The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-30
.DR. BARRETT WANTS
 MARKET, BUT MONEY IS. NOT AVAILABLE
Commission Members Say Ultimately It Will Be Es- tablished-Must Wait
 for Better Conditions

There is no argument about Bir- minghams need for retail produce
 market" says pr. N. A. Barrett presi- dent of the City Commission, but financing the construction. just at pres ent. would be very difficult" Informally the board of city com missioners has discussed the market proposition from time to time. but in" variably proceedings have been halted for lack of money.
 Tt would seem to me that such an institution would demand practically a city block. It should be near railway service, centrally located so as to be easily accessible from all parts of the difficult but to pay for it is another matter. Securing retail produce market for Birmingham ultimately must be undertaken, but it is inadvisable to take definite steps att his time with the city
 heavily loaded financially and facing an adverse bond market. for it Is through bonds that such development
 must be carried through. SHOULD HAVE IT By all means, the city should have such market. and as soon as it is practicable the matter will be taken up officially
 The effect on living costs through such an institution is obvious. for it would mean competition and that would
 mean better prices. It would save much time, too.
 T venture to say that, as things are, strangers and newcomers find no little difficulty in finding the available re- tail produce now, much less having an opportunity for comparisons. '.The proposed market would, when it is established, be one of the city's best assets. I am in favor of such an institution as soon as it is practicable to have it esta blished. Of course, the cost would depend to great extent on the style of the building. In time I believe Bir- minghnm will see such market es- tabIished.o
 J. Ellis Brown, commissioner of pub lie property. says he is evry much in
 
 tral produce market for retail trade, and believes the entire City Commis- sion entertain the same view. 'Other than bond issue" says MT. Brown. "the only feasible way of es- tablishing a. market now would be through the possibility of it's poten- tial. and, later. positive, income pro- ducing such a revenue that interest on loan would be paid and enough money set aside to establish comprehensive sinking fund.
 OWN REVENUES Stall rent and licenses might pro- duce sufficient finances to make the project possible sooner than it would otherwise seem. but unless this source of revenue is practicable, nothing could be seriously considered at the present time.
 Members of the commission have taken up the market idea from time to time, but always have been faced by the money question.
 "A temporary solution for relief
 might be found in securing an area
 where country produce wagons could
 assemble. possibly under a roof. and the
 living cost be relieved somewhat in
 that manner, but for the life of me I cannot at this time see where, when and how the city could raise a suffi- cient fund to seriously take up the creating of a market now. As much as the market is needed. and as desirable Jas such an institution is, there Is noth- ing to do but wait until the slate has been somewhat cleared and until the financial condition of the city and coun- ty is relieved from the present situa- tion."