Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-25
MRS. WILLIAM E. LlNeELsAcH
On Market Conditions In Philadelphia

MRS. WILLIAM L. LINGELBACH, n
lVl member of the former market commits
sion and one of group OF women who
visited the Mayor Wednesday morning ask
ing that another commission be appointed,
expresses her opinion as to why this step is
necessary.
THE improvement of market conditions,
declares Mrs. Lingelbach, "is one Of the most
important problems before Philadelphia to-
day, and one in which women are particu-
larly interested
THE present methods of handling food
are antiquated, insanitary and wasteful. 1t
Is women for the most part who purchase
and prepare food, who care for the health
of the household and try to make the family
purse 60 as far as possible.
When cities were smaller the farmers
markets could supply them with produce. as
is still done in many small towns today
But with the growth of great urban popu-
lations such markets became more and more
inadequate and were crowded out. Trans
portation companies and middlemen gradu-
ally filled in the ever increasing distance
between the producer and the consumer.
Little Conscious Planning
1T followed as a matter of course that
chance conditions often determined lines OF
development. Conscious planning for better
things has been conspicuousy absent.
they are loath to interfere with personal
initiative or established business, even when
great community interest is at stake.
Food that Is dear in price or poor in
quality may be grumbled over, but is only
too often accepted as a necessary evil OF
city life.
city planning includes properly planned and
administered markets, and has proved that
these could be self sustaining.
1T is said that Paris was receiving be-
fore the great war 81 900 900 in profits from
her municipal markets. The Halles Cen
trales are more than 100 years old, having
been begun by Napoleon !. but they maintain
n remarkably clean, rigid system of inspec-
ton. London has also been successful in
running her municipal market enterprises
at a profit.
that of Munich, opened in 1912. 1t has four
communicating iron halls, each for separate
sections OF produce, with cellar below cor
respondingly distinct Nine hydraulic lifts
are in operation, while each stand owner
has a small lift connecting his stand with
the storage cellar. Every stand has run
ming water, all floors are concrete and all
fittings have to be secured every day. The
roof, side lights and entrances are all wind
screened.
Rapid Transportation Need
From all sources the evidence is con,
vincing that rapid and cheap transportation
service, as nearly as possible direct from
the producer to the wholesale market, is Of
the greatest importance. Philadelphia has
a position as a railroad center in the heart
of highly productive region that should
offer exceptional market facilities. Yet IL
IL said to have fifth rank among those on the
eastern seaboard TO which producers prefer
to send goods. Transportation of produce
from the surrounding country Is as slow and
as uncertain as market conditions are un-
satisfactory in the city itself
THE wholesale market at Thirtieth and
Market streets was built in 1883. The city
has doubled in size since then. and yet sim
pie sheds only are provided About 120 car
loads n day are brought here for distribu.
tion-produce from California, Colorado.
Porto Rico. even from Spain, az well as
from New York Virginia and the neighbor-
ing counties Of Pennsylvania,
Here in the early morning the produce
il sold to wholesalers as well as to buyers
from the chain stores. Perhaps $50 wagons,
sometimes 500 in the height of the season,
wait from midnight to get their place in Inc
at the one exit from this market. Then the
greater part of the goods are hauled to Front
and Dock streets to be sold again and dis.
tributed to various parts Of the city The
cold storage system at Thirtieth and Market
streets is disgracefully inadequate and in
sanitary. The one poor little switch line
ran rarely be depended upon ana most ~
the goods are carried In by hand.
Dock Street Facilities Poor
THE provision for the care of fruit nnd
vegetables at Front Nnl Dock Strccts m an,
sC0rcely more than dOor or sidewalk sparc
certainly mono ~ the up-to date sanitary