Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-07
from Baltimore. where these trains are first

from, Baltimore. where these trains are first
unloaded.
the food situation presented to- The person
who investigates the subject What Is the
remedy? The writer believes 1t Is to De
found chiefly In large cod-storags plant
that could house all this perishabie pro-
vision and hold it for distribution to the
retail dealers. storage company. with
warehouses having capacity for niliioas
tons of fruits, vegetables. meats, eggs and
sea food. would be source of supply which
the city could not eat out in forty-eisht
hours. Commodities could be bought just
at the time when they are In prime condi-
ton and when prices are moderate stored
and sold to the consumers at lower aver
age prices than the present haphazard.
hand-tomouth method of doing will admit.
Capacity Suggested.
Judging from the capacity of storage
plants in other cities, one for Washington
should be about the size of two city blocks.
with compartments for laying down great
variety of vegetables. meats and sea food
The cost Of such a structure and its equip
ment might reach 81, 100000 or more, but
the profits are assured with the popula-
ton of the city growing at the rate 1t Is
The food supply Is constantly inviting
larger demand. even at the higher prices
that have prevailed for the past few years.
The people must live. and in that fact the
investment of 100000 in storage plant
to assist In supplying food to the city at
less cost would be one of the improvements
most needed in the Greater Washington.
Such strange plant would not only Dc
Of immense benefit to the city and the agri-
cultural region adjacent to the city, but TO
the southern states as we'll. Planters IN
Georgia, the Caroinas. Alabama and Mis-
sissippi are obliged to send their produce 70
the big northern centers for storage peno-
ing consumption. The first point of unload
ing is In Baltimore, the next In Philadei-
phia, and so on to New York and Boston.
Now much has been said about Washing
ton becoming the trade distributing center
for the SOUTH with the argument advanced
that shorter haul and cheaper freight rates
must decide the question of the place for
wholesale trade. Turning the argument
about. Washington owes it to the south
to provide 1T with market for its produce,
and storage facilities to take care of the
output. To the limit of demand southern
produce should find market in Washing
ton. at least after that supplied by the adj
jacent fathers is disposed of, and WASH
| ington cas- hardly hope to carry on one
sided bargain with the south. II the cap
ital Ia to sell merchandise there 1t must
| take in payment the products OF the south
ern plantations. Turn about In trade Is
but fair play. and the exchange is tnevtta-
BILE. Consequently, one Of the surest means
| Of inviting wholesale trade from the south
| is to provide facilities for the consumption
| of its truck and vegetables. which in spring.
| time reach the market far In advance OF
| that raised in the vicinage.
The Tropical Fruits.
'In less degree the argument holds good
with reference to tropical fruit. With the
storage plant in operation cargoes Of ba-
nanas. oranges, pineappies. lemons and
| lines could be brought to Washington d.
rect from the islands or countries where
they are produced, first to be consumed
here, and then to be distributed to the
towns through Virginia and West Virginia
that naturally look to Washington for their
| supplies. This would start the ocean trade
which will come with the development Of
the city. It would call for improved harbor
conditions and the placing Of Washington
In touch with the outer world by means OF
water transportation.
1.-THE establishment OF the storage house
has been discussed at different times. and
q few years ago company was formed to
promote the scheme, which was sidetracked
| for reasons which then seemed sufficient.
But the project should not be allowed to
slumber on Indefinitely. The people OF
Washington need the storage plant IN the
interests of cheaper provisions. The retail
grocers and the market men need 1t, II the
the interests of better prices at the sources
of supply. The farmers Of the vtc1nage
need it to insure better markets for their
produce and the planters of the southern
states need it to save freight and provide
a nearer depot for their truck and melons
The scheme Is feasible from all points OF
View and the establishment OF such plant
should be among the first steps in the evo-
| luton Of Greater Washington"