The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-26
AID. KRoUsKoFFs ORDINANCE.
HOusekeepers and Green GrOcers
Will Fight 1t.


VIII Fight 1t.
Alderman Krouslzoff has begun a deter
mined effort to increase the revenues of
the city market. At the same time he is
preparing to draw down upon
himself the wrath of the
many people, who would be affected
by his market ordinances introduced in
the city council Wednesday night, should
they become laws.
With the seventy-odd green grocers and
their customers and the street dealers in
fish, poultry and produce, there will be a
heavy opposition to the measures he pro-
posed. The thousands of people also, who
will protest against being deprived of this
convenience, and being forced to come to
the city market for all of their supplies.
Alderman Krouskoff realizes that there
will be opposition to the measures he pro-
posed, and is ready for it. He is looking
out simply for the interests of the city, he
says, and if other interests are affected.
he Is willing the council shous, hear both
sides OF the question and adjudga the mat
ter.
tee, ne said, when seen by a Morning
News reporter yesterday, Il am looking
out Tor the interests of the city. l look
at it that | must look after the interests
OF my department just as l would my own
private business, and If find that the de-
partment is suffering from any cause to
remove the cause if possible. The reve-
nues of the market have fallen off terri
bly, In recent years and the market is no
longer the profitable investment to the
city which it should be. In 1872, the year
the present market was built, the gross
revenues of the city from it We're $2S 3S9. 10
For 1896 the revenue was only $159O4. Had
the revenue from the market increased
with the increased population the re-
ceipts last year should have been at least
$4,000, and the city should have had at
least $4,000 net revenue from this source,
instead of net income of only So 1852.
The market is a splendid piece of prop
erty and should return a revenue accord
ingly."
Mr.. Krouskoff has looked up the figures
on market receipts since 1872 1t showed
rapid falling off from the receipts of
1872. That year the total receipts were
s2S 1870. The next year the receipts drop
ped to so, 69S.68. From that time on there
was a gradual decrease every year until
1880 when the receipts were $15022.92.
There was a gradual increase from 1880 to
1892, the receipts for the latter year being
S22, $685. II. In 1893 the receipts took a tum-
BILE to $l6,621S6. In 1894 the receipts were
$17,721.57, and in 1895 $17,054.31. In 1896 the
receipts fell to $15.90i.
Alderman Krouskoff thinks there is
something markedly wrong in this de-
crease in receipts, and he attributes it to
the number of green groceries which have
been established about the city. His Or
dnance requiring the permission of the
mil of xrrifh
blocks to be obtained before a green gro
Gerry can be established in any locality
will tend to lessen the number of green
groceries, he thinks He is also opposed
to licensing any green groceries north Ct
Liberty street. The people residing north
of Liberty street, he said, are sufficiently
near the market to do their marketing
there without inconvenience. His ordi-
nance prohibiting the sale of poultry,
fish, shrimp and crabs on the streets are
not intended to apply to the hucksters,
Mr.. Krouskoff said.
I'VE had the hucksters," he said, when
the market was at its best and they car
ried on their business then practically as
they do now
Mr.. Krouskoff was asked if he did not
think the people would have to pay
higher prices if practically the entire Ia
BILE supply business should be concen-
trated at the market, and if ii would not
be a great Inconvenience upon people in
the remote sections of the city to be
compelled to go to the market to pur-
chase their supplies.
THE competition in the market would
keep down the prices" he replied AL
though the number of green groceries
would be reduced, there would be enough
left south of Liberty street to accommo-
date the people who did not choose to
come to the market
l.. -
measure be adopted for the protec ion of
the market" continued Alderman Krous-
koff. mot only are the stalls paying less
rent than in previous years, bu. there
are many stalls unreated, and we have
difficulty in keeping the renters now in
the market. One of the largest stall rent
ers I'm the market tod me that he OILY
intended remaining there until IN coul1
tinu a suitable place elsewhere for mis-
business. The stalllIeepers say that the
people do not come to the market as in
former years, and that they would willing
ly pay higher rents If they could get the
custom they formerly did This shows
how matters stand. / do not want to OPP
press anybody or to injure anybody's bus
ness. ] am simply looking out for the
cltys interest in my department"
The green grocers have as an argument
in their favor that while the revenue from
the market has decreased somewhat the
revenue from the green groceries has more
than made up the loss There are about
seventy green groceries in the city. and as
they pay a license Of 800 per annum, the
total makes quite a nice sum.
The concentrating OF the market BUSH
ness in the market building would decrease
If not destroy the business of the sellers
Of truck and oystermen and fishermen who
sell from baskets aud from carts and who
furnish at cheap prices fresh fish ana vesys
etables TO housekeepers.