Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-11
THE B STREET FIGHT
Commissioners Preparing to Answer
the Suit.
ANOTHER DELEGATION OF FARMERS
The Situation as Described Today
by Major Powell.
A WOMAN'S VIEW OF 1T

u " w l l.
The Commissioners are doing everything
to strengthen their position in the fight
against the market company for the posses
sion of B street. Today Attorney Thomas
appeared before the board and presented a
copy of the bill of the market company
upon which the temporary restraining order
was issued. This was turned over to Major
Powell, and he will make a draft of the
answer which he will submit to the other
Commissioners before the attorney is called
in to pass upon it's form.
The good housewives of Washington who
have been accustomed to look for the far
mers just outside of the market house on B
street, where, shielded from the weather,
they were permitted to buy direct, are ar
raging themselves against the authorities
To move the farmers away from B street
will cause them no little discomfort.
A Woman's View of 1t.
AS one of them said to Star reporter to-
day: 1T will be simply outrageous to make
the farmers move. Their location Is in
every way suited to those who go to market
In bad weather an ample shed protects US,
and 1t is SO convenient to the market house
To those who have carriages this new order
to walk will suffer If the farmers are COM
PEELED to move up there to the wholesale
market square. 1t seems shame that the
commissioners cannot let TIE poor farmers
alone II 1t Is true that the market COM
pany Is collecting a revenue from the farm
ers Tor the privilege of standing under the
Sneu, why not issue an order preventing this
ana compel the farmers to pay the fee into
the coHers or the District. The great hue
and cry seems to he that the market com
pany Is deriving some benefit from the farm
ers by renting District property. What has
that to do with the question? Are the au-
thoritles going to make the market company
1eel Its vengeance by seriously inconvs nienc-
ing the citizens? For gracious sake get The
star to agitate>the question. and warrant
you that every woman who is compelled to
go to market will rise en- masse against such
an ORDER
A good deal of interest centers about the
motive or the Commissioners in Issuing the
order clearing the street. It was In March
or 1874 that the Engineer Commissioner
detailed one of his engineers to make a
survey of the market house property, in
order that all information attainable could
De presented to Congress. This was at the
time the Commissioners were making a
big fight to have the new District build
ing located or the reservation in front of
the market .house. 1t was then discover
ed, according to the plans presented, that
the survey showed the south line of the
market house property to be occupied by
the latter's building, namely the south wall
VI tile HdlH linen II was that
Major PoWelfs attention was called to the
fact that the market company was in the
habit of collecting rent from the farmers
who occupied space along street. This
presented a novel situation. According to
Major Powell the corporation was occu-
pylrg public space and receiving revenue
therefrom The matter slumbered until
May, 1898, when Major Powell brought the
matter to the attention of the board and
at his motion the surveyor of the District
was directed to make a survey of the prop
erty and establish the true line of street
he made his report promptly and it tailed
gineer. Thus it is held at the District
building that the records are against the
market company.
Mai. Powell Talks.
Maj. Powell discussed the matter freely
with reporter of The Star this afternoon.
He said there was no doubt In his mind
that the market company exceeded it's au-
thority. If any revenues were to be de-
rived from the use of public spaces the
District should get them The wholesale
market square had been set aside by Con-
greSS for use as a market, and the District
after legal battle with the market COM
panX. had gotten possession of it. This was
the place for the farmers. 1t was true that
the square was not very much improved
although the Commissioners would do more
when they got the money. 1t might be an
Inconvenience to some when B street was
cleared, but he thought it would only be
temporary. When asked If the Comms-
sioners ever proposed to allow b street be-
tween 9TH and 9th to be occupied again.
Maj. Powell said that depended entirely
upon the number of farmers. If the space
allotted to them filled up, why, then the
question of occupying the north side of B
street between 7th and 9th would be con-
sidered
According to the advertisement of the
Commissioners, sealed proposals for the
spaces will be received and opened Novem-
Der is.
A Delegation of Farmers.
This morning delegation of farmers
waited upon the Commissioners and urged
that the order relating to proposals be
changed, and the spaces to be rented sold
at auction to the highest bidder. Informa-
ton was also desired regarding the length
of time they would be allowed to occupy
the stands they bid for. For instance. if
allotted a stand upon his BID
would he be allowed to occupy it next year
at the same figures. The Commissioners
stated they had not yet decided those ques-
tions The delegation consisted of Messrs
Victor Boyer, B. F. Joy and John A.
ohI11t