Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08

M trict freQuented by the citi-
wv zens of Washington, and
within even a shorter dis
lance of the well worn path Of the sight
seer. is little two-square plot Of ground.
the use of which is probably known only
by those connected with it.
This bit of ground lies between 10th and
18th streets, big and little streets.
Big street is that block on which the
back entrance of the new National Mu-
scum fronts, while from It'll to 9th lies
the goal of the housewife, the Center
market Some have called this bit Of
ground a circus ground, on occasions,
while others museum-bound, have I'M
knowingly remarked that the dump"
ought to be moved. Yet it is neither cir
Gus ground nor dump but only a quite
ordinary market space, known as the
wholesale producers market. From this
bit of space is sold all the vegetables.
fruits ETC., which during the day are
peddled. Practically all of Washington's
wholesale supply comes into the city at
this point.
1t is on Saturday morning, long be-
fore the majority of the city's citizens are
up. that the little plot of land has earned
the name of circus ground, and rightly,
too. There have been occasions when as
many as $50 wagons were there at the
same time-big wagons. small wagons.
old and young horses of every shade.
And scattered through this collection OF
laden wagons and weary horses Is always
to be found the farmer, bartering his
goods. Once in while 1t will be
woman who has come to town" to sell
her small raisings, but more often the
female contingent in this queer con-
glomeration is usually to be found
perched on the high drivers seat, from
>fvS rl~~ ryoit
until it is either time to leave or time to
give her man" his lunch.
This market is government property.
authorized by an act Of Congress. ana
under the police rules Of the District Of
Columbia. On the curb and on long
boards laid on the ground and bordering
the Enclosure are chalk marks and num-
bers. These designate the space which
each wagon has a right to occupy, seven
by twenty feet. Some OF these are num-
bered, the majority OF which are let out"
to the same man for a year. It is per-
MISSILE to bring the market loads and
station them on what Is called the curb
side as well as the dirt side That means
that the wagons can stop in the street
along the sides of this piece of land as
well as directly on 1t. Consequently a
double row Of wagons is usually to be
seen in the comparatively early morning,
one facing the market tract. IN the street,
the other facing the street in the tract.
For every day, or part thereof. that
a space is used the District charges the
nominal sum of 10 cents. With such a
small amount asked 1t would seem that
the earning capacity of this bit OF
land would be small. not to say trihing.
And yet the report for last year shows
that $5.24O was collected from this mar
ket alone.
AS a necessary part of the work Of con-
Quoting this wholesale market, the serv-
ices of q market master are required. All
the Washington markets. belonging to the
District or federal government are un-
der w. c. Haskell, superintendent Of
weights, measures and markets. But d.
rectly on the premises is James e. Ar
mold, the market master. who incidently
is a policeman. Policeman Arnold's du-
ties comprise for the most part the col
lection of the charges every morning.
What are called market mornings" are
Tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays, on
which days the number Of wagons is
greatly increased. But on the on morn
ings as well, there are those who bring
in loads of some kind to dispose of.
In order to lake the proper care of the