The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-29
CITY MARKET IMPROVES

CITY MARKET IMPROVES
 Though it has been in operation only a short while, the open market estab- nsned as an adjunct to the municipal market is aiding the latter by the in- creased patronage. About twenty-five farmers and truck growers a day are bringing their products to the open mar Ret. The promptness with which they dispose of their wares demonstrates the public demand for them. The number of patrons is steadily increasing, and the municipal market receives substantial part of the additional trade. As one re- suit of the establishment of the curb market, five new tenants have been signed up by the municipal market, and its space is expected to have an increas- ing demand
 The open market gives to housekeepers and other purchasers of trucking prod ucts opportunities to obtain fresh stuff at reasonable prices, while offering pleasing variety. It encourages the prac- tice of going to market, which in itself IS an advantage to buyer, as we'll as to seller. There is no reason why Birming- hams marketing venture should not sue ceed by virtue of a real service to the people. It will succeed under proper management. The city government of Memphis and some of the representative farmers of the adjacent region, got to- gether four years ago and worked out a plan for a curb market which has de- veloped into an important enterprise, dis posing of more than three hundred thou sand dollars worth of products year. During the first year eighty farmers reg ularly sold produce on this market, talk ing in an average from six to eight dol lars on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from ten to twelve dollars on Saturdays. Now the average is from ten to fifteen dollars on week days and from twenty to twenty five dollars on Saturdays, while it is not unusual for some of the farmers to dis pose of hundred dollars worth of stuff in day. So rapidly did this curb mar ket grow that the city of Memphis pur- chased a large lot and constructed a building at each end at a cost of eigh- teen thousand dollars. Rentals from these buildings yield five thousand dol lars a year.
 writer relating the methods em- ployed and results obtained from the project says: "The city employs train ed agricultural and market man as su- perintendent, who assists the farmers in every way possible. His chief duty is to serve more or less as an extension man, giving the growers detailed infor- nation as to what kind of fruits and produce to grow, how to grow it, how to harvest, grade and put on the market in the most attractive form. It is the experience of the officials of the Memphis market that the consumption per capita of vegetables and fruits has increased to such an extent that the re- tail produce stores have not been hurt in the least. A wide variety of pro- duce is offered, many of the farmers wives bringing in butter, flowers, fancy work, cakes, pies and things of that kind. In the winter a great deal of sausage, spare-ribs and other fresh meats are sold. The growth of this market and the success it has attained illustrates how any city or town and the surround ing territory can cooperate to mutual advantage"
 Thus it is shown how a project of this kind, when properly managed, can be a public benefit, not only offering the peo- pie of the city advantages in obtaining food products under favorable conditions, but affording producers in neighboring territory opportunities to build up prof itable business enterprises and to en- large the> field of employment. Bir- mingham offers inviting opportunities for progressive farmers and truck grow CTS for miles around through steadily increasing market for food products. What Memphis, Knoxville, Norfolk and other Southern cities have accomplished in this field can be done in Birming- ham with even larger and more accept able results. Neither the municipal mar ket nor the curb market is designed to make money directly for the city govern ment. The function of both is to serve the people. The benefits obtained in that service may widely offset any small tenn pOrary losses to the municipality. The city is not in the speculative business. Its function and duty is to serve it's people.