The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
TIE CURB MARQET AGAIN.
N Citizens Views Regarding Sumtcr's
Curb Market Proposition.

N SitiZcnS views Regarding Sumtcr's
Curb Market Proposition.
Editor Daily Item:
have noticed with considerable in
terest your recent articles regarding
the license eXacted from the farmers
or sumter county bringing their pro-
duce to the city and offering it for
sale on the Curb Market, and I will
appreciate ii very highly if you will
allow me space in your valuable col
umns to set forth my views.
AS / understand it, the bono of
contention seems to lie solely on the
sale OF meats. For instance. Mr..
Rrown Of Sumter County raises his
cattle, slaughters at home and brings
the meat into the city for sale to the
public ut an honest price and with
an honest weight. Because Mr.. Brown
happens to have raised the particular
meat he is Offering for sale he is re-
CURED to pay absolutely no license:
therefore. every dollar he makes is
clear profit,-which to my mind is
only right and fair; BUT, for instance
Mr.. Jones, also of Sumter County,
whom the recent disastruous times
has affected more seriously perhaps
than Mr.. Brown, and who unfortu-
nately was not able to raise all Of his
cattle last year. buys q few head Of
cattle from Mr.. Brown, returns home.
slaughters, and then brings his meat
into the curb market, is compelled to
pay to the city n tax Of 500 each
market da..--in other words $1,000
per month or $4,000 per yatr,-- al .r~
ply because il $50 happens that nc
personally did npt raise the cattle.
Does this seem reasonable and fair to
you, Mr.. Editor? l am confident it
does not. And can you not forsee
what the result is going to be to the
community, and particularly to those
who have been patronizing the curb
market sellers? That Mr.. Jones is
going to be compelled to give up the
selling Of meats along with those in
n similar position, and in the mean
time, Mr. Brown and his kindred
more fortunate brethren are going to
sell just that much more. Another
case OF more to those who already
have'-and less to the poorer. And
eventually, our good old time curb
market will be a thing Of the past,
simply because we are now enjoying
good, pure fresh meat with our hon
est weights and at prices within our
reach, which apparently is not ap-
pct.zing To some of the local butch
crs.
In conclusion. it occurs to me- Mr..
Editor, that the city officials should
give this matter more than passing
thought, for after all it is to their in
tcrcst equally as much as to mine to
see to it (and particularly in these alb
normal timcs) that the public is af-
fordcd every possible opportunity TO
secure their foodstuffs at prices that
are as reasonable as possible, and
help as far as in their power lies to
reduce the present high cost of !iv-
ing in our community.
respectfully submit this, Mr.. Ed
itOr, sincerely trusting IL will roo ~,
the eyes Of those in charge and tend
to make them reconsider their decis-
ION in the market and help To keep
tho curb market living, not to kill
it as their present plan of procedure
viii undoubtedly do for | feel We al
or nearly al of us actually feel th5
need of il.
| Thanking YOU FOR the space, ! am,
Very respectfully yours,
"CITIZE\ ~.