Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-25
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARMERS.
A Movement to Secure Legislation to secur
Market Facilities In This City.


MoSTooNEnY COUNTY Md, January ~, 1892
The morning Of the 10th opened Indictment,
with snow and ice, and many who usually at
tend the farmers conven ton we're afraid to
venture out therefore the Lyceum Hall was
not as crowded as it usually is when the farmers
Of Montgomery county meet to discuss ques-
tons especially relating to agriculture.
The president. BENZ. D. Palmer was in the
chair and j. Janney Shoemaker and Henry H.
Miller were the secretaries for the meeting.
After the reading of the proceedings of the
last convention the report of committees was in
order. Mr. W. E Muncaster gave an interest
ing report upon the township system. but
stated his researches had convinced him it
would not be beneficial to adopt it in our county
at this time. even il were able to obtain
the necessary legislation to do 90. He had Wis
tied some of the fine sections of Pennsylvania
now governed by that system, and found the
roads short distance from the towns nearly
impossible and the people there complained
of the waste Of money and general incompe-
tence As We do here under the county commits
sioners system. Prof. Warted and Roger b.
Fnrquhar spoke in favor of the system and
Prof. Charles Stabler gave some facts as to its
working in New Jersey showing its advantages
and disadvantages. As a whole the convention
did not seem favorable to its adoption ut this
time.
RAILROAD CROSSINGS
The report of the committee on railroad
crossings. by r. b. Farquhar. brought many to
their feet, and every man talked as though he
WAS in dead earnest. The general testimony
was that the gate at Silver Spring was carefully
stances were given showing it to be of fire.
quent occurrence for trains to pass the
latter place without the gates being low
cred, and boys and other irresponsible per-
hal fyn af.lx
their faces turned away from them. The hit
ting Of Mr.. Ricketts, stone wagon and the shut
ting In between the gates OF the Brookville
stage were also alluded to. By unanimous
resolution the president OF the convention was
authorized to write to Judge Ninson and re-
quest him TO call the attention of the next
grand jury to the unsafe condition of the SER
vice at the Rockville gates. This same request
was made Of the judge last year, but alter a
talk with the agent in charge, who promised
faithfully to have the service well performed,
he thought best to give him another trial be-
fore proceeding to heroic measures. As the
nuisance is in nowise abated the convention
renewed its request Of the court.
Two pertinent facts were brought out by
this discussion, viz: That the gates at Rockville
can never prove an efficient guard against loss
Of life and property until there Is fiagman
whose only duty it is to look after them, as at
Silver Spring, and that in the event of an ac-
cident there and the consequent suit for dam
power Of the farmers Of the county will be
strong against the railroad company.
Among the speakers upon this question were
Mr.. Chas. Albert, Asa III. Stabler, Dr. Ihos Il.
u. Farquhar, Granville Farquhar, Fred'k
Staber. Henry c. Hallowel. VIM. E Muncaster
and others.
At this stage OF the proceedings the mem
bers OF the convention we're invited to the
school house to eat a bountiful lunch prepared
by the young ladies of the neighborhood.
This mn epi hy all ba,,
they returned to the hall, by rising vote,
they expressed thanks for the same and ap-
pointed Messrs Brooke and Holland two prom
ising young gentlemen, to announce the result
to the ladies.
THE WASHINGTON MARKETS.
The committee on the Washington markets
next presented their report by the chairman,
J. b Hallowell. Soon after the last convention
they had employed Mr.. Guion Miller o. Wash
ington as their attorney. and proceeded to
bring the test case with the Riggs Market Com
pany to decide the right of a farmer to sell cut
meats in the District Of Columbia without a
license. The decision Of the Police Court was
that any farmer clearly had the right to sell
cut meats Of his own raising from any stands
stalls, wagons, carts or otherwise, at any proper
place in the District, and without purchasing a
license. As another law Of the District pro-
vides there shall be no license required of any
one bringing marketing by the load into the
District, and as the whole traffic between the
District aud Maryland and Virginia is clearly
interstate commerce, they were prepared to
state that any farmer in Maryland or Virginia
can take a load OF marketing, including cut
meats Of his own or neighbors raising, into
the District, and sell it wholesale or
retail. as he pleases, without license
or being legally subject to prosecution or an
noyance. Mr.. Hallowell then stated that the
committee had to make the following recon-
mendations. viz: That we press fer passage
before Congress q bill to allow farmers to
weigh hay OF straw, &c. and meat on the hoof
On any scales sgreed upon by the buyer and
seller. and in case they disagree as to the scales
then the public cnes shall be final That the
south half of b street from 9TH to 18th streets
and the north half Of Is street from 10th to
18th streets be declared public market place
with suitable iron sheds over the sidewalk to
protect the buyer and seller. and that the hay
market square, with the addition of suitable
sheds to protect hay from storms and other
necessary improvements in connection with
the b street part be knownas the Washington
wholesale and retail market. This market shall
be under the management OF five commits
sloners one TO lie appointed by the governor
OF Maryland. one by the governor Of Virginia
and three by the District Commissioners. These
gentlemen shall, under the law, make all rules
and regulations for the conduct of the market,
The committee had visited the Representa-
tive IN Congress from the sixth congressional
district. Mr.. Mckelg, who said that ii their
attorney would prepare such q bill he would
introduce it into the House. and then it would
go To the District committee, where they could
follow 1t up. number of the other Represen-
! tatives and Senators had been spoken to upon
the question Of the farmers interests in the
Washington markets. and many evidently would
give such Interests their warm support. The
committee did not anticipate much trouble to
get the law on weighing hay, &c, changed,
for they will naturally be assisted by the feed
dealers and commission merchants, and these
men every time they sell pound OF hay or a
calf or sheep from their stores without weigh
ing 1t upon the public scales are liable to from
80 10 Slo fine; to obtain their efficient and to
repeal the present law 1t only necessary
10 bring the violations thereof to the attention
of the chief of police.
The idea of u committee Of farmers holding
| such rod over the miIdlemen struck the con-
vention as decidedly amusing.
The report Of this committee was followed by
much earnest discussion, and the convention
decided to adopt the report, give the COM
mitiee full charge of the question and back
| them fully In the fight for decent market faciI-
ities Tor farmers ut the national capital.
QUESTIONS DISCUSSED.
The questions for discussion being now in
order, How to retain the fertility of the land