New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-01
GERMAN MARKETS BEST
Food Investigation Committee
Hears Expert from Ohio.
JUST BACK FROM ABROAD
Favors Central Plan, but in Case
of New York One for
Each Borough.

| The Food Investigating Committee, which
convened again yesterday at No. 2o2 Frank
lin street. succeeded in getting the testt-
! mony Of John L. Shearer. a market expert,
| who has just returned from Germany.
| whittier he went at the request Of the
| Mayor Of Cincinnati 10 study mar
ket conditions. Mr.. Shearer stopped over
to give the New York commission. Of which
William Church Osborn is chairman. the
first benefits of his trip. The Ohio mans
Investigations covered the cities of Berlin.
Frankfort, Cologne. Hamburg, Dresden and
Munich.
The best example in Germany OF a mod
crn market. Mr.. Sheercr said. was at Mu-
Mich, While Germany has long been il
vided between the plan OF a central market
and that Of chain Of markets scattered
throughout the cities. the failure Of the lat
ter plan. al tried in Berlin. has given the
other system the most favorable reception
by market experts.
Munich has the finest central market
probably. in the world said Mr.. Shearer
The present structure alone. although its
estimated cost was not over 100000 covers
a space Of four city blocks, exclusive Of
train sheds and wagon approaches. II is
the model building If its kind II Is a one
story structure divided into compartments
for selling the various kinds of food. and
| has tho latest Of sanitary appliances II
/ has great basement as large as the upper
| building. which Is used for storing meats
vegetables and dairy products for months
IN advance. This Is connected with the
upper floors by elevators Tho building
| has hot and cold water throughout and
oven a restaurant and 4 postoffce
The space around this building for wag
ons and cars is enormous. The trackase Is
so arranged that sixty cars can be unload
ed at the same time, and this. Of course
means the minimum Of delay and damage
I'm transshipment. This market Is opened at
o'clock in the morning. and UP TO II q. m.
does nothing but a wholesale business
After that the retail customers are attend
ed 10. What surplus there IS is stored IN
foreground. They also have a system 90
auctioning off certain kinds Of fruits and
vegetables.
The management Of the market allows
n certain limited number Of commission
merchants TO operate there and each Of
these Is under contract with tho manage
ment. Again, the system in Germany "a
to the commission trade is so arranged that
only one commission man comes between
the producer and the consumer. As q rule,
the housewife in the large towns buys ell
her supplies at retail and there are hun
dreds Of these little shops. models Of neat
ness, scattered everywhere. not ono OF
which darcs raise its price above that II
the others
"All the German markets are run by the
municipal government. The director Of the
market and all the inspectors are paid their
salaries by the city. and the market de-
partment actually gets the most serious
consideration Of any OF the City's depart
m"nts. There are two classes OF products
the first and secondhand the moment the
produce is brought into the market in the
morning the inspectors 60 over 1t all and
assign it to the first or second class. The
latter is usually sold at n fixed price"
Mr.. Shearer said the situation Of the city
Of Frankfort was practically that In
which New York found itself now. il has
Outgrown its markets. and IS casting about
for an effective plan for their rebuilding.
/ The Berlin system IS also on the point Of
reorganization. Mr.. Shearer said that he
was strongly in favor Of the central market.
! In the case Of New York however. he said
he thought ii would be necessary TO have
one market for each borough.
J. II. Bahrenburg commission merchant,
of No. l0G Murray street described at length
! the method adopted by the commission
merchants in marketing vegetables. He was
OF the opinion that the forming OF a com
mission empowered TO oversee and regulate
the shipment OF perishable foodstuffs ~
railroads would facilitate conditions. The
commission merchants I'm this city he said.
have often criticised the railroads relative
TO delayed shipments and deliveries
At the end Of yesterdays session II was
announced that tho next conference would
, probably be field on Friday morning, begin
! ming at II o'clock.