The Worcester spy., 1899-12-17
XMAS DECORATIONS
Vendors of Christmas Trees and
Wreaths Will Open Their Mar
ketS on the Common as Usual
RIVALRY is GREAT
FOR POSITION
Park CommiSSionerSWiII Charge
the Dealers to Pay For Clean
ing up in the Spring

An industry that thrives for a few
days annually will be in full swing on
the common during the>coming week.
The men who sell Christmas trees and
evergreens have already filed their pre-
ferences for Locations with the parks
commissioners, and in a majority of
cases territory has been assigned.
Few people who patronize these men
to secure trees and green's which go so
far in making up the Christmas deco
ration in the home, realize how con-
siderable the business really is. Not
only are men in this immediate section
interested, but others who ship their
stock in trade from the heart of the
Maine woods and contest warmly for
the trade which natives of this section
naturally feel belongs to them.
Two men from Maine have already
applied to the commissioners for a To-
cation on the common, and have an
nounced their purpose to ship four.car-
loads Of trees and evergreens to this
city in season for the holiday buyers.
In previous years trees have been
shipped from Vermont or New Hamp-
shire as well as from the Pine Tree
state, and the product of northern New
England will doubtless figure to the
usual extent this year.
The consignment of trees from Maine
which comes to Worcester is in real
ity but a part or side issue of a ven
ture entered into by men who go into
1t on a large scale. The stock in
trade costs little apart from the cost
of labor for cutting, and freight charges
incurred by shipment to the principal
S1ff 81,
gland. A handsome profit is cleared
during the few days preceding Christ
mas and New Years day.
The custom of past years has result
ed in locating these men on the COM
mon, and while the site is not as adj
vantageous from a business standpoint
as In the old days, when the Main street
front was sought for, still the present
arrangement offers the best place for
displaying the trees in the city.
In years past, it has been the Gus
tom to require a deposit of IS before
the men were allowed to locate their
stock in trade on the city's park, with
the understanding that the money
should be refunded, providing the
grounds used were cleaned up in good
shape at the close of the season, but
many times there was objection to this
plan, as branches would become fro
BILE to clean up the debris before spring
when the warm rains and sunlight
loosened the frozen earth. This year
the question of allowing the dealers
on the common was debated at some
length. The grounds are in first-class
condition. and it was thought that
havoc would be worked with the parts
planted and seeded the past season,
which are not covered with a tough
covering of sod. The matter was A.
nally settled by a vote to allow the
custom of past years to continue, on
condition that each dealer should pay
IS for the privilege of displaying his
wares, the sums received to be applied
to cleaning up and improving the con-
dition of the common.
Considerable jealousy is expressed
by the vendors over their respective To-
cations. Many have had certain stands
for years, and they impress the fact
of their wants upon the commissioners
in decided manner. Some of the men
who come in from the surrounding
towns argue that they are entitled to
some consideration before those who
hail from outside the state, as what