Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-03
Officials Hope to Reduce the
Farmers Space, Now on
Revenue Office Site.
WORK ON PROGRAM MAY
START WITHIN so DAYS
Conference Today Likely to Settle
Problem-Temporary Move
Meets With Opposition.

The Government great Federal
program here may get upder way
in 60 days without resort to the ex-
pedient of temporary farmers mar
ket, according to the latest devel
opments today.
This bright prospect loomed out Of
the tangled situation of the farmers
market on the site of the proposed
Internal Revenue building. as a con
ference of Federal and District officials
was called for . o'clock this after.
noon at the District Building to iron
out the difficulties involved. At the
conference were to be Supervising
Architect of the Treasury James A.
WetmOre. District Engineer Commits
sioner Bell and District Superintend.
ent of Weights and Measures and
Markets George NJ Roberts.
From both Federal and District
quarters came indications prior to
the conference that some means may
be found to COndenSe the farmers
market on tho Internal Revenue site
along r street to One-half its present
size on the east end. with privilege
of using the adjacent streets.
Temporary Plan Opposed.
Proposal from Government quar-.
ters that temporary farmers mar.
ket might be located in the square
between Sixth and Seventh streets
on a grassy plot bounded by the
foundation of the unfinished George
Washington Memorial and tennis
courts met with little popular favor
today. and was the subject of much
criticism as Il temporary expedient
which might delay the ultimate solu-
tiOn of the market question and Clut-
ter up the Mall
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Dewey, in charge of the Government
building program. said he had gone
over the matte: thoroughly and was
of the opinion that il the District
officials could see fit to condense the
market into it's eastern half the Gov
ernment could go ahead within a few
weeks on the first of the buildings TO he
erected tire Internal Revenue Bureau.
The Government already owns the
square between Eleventh and Twelfth.
Little B and g streets. which is ad
jacent to the farmers market. and
if the District government can va
cate the western half of the farmers
market the Treasury is far enough
medately with the preliminary bust
ness of advertising for bids and let
ting contracts so that excavation and
foundation work may begin this Fall
or Winter Thus the western half
of the Internal Revenue Building
could be begun, Mr.. Dewey pointed
out, while the officials in charge are
solving the difficult question of find
ing a permanent location for the
farmers market.
Not Needed Until Spring.
During the late Fall and Winter
Mr. Dewey said he had been advised
the number of farmers using the mar
ket is less than during the summer
and il might be possible TO get along
without Il temporary market site I'M
til Spring when the matter might
have been entirely cleared up as TO a
permanent site. In case more space
is needed for the farmers. however.
the Treasury was ready to approve
the site near the George Washington
Memorial for temporary use. Mr.
Dewey made il mphatic, however.
that he preferrett not TO use the tenn
porarV site unless necessary.
Commissioner Bell expressed the
opinion that the District could find
way to cooperate with the Federal
Government so as to forward the
building program without delay. He
said there might be some factor in the
situation of which he is not at pres
ent advised, but declared he saw no
necessity for placing the farmers
market in temporary place. from
which it later would have TO be moved.
Col. Bell felt confident that the
farmers market could be condensed
into its eastern half without difficulty
this late in the season, and that II
necessary the adjacent roadway on 3
street could be used. lie even men
toned the possibility Of resorting to
tents in this vicinity. as preferable to
a temporary location elsewhere.
Bell Objects to Moving.
II don't see the necessity for NOV
ing the farmers to a temporary loca-
ton" he said.
Mai. l.. S. Grant. 3D.. acting chair
man of the Public Buildings Commits
sion which is TO hold its next meeting
about September 10. said the proposal
for a temporary site for the farmers
market on the Mall near the memo
rial would be submitted to the com
mission. Some members of the COM
mission are known TO favor the pro
posal. saying that the market would
difficult to remove than the rows of
temporary Government buildings in
the same general vicinity.
Public discussion of the proposal
today, however. developed consider
able objection to placing the farmers
on the Mall. 1t was pointed out in
several quarters that once Govern
ment agency is esta blished anywhere
it is often difficult TO move.
Meantime the Treasury is proceed
ing with it's plans to erect not only
the Internal Revenue Bureau Build
ing along r street but the Archives
Building adjacent. Condemnation pro
ceedings are in the hands of the De.
partment OF Justice for the three
squares in the block of land needed
which the Government does not own
already.
Notices to Vacate Served.
Notices TO vacate have been served
on the occupants of Government
buildings in the Government.owned
square bounded by Eleventh and
! Twelfth, Little B and c streets, and
/ il is expected the square will he va
Gated and torn down ss soon as pos
/ sible. If plans for obtaining the west.
. ern end of the farmers market ad
Jaceut To this square go through. fol
! lowing the conference today, and the
! increased sentiment against a tempo
| rary farmers market is effective. II IA
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