Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-13
WHAT A PUBLIC MARKET
WOULD MEAN TO YOU,

garden truck and produce.
Produce fresh from the
farm, and wholesome, not old
and having passed through
many hands.
Clean food and clean sell
ing stalls, kept so by city
regulation.
Stimulate market garden
ing by making it profitable
for the farmer, meaning bet
ter produce for the future,
more of it and better prices.
Atlanta's one great present need,
greater perhaps than all other be-
cause of it's vital interest to every
housekeeper, is public market.
For years the people of Atlanta
have been paying prices for inferior
produce far higher than are just, or
than are paid by the residents Of 9TH
er cities which have market places,
The wage earner's dollar has bought
far too little Of the necessities Of life
in the way Of farm products.
The French market has long been
one of New Orleans chief claims 10
fame. Nashville, Knoxville, Wash
lngton, Kansas City and scores of
other cities have maintained public
markets for years with a saving of
probably millions of dollars to their
people and with the result that fresh
produce was supplied directly to them
by the farmer, instead Of passing
through numerous hands Of middle
men, as in Atlanta, entailing both
insanitary food and greatly increased
cost to the consumer.
Move for the Market.
But n movement is on foot in the
Chamber Of Commerce looking to the
early establishment of the public mar
ket here. A special committee has
been investigating the value of pub
lie markets to other cities with re-
suits so convincing, and it is posi- e
BILE that market may be reality
here bv the coming summer A CITY
bond Issue to provide for a marker
is being discussed about town.
Besides a saving of at least 20 per
cent I'm price, brought about by BUY
ing directly from the producers IN
open competition, here are some o.
the things a public market WouIu
mean to every housewife OF AtldIlea ,
II would mean better and fresher
produce because the city would pro-
hihit the sale Of anything but nrst-
class goods. -,.,...,
II would insure clean, healthful
food. because the market would ne
under the direct supervision OF CITY
official -.
II would enable the housewife to
take an early car to the city, puI-
chase all her supplies under one roof,
choose from the offerings Of many
competitors and be at home an hour
after she left. ..--
It would bring about still better
conditions in a few years, because II
would stimulate market gardening
within a twenty mile radius, ana TINS
would bring better produce, more Oh
1t and more reasonable prices.
Prices Are Too High.
ATLANTA is a good town, and I'm
clad : moved" said a Nashville man
the other day. chatting at a clun
about the needs of the city, the hlgn
cost of living, etc, but say! Inc
prices of vegetables and all kinds OF
garden truck come pretty near eat
ing nm the extra salary I make here
What is needed is a public market
Wrangle over politics all you want
the price of something to eat TO d
working man or the man on a moo
crate salary is of more importance
than all the charters ever written.
Fright YOU are" said the man
across the table. I'm from New Or
leans myself That's the great mar
ket town, you know. Everybody from
a millionaire's wife down to the SCRUB
woman gets up early ana goes "
market there and brings home vege-
tables that are fresh, FISH Just out OF
the water. chickens and all kinds OF
farm stuff. The quality Is right and
the prices are low. I don't see now
Atlanta ever lived and grew without
a market. Why, the prices on my
wife's grocery bill are something lO
worry about"
The two men were vOicing a senu-
ment that has been growing for years
IN Atlanta. It crystallized recently IN
the appointment of a special pubnc
market committee by the Chamber oil
Commerce. and under the direction
OF Chairman A. J. Orme the mem
beers have been gathering data which
proves how extravagantly Atlanta is
paying for the privilege OF doing
without market place.
We need a market and we've go'
10 have it," said Mr.. Orme, in MS
office in the Equitable building
There have been many reasons why
Atlanta has struggled along without
Il, but conditions demand such a mar
ket now, and It is certain 20 come.
Market Is Necessity.
The committee soon will be pre-
pared to make a report to the Cham-
Der. Il will show that SIS investi-
cations prove the necessity OF a pup
lie market under the control OF the
city, a market where the nroducer can
deal directly with the consumer
where the poor man can buy treshi
choice edibles instead Of the inferior
produce forced on him often through
the present system.
Several details are imperative. Inc
market must be located in SUCH a
central point that folks from every
section of Atlanta-Peachtree or Pet
ers-can reach il by trolley car with