New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-06
RETAIL MARKETS NEEDED
Mrs. Heath Says They Would
Pay, if Within Easy Reach.
REPORT WIDELY DISCUSSED
L. L. briggs Approves Recon-
mendations, but Not Control
by Transportation Agents,

The radical recommendation of the
marketing committee Of the State Food
Investigation Commission. made public
yesterday, and purporting 10 show how
the city can save $4,000 600 a year on the
price It pays for its food supply, have pro-
voked much comment among individuals
interested in the city's market problem.
Lawrence l. briggs, chairman OF the
City Club market committee and mem
her OF tho Mayors Market Commission,
said: 81 am greatly pleased with the com
mittee's recommendation for a depart
ment OF markets and their idea of fixing
wholesale prices by means Of auction
sales But this idea OF the substitution
Of terminal markets TO be built by the
railroads and steamship lines for munlc-
ipaly controlled markets seems imprac-
ticable.
1t will put the control Of our food SUD
ply entirely into the hands Of those trans
pOrtation agents.
The committees recommendation for
the abolition OF the present market build
ings is also admirable. Every one knows
that these buildings represent an annual
loss to the city. but that fact need not be
taken TO indicate, as the report seems to
Infer. that municipal markets need neces-
sarily be failure.
The Superintendent OF City Markets.
Sidney Goodacre, had just returned from
his vacation when the report came out
and although he read It carefully and eX-
pre- ssed an opinion that the committee had
gathered a vast amount OF valuable test
mony he could not bring himself either
10 indorse or condemn the remedies they
offered
They seem 10 consider the present
y market system obsolete" said Mr.. Good
acre. THAT may be, and anything that
Will tend to better conditions and lower
the continued high cost Of living ought 10
be carefully considered. I shay need a
great deal of time to digest this report
"A proposition TO save %O.""Vo year
goes right to the heart Of every house
wife. said Mrs. Julian Heath, president
n the Housewives League and originator
OF the back 10 tho market baskets slo-
gan.
But Mrs. Heath is not altogether pleased
with the recommended plans because tAey
do not include public retail markets
which she says tine housewives all over
the country are demanding
The present public markets, sn" said
ARE failure only because they are
| located in districts which are extremely
| announcement for the housewives To- rea'h.
Mrs Heath IS also disappointed because
/ the committee made 40 mention of the
/ parcels post ~ an aid iu doing a""N
! with every middlemau. The chief value
OF the report she thinks If that IL ORA"
the attention OF the public TO tho present
/ lameutable conditions.
! Horace Y. Bruce. secretary ana chle'
! investigator II the committee. IN speak
/ ing OF the abolition OF the small retailer
! By the proposed food department stores
said that II would BE- an advantage al
around to send the small dealers Who ar'
/ now barely making living because there
are so many Of them and their trade j.
spread out 40 thin. into tho ahandoue 20
farms OF the state and turn them int,
| producers.
The recommendations Of tie comlnitt''
are aimed just As much 20 benefit tn
producer by giving him higher prize
! for his output a. 10 benefit the consume
! by cutting down the present waste IN ouI
ridiculous system II transportation auI
distribution. whereby foodstuns are re-
CURED to pay toll SIX times before reach
ing the ultimate consumer said Mr.
! Bruce