Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-12-22
PUBIC MARKETS

In Europe one Of the greatest factors ~
reducing the cost to the consumer and
the risk Of marketing to the producer is
the establishment of public markets. and
our municipalities can do no better M"
for their citizens than to bring about
the establishment Of such markets under
municipal control.
The market system of Paris is the best
and most extensive in the world. There
is a graf central market. called the Hallcs
CcntrallcS. which consists of ten build
ingS. covering - acres. al under one
roof. There is u Wholesale and retail
market both. Besides this there are a
number of retail markets Scatttrci
throughout the city. The markets are
under the control Of the police depart
mcnt and in charge Of a deputy police
commissioner with his SubOrdinaes. The
stalls are in charge of what are called
Manufactures. or agents appointed by the
police, and their commissions are rcgu-
lated by law. They can have no interest.
direct or indirect. in any agricultural
production. The commissions allowed run
from y per cent UP to 10 per cent. va
rying in accordance with the Kind ot
article and the quantity and regularity Of
the transactions. The Mandataries. or
agents, must pay The railroad raEspor:.
ton and the transportation TO the marGrt
and certain market charges. These are
deducted from the total amount received
on the sale of each producers shipment.
and ut the end of the day Il record Of the
transactions of each agent is sent TO the
deputy Commissioner Of Police. The
amOunt due the shipper. after dc,ncting
the above charges. must be sent to him
each day, unless the agents have 4 private
arrangement. which is permitted, for
sending the MONEY forward weekly or
monthly. Should there arise any question
in regard to the quality or condition of 4
inspectors. who pass on the question as
shipment the agent calls in Government
to whether any deduction should DC made
because OF quality or damage. There
are also government appointed inspecting
chemists on hand. who a~nalyZe III queS-
tionablc beef or other articles that re-
quirr such expert examination. In fact,
the system is 80 perfect that Il shipper
need not knOW even the name of the
agent. He can make his Shipmnt direct
to the IiallcS Ccntralles, and the produce,
whether it is beef. eggs. vegetables on
fruit, will be put in the hands Of one
Of the agents dealing in the particular
commodity shipped, and the complete rec
ord of The transaction. together with the
amount Of money realized. less commits
SionS and expenses. will be sent to him OH
the same day.
A newspaper is published daily, which
anyone can secure. which gives Il record
Of prices in all articles for each day. and
the market is the great regulator of price
throughout the city. aS outside commits
sion agents. grOccrS. and others cannot
either corner the market or chagc any
excessive amount for the handling Of pro
ducc. There is an absolutely free mar
ket for every farmer in France If the
HalIeS Ccntralles. Their is much the same
system at the great municipal abattoir>
in Paris. Of which La Filette is the
largest and these great central markets
and abattOirS not only supply the &"
mandS of Paris. but even those Of Tho
provincial municipalities"