Imperial Valley press., 1913-05-06
CHEAP LIVING COST IS
SOUGHT IN LOS ANGELES

Los ANGELES, May 6.-The munich
pal markets yesterday beat the pro-
duce trust at its own game,
Motor trucks were sent to the trusts
own markets downtown, and there the
producers We're intercepted, their goods
! purchased and loaded and hauled to
the public trading places. -r
! Saturday the commission men tried
to kill the peoples new venture by
meeting the farmers who had agreed
/ to sell at the curb markets on the
roads leading to the city, and either
/ intimidating them into breaking their
promises or by buying their stocks
outright.
AS a result Of the coup yesterday
the advocates of the peoples markets
had the satisfaction Of seeing thou
sands Of housewives supplied with
fresh vegetables and fruit at Just
one-half the price similar goods were
bringing in the grocery stores and
on the peddler's wagons.
At Hollywood market Cahuenga
and Selma avenues. leading women OF
the community stood behind the
rough counter of boxes and crates,
selling berries and vegetables. Among
them were Mrs. r. p. McJohnston,
Mrs. Ingle Carpenter, Mrs. G.. M. Rich
mond Mrs. Forbes Lindsay and Mrs.
Ida j. Walker.
Mrs. MacJohnston is the mistress OF
residence on Franklin avenue than
is one Of the show places of Holly
wood, but that did not deter her in
the least from doing a hard days
work as saleswoman.
Ingle Carpenter in the early morn.
| ing had procured the motor truck and
seen to the transportation of the veg
etables frem downtown. To their cost
was added 10 per cent to cover the
| hatTing and shrinkage; at that the
price at which they retailed was so
per cent of the usual charge.
The 10 per cent is too high. he con-
cluded, and he announced that the
scale of prices would be made even
lower hereafter in order that the pro-
moters Of the market may just, break
even.
| So successful was the experiment
| that the committee will continue along
| the Same line until enough farmers
come direct to the market to supply its
needs.
One rancher, at least, has already
caught the idea. Angelo PalazziO had a
wagOnload of goods at the market, sell
| ing them at the same scale Of prices
the committee was asking. He said he
would return Wednesday, Which is the
next market day, with ton of produce
on the same wagon. and. 10 more waS-
ons. if they were needed, to supply the
demand.
As soon as the producers turn out
the committee will discontinue its mer-
chandizing campaign, but not until then.
| How cheap the produce was selling
at the Hollywood market is indicated
by the following quotations:
Asparagus, three pounds for 10 cents.
Peas, 3 cents a pound.
Strawberries, 71a cents box, four for
| 25 cents.
Celery. punches for cents.
Beets, radishes, etc., two punches for
| 5 cents.
Lettuce, heads for cents.
New Potatoes, &c pound; 81 box.
Rhubarb, two pounds for SC.
Green onions, 1c bunch.
Dry onions, &c pound.
| However the punches were so much
larger than those purchasable in the
groceries as to make a considerable
difference in value.
The residents Of the districts served
by the markets are entering into the
campaign Tor establishing them on a
permanent footing with fervor sim
liar to the way the people rose to help
Governor Johnson in his famous feat
OF kicking the Southern Pacific out
Of politics.
"Bust the produce trust" is the
market committees slogan and that de-
termination IS being echoed around all
the markets. .
The interest exists not alone in those
! of small means, who will be chiefly
benefited by the new trading places,
but also among the wealthier residents
Of the various districts.
At Hollywood market yesterday, for
instance, the appearance Of wealthy
retired gas magnate coming up with
a market basket on his arm was mol
especially out of the ordinary.
"They have these things in other