The labor world., 1922-09-23
.LOWER:REN1|' AIS
AID IN SECURING
< RE:UC'ED { i PRICES p | /
Strict Regulation Prevents
G9uging; Saves $1,000.

Assuming that the proper conduct
of the food business is matter of
public interest, cities that have op-
Grated public markets, such as Min
neapolis will build If the council au-
thorizes appropriations Friday, have
been able torsupply clean, handsome
and useful market space to retailers
at price so cheap that the reduc-
ton of rent cost is reflected in the
price of food products, reports on
marketing conditions show. .
Retailers, especially the small gro
Ger and butcher, have found them
selves generally in a more favorable
position with a public market than
without, and they have come to be
boosters for the plan. .~
Cleveland Market Big Success.
Cities usually enter the refrigera-
ton business along with the market
ing business and supply storage ia
cilities for its market tenants.
Alderman John Peterson, chair
man of the council committee on
markets and harbors. said that the
best example of the public market
which he knows of is in Cleveland.
A detailed description of the Cleve-
land system is given below: >.
Cleveland has three municipal
markets, but it i9 the newer West
side markets, costing $750,000, that
Alderman Peterson believes should
be guide for Minneapolis in its
market project. He finds that the
market, in addition to being self
supporting, contributes $4,000 q
year to allied. departments.
The market building is of hand
some. construction done in faced
brick, and is surmounted by an orna :
mental tower. The interior is' done
in white tile, is easily flushed, and
equipped with elaborate refrigera-
ton facilities.
Can Store Provisions.
Residents of the city have the
privilege of storing their winter ap-
pies, potatoes. fruit and other pro-
visions. even fresh meats, there at a
nominal cost, if they so wish.
The market building contains nine
fish stands, and 106 general stands
where all lines of food are sold. The
city charges only from $3.50 to
$3.50 a month for rental of these
stands, and furnishes light, heat and
refrigeration also. The city charges
for each of 108 outside vegeta bic
stands only from $5.25 to 1926 a
month. Contracts are made for three
months period, and rent must be
paid in advance.
The city reserves the right to ter
inmate contracts with tenants at any
time,7 and uses this privilege as q
weapon to discipline profiteers. So
priced is the privilege of doing busi-
ness in the Cleveland public markets
that the commissioner of market
does not have to discipline many
malfactors, it is reported. Three
fourths Of the food business of the
city is done in the public markets,
it. is cla,imed.7 One small stand some
times does a $1,000 business day.
Regular Market Days.
Four days week are set aside
for marketing. Housewives readily
accustom themselves to this market
ing schedule. They take their tas-
kets and go to market regularly: No
deliveries are made from the mar
ket because Cleveland officials want
to give no retailer an excuse for
boosting prices.
The markets in Cleveland are ad-
ministered by a commission of mar.
kets and four superintendents.. !.
It is the plan Of Alderman Peter
son, backed by other members of the
Minneapolis committee, to stand fol
the central and branch market plans
They point out that no obstacle
stands in the way of appropriatinl
$1,000,000 for the new market but
18 council votes. but they wish to
begin humbly and thoroughly, they
say, with branch community mar
ket, and work up to an elaborate
system. - -.
=. They wish to acquire a central
site, in a downtown district, and sew:
eraI sites in outlying districts.
In addition to furnishing the ser.
vice that the Cleveland market fur
Enishes they want the city to become
a retailer. and a distributing agent