Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-03

They can easily be operated at Ia
profit. not only by tho rental OF stalls,
but By renting tho big halls that some
OK the buildings contain. over Cen
trail Market. for instance, a 100000
structure. there are two halls used for
night classes, which seat 1000 pupils
and third hall with capacity of
$500. The profits from this part of the
markets used to be much larger than
they are to-day, in the times before
regular theater buildings became 80
numerous. but they still have great pos.
sibilities. Moved by this considera-
ton, private company recently Of
Tered TO take over one OF the markets
pay big rental for tho site. put up a
100000 structure as we'll as a huge
department store. The people of Bal
timore. however. rose up in defense
of their ancestral institutions with
such storm OF protest that the orer
was refused.
The stringent market regulations
have been evolved Though years OF
operation. Back in the records you
Will even and an obsolete rule that
no stall Ia to be rented to anyone
who Ia not thoroughly and uncondi-
tionally n Union man. The reference
is not TO the Industrial Workers of
the world or TO the American Fedora
ton Of Labor That ruling was written
back In the sixties when feeling be-
tween North and South ran high. The
Baltimore markets had a system of
pure-food regulations long before the
Bureau OF Chemistry appeared on the
scene. Controversies ragged over tho
activities OF the sidewalk vcnder in his
relation to the regular merchant. This
was settled by confning the operation
OF sidewalk stalls TO marker days,
and the weeks before Christmas and
Easter Street vendors are not al
lowed to sell fish or crabs within Ave
blocks OF the market. a body OF regu-
lations has grown up around the sys-
tenn that makes an imposing mass OF
law and ordinance.
Like Renting Church Pews.
The respective rights Of the city
and the renter were fought clear up
10 a Maryland court, which held that
the renting OF stall was strictly
analogous to the renting of pew in
q church. and conferred similar limited
rights only. The practice OF sublet-
ting was upheld. however. For n time
the stall privileges for term Of years
were sold at auction. netting enough
money to build the markets with.
Buyers would sometimes sublet at rate
that brought them 10 per cent on their
investment. The general opinion seems
to be that stalls in n municipal mar
ket should only be rented direct to
the bona fide producer or the merchant
no is actually TO use them. When tho
European war Is over. some OF our ex-
turn their attention to the statutes
bearing on the Baltimore markets.
Another problem that comes up is
the shift in real estate tendencies and
the character OF certain districts. Oc-
casionaIl, some old market that was n
fashionable center a century ago is left
high and dry by turn in the tide OF
building. The better class residence
section moves away. Hanover Market,
III years DID, is going through some
thing OF the sort to-day, and 1t has
been found necessary to rent portions
of it's space to wholesalers and dealers.
Whether the marketing system on
large scale can be successfully intro
duced into big cities where ordinary
retailing practice is firmly established
is question The case Of Baltimore
is not typical for obvious reasons. In
the old Maryland city the public mar
ket Is a feature solidly intrenched in
the regard Of the citizen. and furnish
ing the visitor with a unique and pic
turesque spectacle.