Evening star., 1915-12-08

70 tdke SuCH action as may from time
to time be desirable and not in contra
vention of law or the rights in equity
of citizens. to insure to the city regu-
lar supply of good food products at the
lowest; possible cost; (2) to keep care
full watch over all apparatus used in
the measurement of weights. dimen-
sions. volumes or densities in CONNER
I clal transactions, to insure that they
give proper measurements; (3) to op-
crate III the impartial interests of the
: whole public the municipality owned
public wharycs.
Wholesale Market District.
The greatest savings to be made for
the consumers of the District are to be
gained through better organization of
the. wholesale markets. The wholesale
district is now badly located, being
isolated from either railway OF water
transportation facilities. A location is
available which combines these ad-
| vantages with good trolley connection,
on land which is at present unutilized.
At the water gateway to this site this
department is now erecting suitable
wharves and a modern terminal mar
| ket building for products coming in
over the water route, as the first step
toward the removal of the wholesale
/ business to this vastly superior loca-
ton. This new market will establish
direct connection. through refriger-
ated rooms. between railroads, wharves
and trolleys. 1t will contain enough
facilities for refrigeration and storage
to demonstrate the advantages of ad-
vanced methods along these lines. 1t
also assures the wholesale trade per-
manency of access to the water at this
, point.
The Hucksters.
Serious waste of food products, re-
sulting in ultimately higher prices to
consumers and serious hardship to the
established trade, and also many in
fractions of law are now resulting
from the irregular. unorganized and
uncomfortable activities of hucksters
The huckster has thus far been exempt
from most of the checks and regula-
tion3 that control the established re-
tail trade, and this unwarranted eX-
emption has resulted in much abuse
Legislation should be secured which
VIII place the hucksters on exactly the
same standing as the retail grocer
Such legislation will benefit the better
, class OF hucksters and eliminate those
whose methods are dishonest or waste
ful. There is no justification for their
present exemption from the regula-
tions enforced upon their competitors.
The Municipal Markets.
The Georgetown market is badly sit
uated for retail purposes. and should
be traT -formed into a wholesale re-
ceiving station and market for the han
ding of produce from Virginia and
Maryland by trolley freight. The East
ern and Western markets are doing a
very satisfactory business and the vol
ume of products distributed through
these markets has been substantially
increased. Both markets are handicap
ped by lack of adequate funds for
maintenance and repair. Conditions at
the Haskell produce market are most
excellent. New market shelters re-
Gently erected at that point are al
ready overcrowded and an appropria-
tion for additional shelters is needed.
Fish Wharf and Market.
At every stage since the District
took possession of it this market has
exceeded expectations. Although build
ing operations have necessitated the
permanent closing of several of the
smaller market buildings and the clos
ing of two-thirds of the wharf space
for a period of three months, still
the total volume of business done has
been Increased, the total tonnage of in
coming shipments being greater than
in any previous year. The excellent
showing of this market, despite seri-
ously adverse physical conditions. drew
from Congress in the last two sessions
$235,0O for the construction of ade-
quate wharves and modern m lrket
buildings. This work is now we'll
under way. Besides providing more
adequately for both the wholesale and
retail fish and oyster business at that
point this market will contain all ele-
ments of the most modern terminal
markets for the handling of general
food products, and will be the receiy-
ing point for. all incoming products
from the Potomac valley and other
producing areas marketing to Wash
ington by the water route.
Privately Owned Public Markets.
1t has been the policy to make no
effort to invade the territory of pri-
vateIy owned public markets. SO long as
those markets serve their sections well
and maintain healthy state of COM
petition among their stand holders,
but to give good markets where needed
and where no other public markets
exist. The privately owned public mar
kets are regarded not as competitors
hut as a part OF the general market
system which it is the duty of this
office TO serve All the facilities Of this
department are at their disposal and
their confidence and complete co-opera-
ton are invited at all times.
Financial Summary.
Income from all the District markets
combined amounted to sS1.1S796: ex-
nepses for lighting, hauling refuse re-
pairs to market. fuel. cleaning, sup
niles and salaries amounted to $12,-
g45.IO. showing a net revenue from the
a.a.La4a ar,nlintinP to S18242&6