The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-16
Prunes Sell Out in Fifteen
Minutes, Proving Most Pop
uIar Item on Menu.
CHOW LINE SUCCESS
City Fathers Aid in Sale of
Food-Commissioner Wass.
man Pleased.
(BY JAMES MAssEy1

odT'odu OF army
II food was sold at the markethouse thi,
morning in exactly forty five min
utes.
II Housewives armed with bz.kst.
literally beseiged the front entrance
and ordered everything In sight. Al
the beginning it was found that the
II foree secured by Commissioner Wass.
man was entirely too small to wal,
on the trade, and S. o. S. call was
sent out to which a score of voIun
teers answered.
Contrary to all rules. prunes were
Il sold out first, while canned tomatoes
n ana evaporated peaches ran a close
Il second. karo syrup was also sold out
soon after the opening.
1t was estimated that fully 1000
people assembled in front of the
markethouse long before o'clock. A
majority of this number were house
wives and when the sale was an
nounced ready, there was a literal
fush toward the counters on which
the goods were placed.
1t was during this rush that large
amount or the goods were stolen, it
man stated after the sale that it was
evident considerable of the groceries
were taken, but that it would be i'm
possible to determine just how much
until a check was made.
Wassman Pleased.
So well pleased was Commissioner
Wassman with the results this morn
that he announced to the crowd that
! two more cars would probably be Or
dered this week. The crowd evidenced
their approval of this by applause
md cheers.
The 100 cases of bacon ordered by
he city will be placed on sale on
Wednesday at the markethouse,
Commissioner Wassman said.
Many people desiring to make pur-
chases deplored the lack of system
Employed in selling the articles. In
stead of the people lining up and
oassing through placing their orders,
/ rush was made from all sides and
whatever system was used was soon
# no avail. 1t was during this rush
/ tiat much of the groceries were ap-
ropriated.
Commissioner Wxssman states,
however, that he thinks the loss not
very great and that different meth
DDS will be used should the city sell
1 more of the food
II am unusually well pleased with
i. the sale" said the commissioner,
! and the quickness of the sale is evil
dcnce that the Chattanooga house,
wife is alert to all possibilities with
which to combat the high cost of
living. If we had known 1T would
have been sold out so quickly we
would undoubtedly have purchased
additional cars of the food; we had
no idea it would go in forty five min
ntos. l expect, however, after talk
ing it over with the mayor, to order
sIrobably two more cars this week
and will have the sale here"
Many Assistants.
Assisting Commissioner Wassman
in the sale was Commissioner Frazier,
who was handing out groceries much
. like an experienced grocery clerk.
Willard Springfield also volunteered
his services and with coat off and
sleeves rolled up. was at work. DIR.
/ T. S. McCallie was another tempo
rary CLERK" handling the prune
sales. and so great was his ability to
sell that he announced sold out" in
a little over fifteen minutes. City
Judge Martin Fleming was also on
hand and lent all assistance possible.
Ladies, after they made their pur-
chases, experienced difficulty in get
ting their articles home. They were
carrying baskets loaded to the handle
and boxes packed full and street cars
. looked like freight carriers. Auto
mobiles crowded both sides of the
space along the markethouse and
Georgia avenue was congested at
. ines, despite the efforts of the po-
!. lice to keep the crowds moving.
General satisfaction was expressed
II around. The only complaint heard
was from those who were unfortunate
IN not securing any of the food. Fully
sone-third of the crowd was turned
fnWaE with baskets empty.
Others assisting in the sale were
Chief W. H. Hackett, Erin Conley
n ioorge d. Demos, Frank Kalanzis,
Foe Paradise, C. r. George, Clyde
Fiarrett and T. F. Mahoney.
A price list was completed Monday |
q fternoon by Commissioner Wass
srlan. Including all commodities Of |
sfored for sale, except the bacon, it is
sas folIowss :
u, i a. 80
'iSe, - CduS O.fo |
Asparagus.
totI
Ease, "a cans ........... 5.2S
Baked Beans.
i can .''.-....'''.'.......'...''.'. II
Ease, "a cans .................2 2.64 |
n String Beans.
teilI IL (
iaSe, "a cans ..................2 2.64 I
a Sweet Corn.
Ease, "a cans ..................2 2.64
ii Baking Powder.
Can ''''.'''''''.' '.'.......... IL
Ease, "a cans ..................'2 '2.64
II Navy Beans.
llIS. t.4U
~ IDS. ...s.....,. 81
Tomatoes.
CtiH, 4NO' III