The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
FORMING A PLAN
TO MOVE MARKET I


Continued from Page 0ae..
Maryland and Virginia farmers were on
account Of grievances which seemed
hardships to them In the matte- Of privi-
leges. &c.
Plant Much Improved
In later years. though the general ap-
pearance OF the market, which was built
on very liberal lines. has not changed
much. the market facilities have been
completely reconstructed several times
Costly refrigerating plants have been in
stalled Electric lighting has turned
gloom into daylight. Concrete has re-
placed the older wooden. stone. and brick
flooring. Innovation after innovation has
been introduced. and the market. as II
stands to-day. represents an outlay OF
many times is original cost The entire
plant could not be reproduced except BY
an expenditure OF S2,00Q.co0
The removal Of the market 20 a new
site involves also several questions other
than mere cost. It is a mooted question
whether the demands OF the city IN the
future can be met by a Center Market
with several annexes about the city. The
handling Of produce IS a much more intri-
cate business than IL used 10 be. espe-
cially when the supplies OF a city Ike
Washington come not only from all parts
cf this country, but from nearly all parts
Of the world
Citrus fruits alone IS a bigger problem
than the whole market business was in
1880. The meat supply IS another vast
enterprise which could not be handled
locally as it was down 70 about 1850 Sea
food lays ali waters under contribution
10 keep the supply continuous and IN
sufficient volume. Truck and small fruits
traverse every railroad Of the United
States on their way to Washington. and
sometimes far-away Guatemala and other
outlying countries sent supplies 20 this
country.
Takes on New Phases.
The handling OF provisions. therefore,
OF a great city has taken on an entirely
new meaning since 1880. Refrigeration
and the storage OF supplies for future
consumption VIII in future constitute a
business for which present arrangements
will not only be inefficient. but win re-
quire an entirely new basis. In view Of
this big problem, it has been said with a
good show OF reason that the presen,
/ Center Market. with its various annexes
( have served their day and viii never be
duplicated in Washington. Many main
tain that when Center Market finally goes
# viii 80 for all time and tlFre VIII never
I be another.
This view finds confirmation in another
movement which has been acquiring great
B headway IN recent years. The house
holder and the housewife, even when they
can afford a chef and a steward. can 81
aff0rd the time 10 go 10 market The
scattering OF the population 10 the sub
/ urbs makes this journey TO market a
much greater task than II used 70 be. II
/ Is not sufficiently lghtened by the swift
/ electric car and the automobile. Tn,
/ cry for delivery Of provisions al ones
door Is a growing one Of the new ordel
OF things.
Community idea VaniEhes.
The community OF interest on whicl
the market was founded IS being dissi
pated by the divergence Of interest grow
! ing out Of the larger and more luxurious
/ home in the distant outlying portions o.
7 the city. Concentration is being lost II
a more sensible way Of living closer L
nature, where the winds blow and III,
/ flowers bloom.
Out Of this has grown the new-fash
1 ioned provision store. near the homes
( Of the people. delivery wagons from
which bring food 10 the kitchen door
/ Hundreds. yes. thousands. Of families II
I Washington have quit the market habi
in whole or part. Old customs die hard
and the social instinct Of going 10 marke
Is an old one In Washington, but Il i
fast giving way TO the relief and cas-
OF having the family supplies brOugh
/ TO ones door.
II is probably not too much to say tha
the handling Of supplies IN the futuT
will be through the family provision stor
near the homes of the people. they Il
turn fed from a larger central whole
sale market than Washington now has o
has dreamed Of That the problem vii
slowly work out in some such directioi
( IS the opinion OF many who have give
the subject much thought and hav
spoken their opinions TO The Washingto,
Herald in the last few days.