Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-23
TUESDAY. JULY -. 1918.
Why the Diff crcucc

Elsewhere in this issue We PRINT an
interesting story about street markets a
story that gives comprehensive ana
practical comparison of street markets
and prices in the city Of Lancaster. Ia.
and those in the city Of Wilmington.
Delaware We believe our readers will
he very much interested in the prcscnta-
tinn
The fact that stands forth strklnely
and conspicuousy ~ thus story IS that
tho produce markets in Lancaster both
in houses and ut tho curhstonC ire
very much better arc conducted much
more effectively. than arp those ~ our
CITY. Aso, aud of even more Importance
that prices III the Lancaster markets are
very much lower than those that have
long been imposed upon tho people ct
Wilmington In all articles thcrr u
difference IN favor cf Lancaster. tn
the average it may ~ said there IS d'i-
ference of about 81 per cent. Lancaster
profitlng hy the comparison.
Thu. story IS not based on rImor or
g,,essworl 1t was written by member
Of Evrry Evenings st At! who has long
been thoroughly convcrsant with Condl-
tIons IN the Wilmington street markets,
as = result Of personal Investigations
markctday after markctdav, for about
Two wears Reing thus wcl-informcd as
10 conditions here. Ec was able to make
intelligent and comprehensive onmpan-
sons of local conditions with those nc
found 10 prevail IN Lancaster
We advice al our readers who have
an interest IN the cost of living 70 rad
this article. caref uily and comprchcndlnR-
" We are sure that after such reading
thcv viii unite with us IN the pertinent
,nq1uTy Why the difference
Both clttre arr about on all-fours IN
respect Of the general conditions that 90
- constitute good markets for the saic
~ farm produce bv direct negotiations
between producer and buyer Lancaster
is in the centre Of fine farming country
where all kinds Of produce arc raised
with good results 50 Is Wilmington.
In respect Of priocs. therefore. the two
cities should be on about even terms
Vet prices IN the Lancaster street markets
are markedly lower than those charged IN
the Wilmington markets
But il is held by those most lmTnc-
diately concerned that the lower pnces
charged in the Lancaster street markets
arr sufficient and satisfying 10 those vino
sell there The farmers who attend those
markets wore questioned. and they sand
they found their selling priocs profitable.
Should not similar rates, therefore, he
sufficient and satisfying to those VIII
sell IN our local street markets 1t would
seem So Yet Wilmington people have to
pay on an average 40 per cent more for
tiseir farm produce than the people OF
Lancaster have TO pay
There IL only one conclusion TO he
reached from a consideration Of the sub
,ect, such a consi deration as IS presented
by the story we lay before our readers IN
today's paper The people Of Wilmington
are mIiicted IN high prices Tins has been
proved, time and again, not only by the
quotations, but Ivy the attitude Of many
who sell their produce IN our stree
markets, especially IN their insoient replies
to those customers who venture TO make
protest When j seller IN King street
market openly declares lc would rather
take ms produce back home and feed II
ia the hogs than oons down q cent IN ms
charges, there surely If something rotten
10 the State Of Denmark
How the people Of Wilmington may
solve the problem is not apparent at
tins time We have gwen them some
thing 10 work upon in our comparison
of the markets here and 10 Lancaster,
and the information may serve TO incite
them TO action. City Council has APP
pointed q committee 10 make an inves-
tigati0n into this question and some Others
that concern our people nightly, and
from thus stigatIon much good may
come. Let us hope 50, al least Too
long have the people Of Wilmington been
mulcted in high prices in their street
markets, which, by reason OF prevailing
conditions IN respect Of supply, should be
among the cheapest in this section OF the
country Instead, they lead the van Of
the highest