The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-28
Busy Western
Market
Grows With
City's Growth
to Enormous
Proportions

In the liyeliest business section OF
that busy thoroughfare, Michigan-ave.
at the corner of Eighteenth-st., Is the
Western market one OF the best
known spots In Detroit. This city has
many markets and big centers for the
buying and selling OF produce, In daily
demand, such as fruits and vegetables.
hay and feed OF all kinds, poultry and
dairy products, but none has more
loyal customers, than the Western
market. Situated as 1t Is, in one OF
the hustling business communities OF
the city, with many OF the most dense
ly populated streets leading directly
to it, the volume of retail trade, right
at the farmers wagons, is very great
and perhaps more active bargaining
goes on, in the Western market, than
anywhere else In the produce markets
OF the city.
Business begins on the market at
q very early hour In the morning, and,
about the time the street cars are
whizzing up and down Michigan-ave.,
carrying most folk TO factory and
shop the largest volume OF trade Is
over on the market and the majority
OF the farmers wagons, emptied OF
their loads, are ready to return home
ward II they have not already started.
Most OF the farmers come In with their
produce In the late afternoon, as IL Is
case of first come, first served.
with regard TO choice or location. The
city ordinance governing the
markets, does not permit any wagon
to take its stand earlier than o'clock
In the evening In order TO get ad-
yantageous places the majority OF the
hucksters get In early, fix everything
around their wagons for the night, put
their horse or horses In nearby stables
and then, either sleep on top or the
wagon or spend the night in the num-
erous hotels in the vicinity. The first
streak OF dawn sees everybody ready
TO open shop" Grocerymen and
wholesale dealers are the first on the
spot for they must get the cream OF
the fresh fruits and vegetables II they
are to get the best prices and the lat
ter is, OF course, what they are all
after. The economical and thrifty
housewife is not far behind, however.
and many a grocer has found himself
beaten, in getting the best and most
for the lowest price, by the mother OF
large family or a boarding house
keeper who has trIdged to the market
TO do her buying. All sorts OF vehicles
are pressed into service by the women
and children and street peddlers. Old
perambulators. busted" go-carts,
youngsters Fast Mali wagons and a
variety OF homemade affairs that
would tax anyone's ingenuity TO name.
These. delivery mediums are piled
high with a motley collection OF pro-
visions and the owner goes on In
triumph, secure In the knowledge that
the very best bargain possible has
been made.
All around the main market. where
the wagons stand, are the wholesale
stores where brisk trade always seems
to be In order and from one seasons
end TO another, dullness In buying
and selling seems unknown.
Many of the city's first families do
not disdain TO visit the Western
market in order TO buy direct from the
huckster and save the "middleman's
profits. Almost every morning the
handsomely-gown woman who has
come TO market In her automobile or
carriage, rubs elbows with the poor
mans housekeeper, who with a shawl
over her head and basket on her arm.
Is looking for bargains" too. As In
every mart OF It's kind, the crowd IL
motley one and the human interest
incidents to be found by the close
observer OF mankind are many.
Below are the most progressive OF