Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-13
SUGGEST CITY OWNERSHIP
OF PRODUCE WAREHOUSES;
Idea Said to BE Widely Favored
Among Commission Merchants
Of Richmond.
MARKET NOW is INADEQUATE
Proposed That Fund BE Estab-
lishcd, by Bond Issue or Other
wise, for Purchase of Property
in Wholesale District.

housing commission firms is a plan
which probably Viii he given serious
consideration IN the coming year
ly among the commission merchants
and Will have their Endorsement
when tho scheme takes definite
form 1t will supply them with bet
ter facilities for handling goods and
greater capacity FOR tho transient
stocks in which they deal.
The present market IS declared TO
be entirely Inadequate. and IL is adj
mittcd unsanltary. For many years
the commission men have cndcavorcd
TO improve conditions. but have met
with no success.
II has been proposed that the city
establish fund. 10y bond issue or
other means, tor the purchase OF
property convenient 10 the wholesale
and tho construction OF simple CON
crete buildings OF two or more
stories. These structures should be
OF substantial type, to stand long
installations. that they may be
cleaned frequently and easily by i
hose. Large sliding steel doors. per-
uniting wide entrances. after the or
der OF freight depctS have been SuS
EcStcd.
Suggest LonS-Tcrm Leases.
Such buildings as these could he
readily rented for long-term leases
source Of ncomc and simultaneously
aTordinE the commission merchants
with better quarters. Because OF the
national financial situation at the
present moment, the time is not now
Dropitious for bond issue. in the
opinion OF business men. but il is
said that efforts will be made to
evolve a scheme of financing such n
proposition with municipal backing.
The clean handling of food is an
important phase of the business Of
amy community. The commission
merchants here have employed every
available means to this end. and the
prevailing conditions are the result
only OF inadequate facilities brought
aeou; by circumstance. Shipments
which cannot be accommodated in
crowded buildings are piled high on
the sidewalks and accumulate the
dust from the street. Frequently
goods left for any considerable time
IN this state are spotted and spoiled
by the heat of the sun. this being
common occurrence in summer. Ii
is often necessary for late shipments
10 hc carried overnight and these
suffer materially from the attacks of
rats. Not only are the conditions I'M
satisfactory 10 the merchants from a
sanitary standpoint but they cause
an annual loss OF no small conse-
qucncc.
Anticipate BiS business.
Recently the Cary Street wholesale
market was Sluttcd with produce
and the need for greater space and
better equipment was kcenly felt.
The slump on the market. however,
was temporary, and farmers have
Withheld their shipments sufficiently
10 permit AN absorption Of existing
stun. which has checked the decline
In prices and stcadicd the market
generally. Cary Street is anticipat-
ing heavy business for Christmas
ard the holidays.
II IS likely that ms soon as definite
plans toward the suggested improve
ments are formulated, several infiu-
entail organizations here will be re-
quoSted TO support the movement for
municipal ownership Of the commits
sion house buildings. The city has
owned its retail! markets for many
years Ii would be impracticablc. it
IS said. 10 conduct the wholesale
market after the plan OF one large
building. divided into stalls. because
OF the enormous volume OF produce
business transacted and the system
or its distribution. hut a group Of
individual buildings is generally ad-
rocatcd