The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-14
A FARMERS. MARKET PLACE.
The Need for a Free Market for Coun
try Produce


The Need for Free Market for Coun-
try Produce.
The falling off in the number Of country
carts and wagons that bring produce TO
market in Savannah is causing a number
Of the market square merchants to grum-
bic and shake their heads when people talk
Of Savannah's thrift aud enterprise.
Within the last two years the decrease in
the trade from the country carts has been
SO marked that few fail to see it, and won
der why it is.
One merchant explained yesterday that
the tax imposed upon the farmers causes
great dissatisfaction among them. Many
times they are unable 70 sell their produce,
yet they must pay the tax. Wherever this
has been the case, the merchant said, it has
had tendency to discourage farmers in
bringing produce TO market. They have
gone into other lines of business. and they
raise only so much poultry, butter and eggs,
and peaches and watermelons as are neces-
sary for their own consumption.
Savannah IS all the whils losing by this
operation, the fresh country produce, and
IS getting instead stale produce shipped
long distances from Ten 1essee. The mer-
chant went on to say that people are begin
ing TO see the difference already, but it will
manifest itself more forcibly Ia two years
If the same state of affairs exists then as
now. People in Savannah he said. will
know considerably more about Tennessee
produce than they do now, and very much
less about fresh truck" raised in the coun-
try around them.
The merchants say that licenses are col
lected from farmers selling produce from
their carts, not only at the market, but they
nave been made to pay the tax when they
sold stuff as far away from the market as
Jefferson and montgomery streets
Inc market square merchants have re-
celved numerous complaints from the far
mers about the tax which they have to pay.
They have been b the ely council with it
and asked that the license imposed upon
farmers be removed. A MORNING NEWS
reporter saw Alderman Harris, whom it was
said had the matter IN hand
There is no ordinance compelling farm
ers TO pay license, said the alderman. lie
then turned to section 400, page 1913, of the
new city code, which reads:
All hucksters, selling in the Savannah market
Shall sell inside Of the market and it shall be
unlawful for any person other than farmers
who sell their own produce to sell on the out
side OF the savannah market.
This ordinance was passed Oct 81, 1885
DIR. Harris said further that he was not
apprised that the farmers were being taxed
TO sell. lie said that he thought it was
very important to the city, as well as the
farmers themselves, that they be allowed to
come into the city and dispose of their
produce without being burdened with tax
of any sort The farmers raise tue stuff.
DR.. Harris added, and they should be
allowed to dispose of it free. II shall look
into the matter more fully" he said, land
if the tax Is levied upon them without au
ordinance providing for it. it shall be ad-
Justed, or If there is an ordinance providing
for the exacting of tax from them, will
endeavor to have it repealed
One market square merchant who has
baen assisting the farmers who bring prod
uce to town in, every way ne can, without
any commission or pay for his services. said
that Savannah has probably the largest
wagon aud cart trade of any CITY in the
state. As result what produce 1t gets is
fresher than that of any other city Farm
ers, he said, catch chickens the night before
bringing them TO the city for sale, and the
poultry is always fresh The butter which is
brought In is ouly two or three DAYS old
The fruit is gathered the day before bring
ing to market. In this way, he added, the
very best of the country produce can be
had here. He said that in order to main
tain this trade the tax upon farmers selling
produce will have to be removed
He suggested a better plan still of
encouraging and keeping the cart and
wagon trade, aud that is to have what
is called farmers market. Ii people
know just where to find the farmers and
their carts the farmers will be able to dis
pose of their stuff quicker At the same
time they will be considerably more COM
fortaby situated ia knowing that they have
market of their own in which to dispose
of their truck They will not then be in
tue hands of hucksters. who
crowd their customers away in order to
get tie contents of the farmers carts at
price very muca below what people buy
ing direct from the farmers will pay.
The merchant suggested that Franklin
square, between Bryan and Congress streets,
on Montgomery street, be SCI apart as a
market for the countrymen. H said that
tae square can be converted into a rem
devious for the farmers at practically no
expense. All that is required is a shelter
over it and a railing around It.