The San Francisco call., 1896-01-16
tee, when spoken to on the subject yester-


day said:
idea. 1t would prove a blessing to the poor, in
particular, should it be reduced to practice.
The inhabitants of the City, when the free
market is in operation, will be able to buy veg
etahles and other farm produce at far lower
rates than those prevailing at present since
they can purchase directly from the producer.
AS the market business is at present conducted
large proportion of the profits goes into the
pockets CT the middleman or jobbers. These
men, to be sure, carry on legitimate business,
but in order to make it pay well they have to
buy as cheaDly as possible and sell for the
highest figure obtainable.
Under the free market system the small
farmers will have a chance to dispose of their
goods without sacrificing half or three
quarters of the profit to others. This will
stimulate people living in the country to raise
what crops their places may produce, secure
in the knowledge that they can get rid of them
at some sort of figure, and even in case the
price be low by reason of an overstocked
market, still, what little profit sthere may be
Will accrue to the producer and not to the
commission broker.
,. This scheme is going to succeed. l know
it will. The free markets in the Eastern
cities are old-established institutions, and in
some instances practically the only great
markets in the localities where they are. 1t
was in New York that saw the free market
idea most fully exempliied.
In the Greenwich Market of that city may be
witnessed busy scene, morning alter morn
ing, the like of which have never seen in any
other place. From long before dawn the farm
carts commence to arrive. The producers, that
is, those VINO actually cutivate the wares they
wish to sell, are allowed space in which to DIS
play their stock in trade free of charge JOB
bers that is to say, agents OF other parties
doing business on commission, have TO pay
small ground rental.
In Washington and Baltimore also, free mar
ketshave been in operation for many years.
In Baltimore particularly, saw number OF
such markets, one OF which is so extensive
that on market days portions of two large bust
ness streets closed to traffic for a considera-
bic portion of the day in order that the buyers
and sellers may be able 10 carry on their nego-
tiations without hindrance or danger.
In Baltimore | think it was that saw the
so-called 'market-c ars,' which are run on all
lines passing near the free markets. These
cars have IN the rear a large semi-circular at
tachment with shelves for marke t-baskets, and
are sometimes SO filed with farm produce as to
be barely dlstnguishable from the carts OF the
country people.
But could talk about this market business
all night and all could say would be, in sub
stance, that San Francisco needs free mar
ket. She Will get one and it will be grand
success.
The commission merchants, who, of
course, would be greatly affected by the
establishment Of a public market, are any
thing but pleased with the Merchants
Association taking up the matter in
favorable manner. 1t was not long before
nearly all of them knew that there would
be meeting to-day, and that the commit
tee who have been investigating the project
of public market was likely to present a
favorable report.
Yesterday representative of the San
Francisco Fruit Exchange called upon
Secretary J. R. Freud at the association
headquarters and requested permission to
have representation of the exchange at
the meeting this evening. He said that at
least twenty-five mem bers of the exchange
would like to be present and give their
views upon the projected public market
In the course of his remarks the exchange
representative intimated that the fruit
commission men are very much opposed
to the establishment of a public market
upon the water front.
Upon being questioned the gentleman
admitted that they are opposed to putting
free market in any part OF the City, and
the argument he advanced was that it
would injure the small fruit-dealers who
have stands and stores all over the City.
Mr.. Freud telephoned TO Mr.. Kohlberg
and asked if the committee could receive a
delegation from the Fruit Exchange The
answer was that it would interfere with
the business that the committee had
planned to transact at this meeting. He
suggested that at a later date the fruit
commission men could be met and the
committee would listen to any protests
they have to make against the public mar
ket project.