Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-09
THEY WANT A MARKET
Gardeners Object to Hucksters Mo-
nopOlizing the Diamond.
AN ORGANIZATION OF FIGHTERS
Formed to Assert the Farmers Right to
Sell on the Streets.
ANXIOUS TO TEST TIE MATTER At ONCE

Another huge kick at the management Of
the Diamond Market has loomed up.
The gardeners and fruit growers of the
county have at last become convinced that
the homegrown sauerkraut, cheese and old
fashioned COW butter isn't getting "fair
shake in the Pittsburg market, and that
the factory-made cabbage, the foreign
Swe;tzer and loud-odored "oleo" have almost
usurped their places. With the aforemen-
toned facts in view, the Allegheny County
Gardeners and Fruit Growers Association
was formed yesterday.
Forty men were present and 40 men were
equally convinced that the Pittsburg Mar
ket House is not what it is cracked up to be.
According to the idea OF those in attendance
the market house was built many years ago
tor the convenience of the farmer in market
ing his produce and the consumer in getting
his green stuff fresh from the fields, but the
hucksters have captured the fort and are
now in possession.
First in order was, of course, temporary
organization, and this was effected by elect
ing William Morris, of Brunot's Island,
chairman; M. c. Dunlavey, of Scott town
ship, secretary; John McKenna, OF Green
Tree borough, treasurer. In stating the OBJ
jects of the meeting, the secretary, Mr..
Dunlavey, said:
A STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES.
"The Pittsburg market was built some
years ago, when it was large enough to
accommodate all. The city has grown and
it has extended all its facilities but its
market. What is wanted now is whole
sale market. The city could. if she desired,
give you space. There is no doubt but that
there is sufficient space now if it were not
for the hucksters. The question is, was the
market house built for hucksters or for the
gardeners. 1t is certainly In the possession of
the former at present. We want to secure
counsel to look up the law on this question; to
see what laws there are on the question, and
then see what we can do. You have allowed
the City Councils to drive you out of the market
house on to the street, and now you have been
driven off the streets. Columbus has a whole
sale market. a square where the farmers can
come there to buy the vegetables,
etc. That is what is wanted here.
Now you want to appoint committee to look
up who hold stands and how many days week
them and then find out whether they have that
right The committee should ascertain how
many stalls are occupied by hucksters and
what they pay for them; also how many are
rented by the gardeners and for how much"
AN ORGANIZATION PERFECTED.
Under the secretary's suggestion aCommittee
on Market was appointed, composed Of John
Ackley: William Morris ami John Houden-
shield. After another committee was ap-
pointed to secure suitable place to hold meet
ing the discussion became general 1t was de-
cided that the name of the organization should
be the Allegheny County Gardeners and Fruit
Growers Association and other township asso-
Citations should be organized to cooperate and
get in all the gardeners. of the county. 2
John Houdenshield suggested that COM
mittee on organization be appointed to organize
the gardeners in the different sections into
local associations and then report to the gener-
al organization. While this suggestion wasn't
acted upon those present yesterday will organ
iZe the farmers in their sections. 1t was further
suggested that all the farmers be asked to JOIN
whether they market in Pittsburg or not Mr..
Morris said there were great many farmers
who do not come to Pittsburg on account of
the inconvenience in the markets.
Mr.. Morris, the President, suggested that
money was needed to carry out their plans.
Counsel will be employed and if any of the
farmers are arrested on the streets they will
make test case of it and see what can be done
in the matter This was Immediately acted
upon by all present signing the agreement to
become members. and an assessment of s.
each was made.
ANXIOUS FOR A TEST CASE.
The members of the new organization seem
rather anxious for test case. For the past
few years they have been marketing their
produce from the streets and have been paying
the market man so cents for this privilege
every time they come to the city. After pay
ing this fee, they say they were usually ordered
off the streets by the proprietor of whatever
place of business they happen to be standing
in front of. Within the last few days the
market master has not collected his fee, and
the gardeners are not allowed to stand on the
streets.
If the waste of land on the river front was
cleared ofrubbish and fixed up little it would
make an excellent place for a wholesale mar
ket, and there is no doubt but that it would be
acceptable to the new association. From the
tone of the speeches made at yesterdays meet
ing it would be understood that this is Just the
sort of place they are looking for. 1t is GEN.
trally located as to the groceries and is easy of
access. What is needed is simply aplace that
will be handy for the city grocers to go to
purchase their market.