The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-10
WOULD START A
CENTRAL MARKET
EDWIN OSBORNE BELIEVES
THERE is AN OPPORTUNITY IN
FARGO FOR AN ESTABLISH
MENT OF THIS KIND AND OUT.
LINES HIS PLANS.

Last fall the local papers had a
number Of articles in regard to a
central market in Fargo and the high
cost Of living" says Edwin Osborne.
Nearly every merchant and bust
ness man of Fargo and Moorhead
knows that the high cost of food stuffs
is caused by an expensive delivery
service, which costs the average mer-
chant from Is to % per cent to keep
in good running order.
"A public market would mean that
the retail merchants OF Fargo and
Moorhead in all lines, would get
great deal more country trade. Also,
that the farmers within a radius Of
fifteen or twenty miles of the two
cities would have a new field opened
to them, in truck gardening and chick
en- raising. There would be a ready
demand for all their produce at a
central market, then great majority
of the farmers would spend the money
they obtained for their produce, right
here before they left for home.
"A central market would not only
open new field and help the farm
ers make a better living but it would
be money maker or a money saver
to the housewives Of the two cities,
because it would cut out the main
cause Of high living, the delivery serv-
ice, thereby saving the housewife from
l5 to 20 per cent on all foodstuff, by
purchasing direct.
Il believe that a well established
central market in Fargo would add to
the population by reducing the cost
Of living and it would be one of the
biggest boosters that Fargo could get
The main trouble seems to be, that
there is no one willing to start the
ball rolling. So I have decided IL 7
can get the backing and endorsement
of all, the business men and mer-
chants in all lines in Fargo and Moor
head and also the farmers in a radius
of twenty miles. in both Cass and
Clay counties, that 1 will take the
responsibility of organizing and start
ing central market. Then If the
people wish it, to take the active man
agement Of same
i have had between six and seven
years experience in two of Philadel-
phia's largest grocery houses and
travelled in North Dakota for a St
Paul wholesale grocery house for a
year and a half.
Il have had the opportunity to study
the city markets in both PHILADELPHIA
and Pittsburg, Pa, and also when 7
was in Houston, Tex, two and a half
years ago, l looked into the city mar
ket.
Il feel now is the time to act for
the farmer will have ample time to
get his truck garden under way for this
summer, then it will take some time
and also hard work to get the people
to cooperate with me.
Il have already an option on one of
the most centrally located lots, which
would be an ideal location for a CEN
trail or city market and I also have
the promise of a local firm to erect a
concrete or brick building suitable for
an up-to-date city market.
What ] need now, is the backing
OF all the merchants and business rien
of Fargo and Moorhead and the farm
'ers Of both Cass and Clay counties
i ask every one that is interested
in cheaper living and the boosting Of
Fargo to write p. o. Box 154 Fargo,
stating they endorse my plan and will
give me all the help they can to es-
tablish a cooperative city market in
Fargo this coming summer"