The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-07
WASHINGTON MARKET
MEN STIR UP A ROW
Carl A. Koelsch Quits Associs.
ton Presidency Because of
Mezzanine Floor.
WANTS 1T; OTHERS DON'T

Carl A. Koelsch. who has piioted ma
Washington Market Merchants Assocla.
ton since its Organization six years ago
and ma jority OF the members Of the
association have come to the parting a,
the ways over the ACCESSIBILITY of having
a mezzanine floor In the market now be-
ing rebuilt Mr.. Koelsch wants one and
the opposition doesn't. Mr. Koelsch has
submitted his resignation as president and
the association will to-day elect Matthew
Mcoino as his successor. Mr.. Mcol.no
has been In the market forty years
The original plans for rebuilding the
market called for a mezzanine floor 10
cost $4,000 Ii was designed as space
for stalls. storerooms and lockers Dor.
ough President Marks had received bids
and IL looked as II there would be a gal
lery running around the market until tho
opposition notified Mr.. Marks that the
merchants didn't want one. The Borough
President sent out 102 letters asking how
the Washington Market men felt about H.
Seven voted for a mezzanine floor and
seventy replied In the negative. The plan.
therefore. was held up.
The DIRECTORS said that customers could
not be induced to walk up stairs 20 do
their trading. that stalls could not be
rented there and that less than a dozen
merchants would want storage room IN
the gallery. Therefore, IL was argued
the cost OF building the mezzanine floor
would have TO be met in increased rents
from the stall holders on the main foot
sticks 20 His Contention.
Mr. Koelsch contends the mezzanns
floor is a necessity and must be con.
structed ultimately. He says that store
room space Ia required to prevent en-.
croachments on selling space in the main
stalls. Furthermore. he insists there
must be room in which the 200 men n
| the markets can keep their street clothes
while doing business In the market as
Il will not be sanitary to hang hats and
coats on hooks near provisions.
II know concern" he said, that 10
willing to take the entire mezzanlne floor.
establish cold storage rooms and rent
space to merchants who want It"
Mr.. Koelsch was member of Mayor
Gaynor's market commission. Borough
President Marks's market committee and
other food investigating organizations
lie has made n study OF markets all over
this country and in Europe.
The men I'm Washington Market are
complaining bitterly of the rents that
the city will ask for stalls In the re-
built market. Rents In the old market
amounted to $4,000 a year. and the city
lost $4,000 last year at that. The new
rates will It Is expected bring in $4,000.
The rec instruction work without the mez-
canine floor will cost $4,000 The city
is also figuring on getting returns Tor
cost Of maintenance and taxes lost be-
cause the market is not included in city
ratables The site is said to be worth
5000. 600.
one man said Yesterday that unless
the city comes down one-third In its rent
charges one-third Of the marketmen VIII
he obliged TO move out.
Issues Market Invitation.
Al the meeting Of the Board OF Alder
mon Yesterday borough President Marks
said that since the recess four open mar
kets have been established and there is
now pending "A resolution before the board
to legalize the sites. He invited all the
Aldermen and their families TO make a
tour Of the markets next saturday. lie
suggested that the women take their mar.
ket baskets with them The Mayors OF
Philadelphia and Baltimore have been in
vitcd to go on the trip. The party VIII
leave the greensboro Bridge market al 3
o'clock
Mr.. Marks received yesterday the fol-
lowing letter from oscar 5. Straus
ION my return from Europe | observed
that you were engaged in what regard
! as a most important piece OF work, Tree
| markets am glad you have taken hold
| Of this subject. II Is a great one II IS
| practical one, and most directly eUlCaClous
| for cheapening the cost OF living
THAT you will meet with some opposi-
| ton is natural No good cause ever failed
| in doing that. because you are bound IN
| strike some vested interest But where
| one il injured tens OF thousands Will he
| benefited | write you these lines simply
to let you know how highly your work IA
being appreciated and TO give you my full
| est encouragement. ! regard this as the
| real thing Put every bit OF magnificent
| energy In H. Don't let up for moment
| Keep the iron hot and keep on striking
NJ. +. Tlley Of Gil West l56th street
| has written to Mr.. Marks that he Is ahl"
| to reduce his hill 95 per cent. at the Fort
| Lee Ferry market. There is no more I'M
| portant movement In New York to-day
| than this movement, in my opinion ne
said.
Produce was most plentiful in farmers
wagons at the open markets yesterday ana
prices were as follows:
| Potatoes, So to 90 cents bushel eel
| cry, g. q and cents a bunch beans,
| cents a quart carrots, three punches for
| s cents: radishcs, 3 lunches for cents
| lettuce cents a head knob celery '
| cents bunch; egg plants three for 10
| cents green corn, "a cents dozen cnh'
| hagcs to cents a head squash. two tor
! ; cents pumpkins, 10 to Is cents on'h
| red cabbage, g cents a head pickles, 20
| To GO cents "A huuded tomatoes, 10 cents
| a crate.