Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-03
MIR. ALRDICH,s VIEWS.
He Thinks spsces Should he Allotted to
Each Farmer who Comes Regularly.

He Thinks Space should he Allotted 20
Each Farmer who Comes Regularly.
The correspondence relating 70 the Center
market, and the whole question Of the occu-
pancy OF the south side Of b street between
It'll and l2th by the Wholesale farmers, was, as
has heretofore been printed referred to Mai
Frank Aldrich. the assistant clerk Of the Center
market, for report
Today he submitted the following % his
views on the subject:
Gentlemen: Referring TO the Enclosed let
tiers which have been referred TO ME. have the
honor to state that approve Of the suggestion
that certain spaces be permanently allotted on
the south side Of 'B'' street to each farmer or
gardener who comes regularly 20 market pro-
videi there be any law which will sanction the
granting of any special rights on property
fronting on government reservation. 1
should recommend that il this can be done
that the persons who wholesale should be given
tine right Of the line on the south side of ID
street. Ny reasons for this are that they han
Ole very large Quantities Of produce and leave
more on the pavement to be cleaned away,
therefore they should have the benefit Of the
smooth pavement which is TO be put down from
Ith TO 9Th street Also II xould be far more
convenient for the dealers inside Of the market
house to get their supplies, as they are obliged
TO DO, from the Wholesale produce dealers and
three-fourths or more Of the people who so TO
the Center market to do their market
ing ouy what they need inside the mar
ket house. instead of the outside. Also.
some private families desire TO buy vegetables
In wholesale quantities. and il would therefore
be more convenient for them. Only a frac-
tionai part OF the community could be bene-
hted by allowing the best section outside Of the
market to be used by hucksters, as only a part
OF the community go to Center market to trade,
while the majority are interested in the
grocery stores scattered over the whole city,
and they are obliged to depend on the whole
the city is at stake if the Wholesale dealers are
not allowed every facility for disposing Of their
products before they become stale.
And, furthermore, retail dealers who sell pro-
duce OF their own raising are now assign ned
places by the market company on the north
side OF b street, where it 10 most convenient
for marketers TO purchase OF them, If they SO
desire, while on the south side of the street be-
tween 9TH and sth the majority of the retailers
there are hucksters who raise only a small por-
tlon OF what they sell; much of their yegc-
tables offered for sale are the stale leay-
ings which the Wholesale dealers have on hand
when they are ready to go home and which
they sell for a tribe. And if do not mlsln-
derstand the original permit to the farmers
and gardeners TO stand on the south side o. Il
street, 1t was granted only to those who should
sell the products Of their own raising.
The retailers of produce who are entitled TO
stand In this line should be given as conve-
nlent position as possible. But in assigning
certain localities, if il is done, couside ration
should be given to the larger portion Of the
public which would be benefited.
Referring TO the charge that the market COM
pany are ''levying tribute" upon all the farm
ers and gardeners in sight Of the marke
house L would state that upon careful investi-
CATION l have found no case where farmers or
gardeners are called upon by the company to
pay anything, except those who are given
space on the pavement adjoining the
market house. This aggregates a sutfcient
amount, however. so that think the market
company should be required to remove all ac-
emulation of dirt which arises from the oc-
cupying of the pavement by the farmers
teams. The representatives of the company
express willingness to do this as soon as the
new pavement Ii down, so that the street can
be properly cleaned. Referring TO that portion
OF the letter which charges that whole
sale farmers are taking advantage of the pres
ent occasion to try to drive the retail farmer
of the south side Of b street would state that
the writer is mistaken. There is no quarrel be-
tween the retail and wholesale producers, but
neither have any love for the irresponsible
huckster. Also the farmer committee who
waited upon you were specially invited
to do SO by me. as / thought that all
who are directly interested should be heard
before new rules were decided upon and pro-
mulgated. What, in my judgment, should be
done for the best interest of all concerned,
and what l have already recommended to
your honorable body. is that sheds should be
built on street west Of 9Th. 1t is almost an I'M
used thoroughfare and would be convenient.
or if the square suggested by the writer OF
the inclosed letter is available it might be used
But l think that space ID needed for the pur-
pose for which it is now used-tbat lie, q stand
for hay and feed dealers. The new pavement
which is to be put down will be of great advan-
tage to the produce dealers, as it will give them
more room and cleaner place to expose their
products, but still they win have no shelter for
their vegetables from the summer sun, and,
therefore, they soon become stale, entailing .
loss upon the farmer, or endangering the
health of the community, when they are dis
posed of, Is is often the case to &c huckstered
out through the city at reduced prices.
Referring 20 the letter inclosed from the
Center Market Company as to the suggestion Of
placing tables on the sidewalk along the outside
wall Of the market house / would state that
do not think that il would be for the interest of
the public to have any more of the sidewalk
occupied than that which 10 now being used by
the dealers at the curb.