The Washington times., 1914-03-22


te given.
Proof of these statements is flu
Hished BY Commissioner F. L. Sit
dons and by W. c. Haskell, Supe
irtendent of Weights, Measure
and Markets, in this article.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
When the lower house of Congress
ut from the District appropriat ons,
the ground of economy, an item
Of sl25,0O0 for the construction of a
new fish wharf and market, it defeat
cd its own purpose and deprived
Washington of one of its most need
I'd improvements.
The item was restored by the Sem
ite Appropriation Committee. and
every effort will be made by friends
Of the District to have the House
Hpprove the project.
Dilapidated buildings with leaky
oots, rickety wharves, by which the
district already narrowly escaped
one damage suit; oyster boats lined
up four or five deep because they
Cannot find wharf room; a stencil
hat bears continuous testimony of
improper drainage-these are the
strongest proofs OF the urgent need
Or modern conveniences to the hum
dreds of oyster, fish, and produce
voats that bring their wares here.
Affects Living Cost.
More than that, the poor facilities
ior discharging cargoes here is
known to divert scores of fishermen,
oystermen, and produce men, to other
markets If these men were pro-
Nided with adequate facilities, the
capital would be relieved of the
scarcity of the products which is a
potent factor in the high cost of
living.
Il cannot urge too strongly the
necessity for a new fish market and
wharf" said Commissioner Siddons.r
Il only have to point to the report
by W. c. Haskell Of the first years
operation of the market under mu-
nicipal jurisdiction to show the pos
sibilities there.
We feel that an inspection Of
present conditions, though the
vharyes and buildings are kept as
clean as possible. in view of their
state Of repair, would impress upon
anyone the force of our arguments"
A walk over the premises, piloted
by Colonel Haskell. disclosed the i'm
provement over conditions a year
ago. despite the handicaps of totter-
ing buildings and woefully made
euate dock ng facilities
Inadequate Storage.
One large fish dealer is compelled
10 do business in skeleton of an
old shed. where patches of sky can
be seen throuS the roof. Ere
quentIy the fresh rain water has
rUined hundreds of dollars worth of
hsh and salt stored there.
ShuCFcrs by the score ply their
rade 81 patched up benches Of wood
hat absorb the seepaSe and can
not be thoroughly cleaned. Shaky
NDOrs cover up the refuse of fish
utting of forty years. oyster boats
IRE lined up side by side, and when
ne owner Of the outer boat makes "A
sale he must carry his oysters over
four or five other boats TO reach the
wharf
Boats are held four or five days,
and sometimes d week, to unload,
and the conSignees must pay the
boat owners a toll wh Ch would so
Ia the markets income were there
provision for storage. Al low tide
boats which wedged up to the wharf
1t high tide are left high and dry,
ind last year one boat tipped over.
destroying an entire cargo of
melons.
Would Increase Revenue
Put with such handicars, Colonel
Haskell and Market Master Noyes.
"a the year nee the District took
over control of the wharVes. have
dOae all they could to improve Sani-
tary conditions and add TO the con-
yenlCnCe of the boat men. For TIE
Hrst year they Were able to report
rc.enue of SIC J29 % in doCkaEe,
storage and rental fees. This amOunt
wOU.G have been materially iHcreas-
90 had not the severe cold spell pre-
vented any oyster boats from land
ing for twenty-1our Gays last month.
"With modern Improvements and
Increased water depth. ! DO not hesi-
tate 70 place the estimates OF reve-
nu" from this market at sli, 500 to
!l5.Oo0. or IL per cent to S per cent
net on the investment for contem-
Mated improvements" Colonel Has
keli states in h $ report to the Com
misstOners. submitted this week.
These are conservative figures"
ne explained TO The Times repre-
sentative, FOR I wish to be able TO
make good my claim. ! only pre-
dict+d an $500 reyenue for our first
wear. and the income exceeded that
figure by 5000. Ny private opinion
Is that the first year of operation
of new wharf would run close to
a31.GtG''
Encouragement To Farmers.
Not only would the District reve-
nue. be increased Colonel uasleu
asserted. but the greater shipments
here would materially lower the
Trices Of oysters. fish, melons. pota-
toes. and tomatoes.
This new wharf will be the great
est possible encourag cement To- farm
LADIES' CAPITAL
~ HAT SHOP