Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
THE COUNTRY PEOPLE.
Statements in Regard to Them at the
Riggs Market.

In reference to the order of the Commits
sioners in regard to the country people at
the Riggs market, Humanity writes TO
The Star as follows:
Your statement in The Star of Saturday
that complaints have been made to the
Commissioners by property owners and
residents on P street adjacent to Riggs
market of the occupancy of the sidewalks
by country people and others who have
been in the habit of selling their products
there" will cause great surprise and dis
appointment to those who buy at Riggs
market. Do the Commissioners know that
the aforesaid complaints are solely from
the three or four stores on either side OF
the market and but one family on 10Th
street, simply because they themselves
want the trifiing amount that is paid these
poor country people for their fresh eggs
fruits and vegetables? These dealers, be-
sides their groceries, also have vegetable
stands just outside their stores.
Many of these poor country people drive
miles through the heat of summer, and the
storms of winter leaving their homes be-
fore day, to bring their small products into
market, as it is their only means of sup
port for their families, many Of them
widows, with children.
Is 1t necessary to cause this hardship
among them just winter is about to
commence and deprive them of this hon
est way of doing what they can for them
selves and their families?
"OI the rarity of Christian charity, under the SUM-
Many of these poor people have been oc-
cupyfng the same places ever since the
market was started, over fifteen years ago,
and no one has ever thought Of complain
ing of them until since the aforementioned
stores have been in operation, and they
have been making an effort to get rid of
the country people ever since.
Some time ago one of these grocerymen
had a banana vender arrested for selling
bananas on the corner as he halted his
push cart for customer. The grocer had
bananas himself to sell In his store, but at
a higher price, and the poor boy was
marched off with his push cart in charge
of officer to the station. This l saw
myself.
Have the Commissioners noticed the I'M
usually wide sidewalk We have on p street
between 14th and 10Th streets? These coun-
try people occupy not over two feet along
the edge. The sidewalk is never congested
as complained Of nor rendered unsightly.
| venture to say that not one person who
attenUs Riggs market but will feel indig-
nant at the injustice of these complainers.
We housekeeoers are the ones who Will
miss them the most, and will feel the In
convenience of having the country people
banished from the narrow space of side
walk which they have occupied. For years
many of us have been accustomed to buy
eggs, which we well knew could be depend
ed upon, poultry and fresh vegetables from
these same poor but honest people, and
now we realize that not only they, but we
and our families, will be the sufferers from
these unfair compliments
Sets Himself Right.
George d. Sudduth makes the following
statement as to the alleged opposition by
dealers in the vicinity of the market:
AS The Star is always anxious to see JUS
tice done in all things, l ask permission,
through your columns, to set myself Gas
well as other retail grocers in the vicinity
of Riggs markeD right with the people who
patronize that market, in regard to a recent
order of the District Commissioners forbid
ding the country people from exhibiting
and selling their produce on the sidewalks
contiguous to that block. The idea seems
TO have gone abroad that the retail grocers
are responsible for that order so 1 would
like to say that rather than encouraging it,
am directly opposed to their removal; not
alone because it would deprive a great
many Industrious, worthy people of the
means of making a living, but would de-
tract largely from the attendance of said
market, and thus iniure the business men
as we'll as the property owners of that
neighborhood.
These people raise their own produce and
sell it fresh picked at standard prices, and
hence are benefit rather than a nuisance
to the citizens of that community.