Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
Christmas Trees and Greens in
Ample Quantity.
ON B AND. OTHER STREETS
Holly Branches Filled With AttraI-
tive Red Berries.
WREATHS AND CROSSES OF PINE
Supply Far in Excess Of the Demand
Prices Of Turkeys
Other Goods.
WREATHs AND CROSSES OF PM

glimpse Of the street and spaces about
the Center Market is all that is necessary
to prove that the holiday season is at hand.
Although several days are to intervene be-
fore Christmas. the country people who deal
In products Of the woods have already
claimed their market places and it is their
intention to remain on guard there until
about the time Of the ringing of the mid
night bells Monday. Reports from northern
cities indicate that the residents of the same
who desire a Christmas tree or evergreens
for decorative purposes will have to pay
high prices for the same, but there is moth
ing to indicate that the residents Of this city
will have to pay any higher prices than
usual. Along the line of the railroads lead
ing from some of the larger cities the pine
and cedar forests have almost disappeared
and it is the long hauls and freight charges
that tend to advance the prices Of the ever
greens. Within radius of few miles of
this city there are plenty of pine and cedar
trees to supply Santa Claus for many years
to come, unless the extension of improve
ments causes the cutting away Of the trees.
Along the B street line south of the Gen.
ter Market well as about the several
smaller markets there are already trees
and other Christmas decorations sufficient
to provide te customary attractive forest
scenes, and persons who note the huge dis
plays today wondered what would be done
WILL tAc tuI heyS WITCH tlley reach mere
in wagons from the country to be disposed
of to the Christmas trade. Not only Is
there a plentiful supply of evergreens on
hand this year, but the quality Is far bet
ter than 1t has been for number Of years.
Some of the most beautiful holly trees ever
seen about the market are there now, and
the bundles of holly branches filled with red
berries cannot fail to attract the attention
of those who are to decorate their homes
for the holiday season.
Pine and cedar trees of all sizes and
shapes are piled along the market spaces
in front and In rear of the building and
upon the old haymarket square. while large
punches of mistletoe, arranged to suit al
most any purse find ready sale. Wreaths
and crosses of running pine. barrels of
loose pine and the made-up strings for dec
orative purposes all seem to be unusually
plentiful and the prices paid for them
will no doubt depend largely upon the
time of the purchase. 1t is certain that
the supply will be far in excess of the de-
mand and that hundreds of trees will be
left about the markets Monday night when
the last light is extinguished and when
the last patron has gone.
Matter of Location.
So far as the advantage that is to be
gained by getting the better locations about
the markets is concerned. it is case Of
first come first served. Early in the week
many Of the old colored "aunties'' and
''uncles from Maryland and Virginia Sc
lected the places they wanted. and are re-
naming in possession through the good and
bad weather. Some of them remain to
guard their property through the weary
hours of the night, being able to throw a
covering over themselves and sleep about
well near fire in tin pan or iron pot
as they would in their own homes. In some
instances several members of family
take turns in doing guard duty. Even dur
ing the rain and snow Wednesday and yes
terday many of the young and old people
aiv,aI To ,-1 oy,1 90
their evergreenS.
Boss an old colored man down near
Arlington said this morning, 1--WE been
here since Monday and if the Lord spares
me I'm not going to leave until next Mon
day. I've been coming here every Christ
mas for nearly fifty years, and I always
take home money enough to last me the
rest of the winter.
You see," he added, 81 only own a small
home but I've got good neighbOrs and they
let me have all the green stuff 1 want. I
tell you people certainly are good when
Christmas is coming and when get
through selling our trees we can go home
without being bothered about the weather
or anything eise.''
It Is expected that many more wagon
loads of trees and evergreens will reach
here tonight and tomorrow. Dealers expect
to make the greatest number Of sales of
trees tomorrow, although many buyers will
probably wait until Monday before making
selection. By that time, it is thought
the best of the supply will have been sold,
and the late buyers will have to take what
they can get
Price Of Turkeys.
While the question of selecting a tree
and other decorations for the holiday sea-
son is troubling many housekeepers, heads
of families and children, as many more
are anxious regarding the price they will
probably have to pay for a turkey for
Christmas dinner. Some are fearing high
prices will prevail. while others have an
idea that there will be a repetition of the
Thanksgiving market prices, when many
fowls were sold at Is cents pound after
most Of the patrons of the market dealers
had been supplied with fowls at from 20
to % cents a pound. Only spell of
we're weather, it is believed, will cause
anything like scarcity of turkeys next
week. Reports from the surrounding
country indicate that the turkeys will be
as plentiful as they were Thanksgiving,
and perhaps more so. 1t is said that the
demand should the present prices-20 and
% cents pound-prevail. Many turkeys
are in cold storage. but they will not be
taken out at Christmas unless there is
prices are high enough to guarantee the
dealers good profit. Twenty cents
pound seems to be the prevailing price
charged for turkeys % cents being asked
for small and extra stock. An unusually
large number of live turkeys have been re-
ceived here this year-many more than
the dealers nave received Tor years. Large
shipments have already been received, and
dealers are expecting additional supplies
tonight and tomorrow morning.
$50 far as 1 am able to judge today"
a local dealer remarked to Star reporter
this morning, there is no reason why
turkeys should cost more than 20 cents
pound tomorrow or Monday. and heavy
receipts may have a tendency to lower
prices
Chickens, ducks and geese are plentiful
and cheap, and should turkeys command
high prices the demand for the other
fowls will be much greater. Dealers
say that chickens have been cheaper this
year than usual. many exceptionally large
shipments having been received. Consum-
ers are able to get freshly killed stock at
all times a number of the local dealers
preferring to do their own killing rather
than get folws that are dressed in the
country.
Proper Method Of Killing
"a great many farmers do not seem to
understand how to do the killing, and
have the fowls in good condition for mar
ket," dealer explained. 1T makes no
difference about the quality of the fowls
If they are not properly handled while
they are being killed and dressed Fowls
that are properly dressed always bring