The Washington herald., 1909-07-26

An immense warehouse. consisting OF
one hundred separate storage buildings.
with tracks Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
running into each. and intended for the
use OF the merchants and buyers OF
Washington, win be erected shortly at a
cost Of S5OOOOO at or near the intersection
OF the Pennsylvania line and Mount Oil
vet road.
The structure. which will be the largest
Of its kind in this section Of the coun-
try, Will cover the greater part OF twenty
Ave acres belonging 10 Frederick Mer-
tens. a real estate agent OF Washington.
Christian Ubhon, a Washington real es-
tate broker. has been acting as the repre-
sentative OF Mr.. Mertens.
He has conducted the negotiations, and
will have charge OF the construction and
leasing OF the storage houses 10 mer-
chants. II is estimated tho laying Of the
tracks VIII cost the Pennsylvania system
thousands OF dollars
Hopes of the Projectors.
According 70 conclusions, Mr.. Mertens
and the capitalists backing the project
will have when the construction work IS
finished not only the largest storage place
in this part OF the country. but the short
est and easiest road 10 the heart OF the
city. II IS expected that more than two
thirds OF the immense storage space VIII
be taken Up Immediately by local firms
as soon as II IS put on the market.
II IS cOntended that such a warehouse
viii supply a lonE-felt want 10 Wash.
lngton produce dealers and market men.
Commission dealers have heretofore stored
their goods In places In various parts OF
the city. Not only have they been cramped
for space, bat have found the prevailing
system unsatisfactory. since uniform
excellence Of storage facilities dld not
prevail. Butter and egg dealers. who buy
stock in great quantities for the winter
season, are Obliged 20 distribute their
stocks In storage houses IN the vicinity OF
the Louisiana avenue market house and
the southwestern portion Of the city. As
the business has rapidly developed in the
last few years. storage room has become
scarce, with high rates and facilities not
equal TO the nature OF the trade Owing
% lack Of proper storage houses. the
dealers in Southern truck and various
vegetables find Il necessary to store their
stock in Baltimore and bring Il 10 this
city when the trade demands it.
For a long time a movement has
been on foot TO build a well equipped
and cOmmodious warehouse. large enough
TO accommodate all the commission men
OF Washington. One is nov building in
South Washington. but this is only OF
moderate size and owing 10 the high
price and scarcity Of land in that vicinity
IL IS improbable that further steps Will
be taken TO increase storage resources.
Warehouse East of Washington.
A movement has been under wax. to
establish a warehouse east OF Washing
ton in the country, and il was thought
for a time that one would be erected
at lexington. AS. Mr.. Mertens' land
was more convenient TO the railroad and
more desirable on account Of It's size. the
projectors Of this city and the PhiIadel-
phia capitalists interested in the scheme
decided the ground was well suited for
the large storage house.
Rumor has Il that Otto Schrin and
Harvey Fiske & Co, OF New York.
brokers for F. H. Hartman, are inter-
ested in the project Swift & Co.
the Chicago packers. are also said to be
backing the deal 1t is reported that the
Armour people will build storage plant
Of their own at Alexandra.