from wagons bringing articles for sale, and also the rents of the stalls.

The clerks of Woodward Avenue Market were : 1816, John Meldrum; 1817, Duncan Reid; 1818, Asa Partridge; 1819, S. Blackmar; 1821, Samuel Sherwood; 1822-1824, Smith Knapp; 1824-1827, Thomas Knowlton; 1827, A. C. Caniff, S. Sher- wood; 1828, J. M. Wilson; 1829, N. B. Car- penter; 1830, John Roberts, L. T. Janney; 1831, Stephen Bain, Adna Merritt; 1832, Owen Aldrich ; 1833, L. Goodell; 1834, Israel Noble.

The clerks of Berthelet Market were: 1831, Eben Beach; 1832, Alexander Campbell; 1833 and 1834, Israel Noble; 1835 and 1836, D. Hayward ; 1837, William Moon, Stephen Bain, John Weese; 1838, F. Borchardt, Stephen Bain, William Moon; 1839 and 1840, Hugh O'Beirne; 1841-1844, T. Mettez; 1844 and 1845, John McGuire.

The clerks of the Washington Market were : 1836, Israel Noble; 1837 and 1838, John Curtis ; 1839 and 1840, I. Noble; 1849, P. McDonald; 1850, Daniel Coghlan; 1851 and 1852, William Barthello.

THE CENTRAL MARKET BUILDING.

The clerks of the City Hall or Central Market have been : 1840, Hugh O'Beirne ; 1841 and 1842, G. Paull; 1843 and 1844, T. Mettez; 1845, David Weeks; 1846, H. Carroll; 1847, Edwin Wilcox ; 1848-1852, Francis McDonald; 1852, Dennis Lani- gan ; 1853 and 1854, J. C. Sabine; 1854, F. Mc- Donald ; 1855 and 1856, John Robson ; 1857, David McLane; 1858 and 1859, D. Lanigan ; 1860, R. C. Wright ; 1861, S. C. Webster; 1862 and 1683, B.

796

MARKETS, MARKETING, AND PRICES.

Eggeman; 1864-1866, M. Blay; 1866-1867, J. Regnery ; 1868, Robert Hodgkin ; 1869-1871, P. Dunn, 1871, O. M. Bagley ; 1872, A. Lichtenberg ; 1873-1875, O. M. Bagley ; 1875-1877, D. W. Gray ; 1877, N. Johannes; 1878-1880, Robert Mason ; 1880-1884, R. Poole; 1884-1886, Hiram Jackson ; 1886, W. H. Sullivan ; 1887- R. Poole.

Market Regulations.

The third ordinance passed by the trustees in 1802 concerned the market and provided that " no sales of meats, vegetables, grain, or flour be made else- where on Tuesdays or Fridays, from daybreak until 12 M., under penalty of three dollars."

At that time, and for many years after, it was not a strange or infrequent sight on Sunday to see Frenchwomen with vegetables, poultry, and eggs, and French carts with fish and flesh for sale. Indeed, the practice of Sunday markets and market- * ing so grew in favor that, in 1822, the Rev. Alfred Brunson, of the M. E. Church, and the Rev. Joshua Moore, of the Protestant Church, felt called upon to protest against it. They made so effectual an appeal that on November 29, 1822, the council ordered the markets closed on Sunday; and on December I, they were closed for the first time, and never after opened on the Sabbath. After the establishment of the City Hall Market, in 1836, there were periodical quarrels in the Common Council concerning the opening and closing of both the Berthelet and Washington Markets, and at an election held March 7, 1842, the question of whether one market, or all, should be kept open, was voted on. So frequently were these markets closed and opened that it would require a Philadelphia lawyer to compute the periods during which they were open or closed. The fol- lowing item from a current number of the Free Press indicates the feeling then existing among a portion of the citizens.

Pursuant to a call, by the Mayor, of the freemen of this city, a large and respectable meeting assembled at the City Hall, June 8, 1840. The Mayor presided, James B. Watson acted as secretary, Major Kearsley addressed the meeting in favor of re-opening the markets, and the following resolutions were unanimously carried.

Resolved, that the Mayor and Aldermen are hereby requested and instructed to repeal their resolution closing the Berthelet and Washington Markets.

Resolved, that from henceforward all the markets in the city are directed to be kept open every day in the week, Sundays excepted, and that our servants, the Aldermen, reduce this our will to an ordinance at their next meeting.

These resolutions, however, had no effect on the "servants," and the Berthelet remained closed for some months, and the Washington for many years.

By ordinance of 1836 the market hours, from October I to April, were between "daylight and 10 A. M.," and "from 3 P. M. till dark," and on Saturday "all day." From April I to October the hours were

from " daylight to 9 A. M., and on Saturdays from 4 P. M., till sunset," and no person could sell meat ex- cept in the market stalls.

By ordinance of 1841 the market hours, for all days except Saturdays, were the same as in 1836. On Saturdays, from March I to November, the market was to be opened from 4 to 9 P. M., and be- tween November I and March I, from 3 to 7:30 P. M.

The first ordinance in regard to forestalling by sales to the market-men was passed on December 23, 1841. It prohibited any person, by himself or his agent, from purchasing to sell again "any fresh fish, poultry, eggs, butter, fruit, or vegetables," and also the selling of said articles by any person for the purpose of being re-sold during the market hours "within the limits of Campus Martius or Michigan Grand Avenue, between Campus Martius and Bates Street ; in Randolph Street between Woodbridge Street and Detroit River; in Atwater Street between Bates and Brush Streets, and the public grounds and alleys in the vicinity of the Berthelet Market." This ordinance was repealed and re-enacted at several different times and was finally repealed in 1871. Up to 1853 no person was allowed to cut up and sell meat except at the market. Private meat markets were entirely un- known.

By ordinance of March 29, 1853, licenses to sell in any part of the city could be obtained for $50 a year. On January 29, 1863, the price of licenses for meat markets was reduced to $5.00 per year. The comptroller and the committee on markets fix the minimum rent of the stalls and stands of all kinds on or before April I each year. In 1883 the stands in the vegetable market rented at from $6.00 to $15 per month, and stalls in the new Central Market at from $25 to $35 per month. The rents are payable monthly in advance. No person may rent more than two of the meat-stalls, and since 1863 no per- son whose stock in trade exceeds in value three hundred dollars is allowed to sell in the market dry goods, clothing, glass, earthenware, books, or sta- tionery. Under ordinance dating from January 2. 1862, all persons bringing calves, sheep, or lambs in wagons for sale are required to pay the clerk of the market ten cents for each calf, and five cents for each sheep or lamb; and since ordinance of April 2, 1872, all persons offering produce for sale from wagons are required to pay ten cents daily. Since 1878 the fees from the market-wagons have been collected in the following manner. The market clerk, supplied by the city comptroller with white tickets suitably inscribed, collects the fees from the wagons and gives the owner a white ticket. The clerk is followed by a policeman, who takes up the white tickets and gives yellow tickets in return. The

797

MARKETS, MARKETING, AND PRICES.

clerk and policeman both report daily to the comp- troller, who compares their statements with the tickets issued. The total receipts from stalls and benches for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, were $6,590.90, and from wagons $3,078.

In order to prevent the sale of unsound meat, the police commissioners, by Act of April 19, 1879, were authorized to appoint an inspector to visit slaughter-houses, and inspect carcasses, fruits, and vegetables exposed for food. Under this Act a policeman has been detailed as inspector, and the law has proved advantageous by preventing the sale for food of unsound and unhealthy articles.

Regulations as to Bread.

The baker was an important personage in the early history of the town. Few people made their own bread, and as the baker had a monopoly of the business, he was necessarily under surveillance. The second ordinance passed by the trustees under the incorporation of 1802 prescribed the weight and cost of a loaf as "three pounds English weight, for six- pence New York currency." On account of the scarcity of flour the ordinance was repealed on August 28, 1802.

On April 5, 1816, the trustees made the following regulations : When flour was $7.00 per 100 pounds, the loaf was to weigh 3 pounds 12 ounces, and to be sold for 25 cents.

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History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 126

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094