The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-20
CITY MARKETS FIGHT
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Aim OF Municipality tn Bring Pro-
duccr and Consumer To-
gethcr.
CUT OUT MIDDLE MANS PROFIT
City Has 100000 Invested in Mod
crn Market Buildings for Use of
Those Raising Produce in Sur
rounding Counties.


taken 10y the muncipality to Keep the
prices Within reach of tho poorest
househ older. at the same time conscrv-
ing the quality OF the foodstufrs. and
protecting the consumer from the
tricks Of the INSCRIPTIONS dealer.
II. it's proximity to markets. Rich
mond is blessed in many ways. II is
surrounded by many large trucking
counties, while its excellent railroad
and wafer facilities bring ii into close
touch with the food centres of the
North the East and the South Under
existing conditions. IL is not unexpected
that the food prices are reasonable. the
supply abundant and the quality uu-
$urpasSed. ia spite OF the restrictions
ana precautions with which the city
guards the purity. and regulates the
sale OF pcrishahlc goods within its Dor
dcrs
Ia dealing with the subject OF foods
the staple groceries are not considered.
as the source of supply Is practically
the sam" ia every city in the country.
This article viii deal. then, with the
green goods market particularly. The
nonpcrishahlc goods vary little in
price or in quantity. II is the fresh
vegetables. butter. eggs and fresh
meats that concern the housewife gen
orally. and it is over the sale of these
articles that the city fathers have
thrown the greater precautions.
HOW CITY AIDS IN FIGHTING
HIGH COST OF LIVING
To tho consumer there are several
sources OF food supply. the chief OF
which Is the corner grocery To sup
plcmcnt these useful little businesses:
there al" the huCks;ers. with daily
routes tho farmer selling his own pro
ouce !rom door ia door and lastly the
city markets. municipality owned ANA
controlled
The city 81 Richmond owns two of
tbcse central markets. These markets
are institutions. tho first occupying a
site donated as carly rs the year 1850
rho other site WAS purchased 10y the
. city in lS25. The property. exclusive
OF the buildings. is worth more than
100000. while the total Investment will
exceed 100000.
The First Marker is at Seventeenth
aud Main streets New buildings have
just hccu erected on the site a, q
cost of Ste,ooo. This ground was
dedicated t" tho city lao years ago.
auu has been used as market site
ever sine" that cate. II has IL front
"a" 81 forty-two feet on Main Street,
and the two parcels of ground haze a
co'nhincd depth OF 535 feet.
The Second Market is also composed
Of two buildings The first and
lurscst structure. is :, combined mar
~
l"o' at Il cost of Si55. 900. The secoui
building, used rs :: meat market, cost
SlS,e"c. The first site is l:4xl65 feet.
and the second GsNlio feet.
IN addition to the building. certain
streets and alleys in their vicinities are
designated MS market places
STRICT SUPERVISION
OVER CITY MARKETS
over these markets the strictcst SUI
pcrvision is maintained. Each market
has Il cVlenli. who exercises authority
over his particular Jurisdiction, and
Doth places are under the direct con
ioi OF the Administrative Board
In the markets are stall and spaces
which are rented out to regular NOR
chants ut prices ranging from SIC to
$40 Il month The yearly revenue FROM
these buildings is $1,000 or slightly
moro than per cent on the total i'm
NcStmcnt The advantage of such a
place Is that it affords a central point
Tor farmers and dealers. and gives the
people chance to get practically
everything needed for the table under
one ROOF.
The clerks Of the market are re-
Quir"d - see Than the stalls arc kept
clean and in a sanitary condition. They
arc also required carefully to examine
all articles OF food offered for sale ana
promptly 10 notify the Chief Health
officer 81 any violations of the City
cod" III regard 10 the purity Of food
stums Weights. scales and measures
must also be eNamlncd by the. city
scalcr OF weights and measureSs. in or
der to protect patrons frt,m being
victimizcd
~ addition to the stalls wagon SPACE
- also rented out at a minimum price
Of 10 cents day, which covers the
COSY OF keeping ;he stands in II SAM
tarN condition. y farmer is required
10 rcpur, to the clerk, and his goods
arc examined before he can begin to
sell Regular market hours are pre-
scribcd Tor The use of stall and stands
GREEN VEGETABLES FROM
SURROUNDING COUNTIES
Most OF the articles offered for sale
In the markets are grown within "a
radius of twenty-five miles of Rich
mond. the larger part coming from
licnrico and Hanover Counties. 1t is
brought 10 the city 10y the farmers who
either set up their wagons and sell
their produce themselves. or dispose Of
ii in bulk to the more pretentious
dealers
Some OF these farmers have been
bringing their goods TO town for years,
and have regular routes over which
ihcy go. but many OF these daily hucS
sters buy their wares on the market.
and dispose of il by door 10 door can
Nass \ license is required for this
form OF pcddlne
II would hc supposed from the near
ness OF the trucking country that most
OF the staple vegetables would be
grown there. This is not true, how
ever, as practically all of the potatoe 5
and onions como from the North, while
the cabbages are shipped In large
Quantities from Southwest Virginia
Fruits, with the exception OF peaches
and apples. come generally from New
York state
Meats sold here are for the mos, part
from the west; Few beef cattle are
MS