Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
THE MARKET COMPLAINTS REPLY.
what Clerk smith Has tn Say About Farmers
and Hucksters' stands.

What Clerk smith Hs. tn Say About Farmer
and Huek.ters' Stands.
Several days ago Mr.. ". J. Morris Of No. 121l
l. street northwest wrote q letter to the Com
mis~oners relative TO certain alleged irregu
larities In the matter Of places along stree
for farmers and huckssers attending market
He SAYS that under the existing order of things
farmer, TO obtain . place to stand. must
arrive at least twelve hours before the regular
market day, so that when his goods are offered
for sale they are necessarily stale. He sug-
gested in his letter that the spaces be marked
and numbered, and that regular farmers and
huckssers be allowed TO hold these spaces for
their exclusive occupancy until O'Clock A. m.
an summer, after that to allow irregulars to
come in He said that possibly this system
would not meet the accord Of the market COM
pany but they would still have the right OF
making the farmers pay for the privilege OF
standing anywhere within half mile of the
market house. The Commissioners referred
the letter To the chief clerk of the market COM
pany for suggestions as to the best course to be
pursued in this matter. Today the Commits
sioners resolved the following letter in answer
thereto:
OrfIcK OF THE WASHINGTON MARKET Co.,
CESrER MARKET,
Washington. n. C.. August "a, 1891.
To the Honorable Commissioners OF tie District
OF Columbia:
GrxrIYMrN: / have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of a communication addressed to
you BY ". r. Morris and referred to me "a as
sistant clerk. by your direction. for suggestions
Is to the best course to be pursued in the mat
ter referred to-
In the absence Of the executive committee of
the Washington Market Company. who are out
Of the city on their vacation, will state the
action heretofore taken by the officers OF the
Company to accommodate all actual producers
and farmers who come TO the Center Market to
dispose Of their products in fresh and whole
rome condition To all classes OF people.
1 presume il Il UNNECESSARY to answer the
very unjust statement that the market COM
pany has exercised attempted to exercise
the right to make farmers pay the company
for privileges of standing within half mile
OF the Center Market, as il is well known to
you that no such claim has ever been exercised
or ever set up.
The maret company under its charter from
Congress and subsequent legislation has erected
and built upon the grounds leased under Its
charter FOR market purposes buildings and
facilities costing nearl: double the amount the
specification for market purposes called for,
and Is paying directly and indirectly through
Its tenants into the District treasury about
$4,000 year. besides surrendering the most
valuable front land to the District for Dis
trict building which the officers of the market
company hope coon to see erected and which
front land under the original charter was to be
e,NN AOA OAt~-AStf CusAhcoS purposes hOs
for a market
For this concession OF the front land and the
large revenues which inures to the District the
market company simply claims the right given
60 all stores and business places to use four or
five feet ON the sidewalk next to their building,
which they have allotted as far possible to
farmers and actual producers at the very low
rates of from to % cents per market day.
thus proving that farmers and producers can
secure space and tables to sell their products
nrO yriflaut mir the night mr. "a set
forth in this complaint
As to wagons backing mp to the curb on B
street and also in the interior of the market
grounds the market company, on petition from
farmers marketing their own products, erected
high and expensive awnings covering the en-
tire sidewalk and entered into an agreement
with this class of dealers that the company
would furnish special policemen during each
night and market dav to protect their prop
erty and 10 clean the sidewalk, which is always
left In a bad condition. and for this large out
Las In building and keeping in repair this wide
and expensive shelter, policing II and keeping
of city hucksters or jay-hawkers. so that none
but actual raisers OF fresh products should &C.
cupy this space. the market company was to be
allowed 10 collect Is cents FOR each single horse
load and % cents for each double horse load
thus backed up TO be sold ON the curb with
the right to remain during each market
This very small charge has never much more
than covered the extra cost OF watchmen. polio
ing. cleaning the necessary constant repairs
and fair interest upon the cost OF these high
,nI exI.nsive .wnirss- The prnctics has been
in orasr "a nrcom,n,siate .om. oT tbe bsstsfarm''
ers xbo b.ys 60 a. vi Inc Iistancss ond 80
RS, hs,ore ror,menr,ns, 10 disnnsa NJ thsir
products. 10 allow them TO come in and bach mp
a. ..Sn,, s,,.re. M s,h street or nm tho ;rs;de
+. III. o, ~ ,,.,ke, rronnJ. bavo III a. 80
norrunitv 20 do so bv the week on by the month
and the .,ace. an. held for them
IL II Is desirable and the Commissioners
think \. nr,etie.ble the p,arket romnanv will
DID,. ,,I,I.- ~, n .,rest rex, 10 tn vail a,J
-, All hoId ,bsn for n,odncsrs Of ~ 81 an
lii. NJ, q, az Lanr ia ,hs ,oorn;n ,nat :,
r,n.onable TIA, thew -hould be occn1;eJ
IN Js.io,.at,ne tor n ra,tic,Iar -, q, .
s,.es ~, ,,,s cnr6 xbs,bs, .pcb nsrso,, occn
- !, =, M, !. No, nr,c,ic,nia as !, .onid
cut farmers who had come IN good faith to sell