The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-26
WOMAN FOOD SELLER
ATTACKS MARKSPLAN
Head Of "Mrs. FultOn's Market
Charges Unfair Rivalry
to Open Ones.
Jaw SUSPENDED. SHE SAYS

Mrs Thomas A. Fulton, chairman OF
citizens committee which pays an annual
rental OF 81 500 to the city for space
under the greensboro Bridge west of First
avenue on which II conducts n market.
said yesterday that while not intending
any criticism of the free omen markets
established by Borough presid ant Marks
she is anxious "to call public attention To
what seems little like unfair discrinina-
ton and competition"
Mrs. Fulton's Market" M It is
familiarity known. has been In existence
two years and Is two arches away from
the largest and perhaps the most flourish
ing Of the City's open markets II was.
established as the result of the agitation
Of the Housewives League. Of which Mrs
Fulton is a member. to populnrize che
movement TO bring the producer and con
sumner together
The committee. Of which Mrs Fu,on's
husband was the leading spirit. conceived
the IDEA Of creating a centre for the sale
OF food at the lowest possible prices and
at the same time OF making use of city
waste spaces. An application was mad.
for space under tn" bridge and the city
allotted 5000 square feet 20 the committee
for market purposes.
Expenditure of Thousands.
n was with much difficulty that the
market venture got under way and the
committee found II necessary TO .speud
$1,000 for fixtures and putting In water
pipes TO make the place sanitary. The
committee paid ren. for some time before
10 was able To make any sales. Just rs d;
was about to open a butcher sand the
Board of Health stepped in and insisted
that the sides OF the market should he
enclosed IN accordance with u regulation
forbiddnE the sale Of meats In any open
spaces. Mrs. Fulton, who was bent on
carrying out the cheap markc, idea. in
Guiding meat stands. chccrfully agreed to
obey the official demands
II was then that another city bureau.
the Bridge Department, had It's say, de
Claring that sides to he bridge arches
could not BE- built unless they were o.
hreproof construction Mrs Fulton yielded
10 the inevitable and ordered the work
done The cost was 5000
After the market got under way II
became apparent AZ once that u would
receive generous support from the people
on the East Side. who came for many
blocks 90 trade Mt It's stalls Ns Il was
operated In spirit OF altruism IS profits
we're small and prices therefore were much
lower than the store prices IN the I'M
mediate nelghhorhuod
Mr.. Fulton died when the market was
only a few months old. He mad spent
50 much IN helping the poor by cutting
ont the profits OF the mddlenian that
the business IN order To save the money
that her husband had invested In IT, Hav-
ing worked with him in the venture she
took up. with much energy. plans for
the development of the market. but thus
far has not succeeded IN getting back
the money that was put into the enter
prise.
On September ! last the free open
market was established under the bridge
and men and women who were not obliged
10 pay any rent whatever for the prlvi-
leEe OF using city property al once be-
came business rivals. Naturally Mrs.
Fulton began 70 feel the effects Of the
competition and her trade in Ash and
vegetables. she says. has perceptibly
fallen off. In other lines. she says. her
market is holding It's own
Challenges Price Comparison.
Il want it distinctly understood" said
Mrs Fulton AT her home so Henderson
avenue, New brighton. Staten Island. last
night that 7 have no desire to criticse
Mr., Marks open markets hut | do want
10 range myself on the side of hose who
contend that the free markets Constitute
unfair competition.
ALTHOUGH our meat stand was NJ least
twenty-five feet from the street We were
Informed by the Board OF Health that
we must huld an oncOrVre 20 prevent
action on its part. Now ~ The free mar
arc selling meat nj the Sixticth street
side practically on this sidewalk with
apparently no requirement on the part
~ the Board Of Health as to enclosure
II realize tho fact that each OF the
city departments with whom | had deal
ings had in mind the carrying out OF the
law governing such cases. but I am
puzzled by the apparent suspension OF
tho laws In the case OF the present free
markets
Another point Of difference and SEEM
ing discrimination and suspension OF the
law Ia that at the free markets the city
street Cleaning Department carries away
all garbage and refuse free of charge
20 IN" merchants whereas I'm the case II
me space leased to my committee the
refuse has to he removed by private
wagons at considerable expense. Further
more, II is distinctly against the law fpr
the street Cleaning Department TO re-
move garbage from markets conducted for
private profit.
Regulation Suspension.
apparently when the city gives free
space Il gives everything else that may
he needed. including suspension of regula-
lions. But when the rent Is paid for what
would otherwise he an unused space
thereby bringing direct benefit to the
taxpayers all regulations are in force, no
matter what the expense to the lessee.
n'nN lHAt tht prices NJ the ire"
markets are appreciahly lower than those
in the space for which rent IL paid
challenge a comparison Of prices In the
TWO places. I'm one OF which the sanitary
regulations are not fully enforced no
rental Is paid, garbage removed free OF
charge and no deliveries made In the
other all sanitary regulations are enforced.
rent is paid, garbage removal paid for and
goods delivered with every possible
help and exemption the free markets are
not uoticcably lower in prices"
Mrs. Fulton insisted that in fairness 20
those who are obliged to pay rent for the
use OF city waste spaces and taxpayers
generally all SHAREHOLDERS in the city \
"oneu' markets should he compelled "a
pay rental charge for their privileges
SEES DODGE BROS CAR.
w, l.. Colt EnthusInstic Over Auto-