Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-23
Unusual Crowd and Too Few
Retailers Cause Slight
Confusion.
BUYING In SMALL LOTS \
DlSPLEASES DEALERS
Producer-to- Consumer Trade Gets
Good Start-Purely Retail
Selling Planned.

Washington housewives, Win tneir
market baskets. turned out in such
numbers as to swell the usual throng
of Saturday morning customers at
the Farmer Produce market to nearly
double this morning, but the lack OF
numbers of retailers at the stands
caused some slight confusion.
Although the public was warned in
a statement from George Roberts.
superintendent of markets. yesterday
afternoon that a great portion of the
trade was in wholesale lots. and
housewives clubs of three. with one
should be formed, many of the con-
sumers demanded service in small
quantities.. which found disfavor with
several dealers.
Pilots Party Through Market.
At s o'clock a large party was pilot
ed through the market to the most
suitable stands by Market Master
Fillius. Mr. FIllius took the throngs
through the lanes of producers show
ing just what stands could be relied
upon for retail trade in smaller guam
titles and pointing out those at which
larger quantities were for sale. Com
missioner Brownlow and Clarence E.
Wilson. former food administrator for
the District. were absent on account
OF pressing business. Superintendent
of Markets Roberts was in charge of
the arrangements.
Discussing dissatisfaction evidenced
by number OF housewives. Mr.. Rob-
erts said:
las very few consumers have here
tofore patronized the farmers market.
the sales made there being chiefly in
large quantities, not a sufficient num-
Der of farmers came prepared to sell
Aof
crowd. Or course, the greatest saw
ing can be effected by buying in large
quantities. and for that reason it is adj
visable for families to club together
and buy in that manner. Anything
costs more il bought in very small
Quantities" l..
Retail trade was accommodates at
number Of the stands, but careful
Judgment was required to select the
Plan Gets Good Start.
On the whole. the producer-to-con-
sumner trade received a good start, ac-
cording to officials. Suggestions are
now being made to make the farmers
market purely retail distributing
point, although much opposition is
expected from such farmers who have
been accustomed to bringing in their
lots.
Many of the early shoppers got the
best selections The market opened
at $3.50 O'Clock and before a large
trade was in progress at certain
stands. "
feature of .market-basket" move
ment which was not particularly
reckoned on was the street car as
provision train. This being the pub
lie mode of transportation for thou-
sands OF government clerks, there
were added to the well filed cars this
morning dozens of market baskets
their smiling owners setting them on
the floor to be stepped in, raising
them above the heads of passengers
or threatening the anatomy of the
public in vital spots.
PLANTED" Foot in Basket.
One smiling passenger, who boarded
q eth street car at U and 18th streets.
planted his foot in an empty basket on
entering the car and stood with the
foot in calmly holding to a strap and
reading his morning paper until the
owner OF the receptacle. after tugeine
at IT for some time, regained full nos.
session. In another instance a large.