Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-05
B. & 0. OFFICIALS
GIVE MARKETPLAN
Oppose Patterson Tract Site,
Favor One in lexington;
Backed by Dealers.
By WILL p. KENNEDY.

By WILL p. KENNEDY.
Explanation by Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad officials of their recommenda-
tons regarding the location OF the
proposed new model market center for
the National Capital brings another
area into careful consideration by the
District Commissioners. the co ordinat-
Ing committee. the City Planning Com.
mission and Department of Agricul-
ture officials who are now making an
intensive study Of where Congress
should be advised to looAfe the three
units Of the market system-the
Farmers Market. the wholesale or
commission market and the retail
Center Market.
Heretofore when the lexington
site" was mentioned il has generally
been understood to mean the Patter-
son tract. on Florida avenue north.
east, between the railroad tracks and
Columbia Institution for the Deaf. AS
q matter Of fact tAe Baltimore and
Ohio officials are not supporting the
Patterson tract. which is skirted by
the Pennsylvania tracks. which shut
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad out
of this area.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
urges superior advantages through
use Of the land lying west of their
tracks all the way from j street to
Rhode Island avenue northeast and
east of First street northeast. as
wholesale center near which the new
Farmers Market should he located
This gives at once track side facilities
for the wholesale dealers. with room
for large warehouses and brings this
part of the market system nearer to
the bulk Of consumers than the only
other track.side location between
Twelfth and Fourteenth streets. Mar
yland avenue and Water streets
southwest. which is a Pennsylvania
Railroad proposition.
Mid-City Site Works in.
Although this new area could pro
vide a good site for the Center Tor
retaiD Market II II is decided TO have
the three branches of the market
facilities in consolidated location.
It Is not at present contemplated that
the Center Market would he placed In
this near-the-railroad section. AS a
matter of fact. the mid.city location
for the retail market-between Sixth
street, New York. New Jersey and
Massachusetts avenues-works in well
"
proposed by the Baltimore and Ohio
officialS.
They are concerned primarily with
the location Of wholesale warehouses
alongside their tracks for those who
deal in carload lots. and with nearby
warehouses and commission houses
for those who buy In less than carload
lots and to whom a track side lOca
ton would he unnecessary expense.
Carving out the decision Of the
market authorities. District Commits
sioners and Department Of AgIicul-
ture experts that the farmers market
should he located advantageouslE
near the wholesale center. il is point
ed out that there would he several
Fcod locations between these whole
sale houses adjacent 10 the Baltimore
and Ohio tracks and n retail market
around the Convention Hall @te at
Fifth and Is streets.
This proposal by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad is supported by num-
bar Of the produce dealers themselves.
A petition signed by 1875 Of the large
commission men wae presented to the
city planning group and the co-ordi-
mating committee on July 20. One
week later 81 prominent produce
IOdJNTS HcIO a tbIllCi CliNV Nitii i'oiNi
more and Ohio officials at which they
unanimously indorsed the lexington
site, west Of the railroad tracks. both
north and south of the present Ralti
moro and Ohio Yards just north Of
Florida avenue and east of lexington
place These wards have a present
"a pacity Of 5o3 cars. which shows
that the smaller dealers would not
have to have trackside facilities. but
would heve abundant opportunity to
truck their supplies from the cars in
the yards.
Public Hearing Asked.
The petition of the produce dealers
to the City Planning Commission
stated:
We. the undersigned. dealers in
vegetables. fruits. meats and other
food products. being vitality concerned
IN the selection and location OF the
new Municipal Farmers Market.
hereby petition for public hearing
before any selection is made by this
commission. In order that we may
Law before your commission our views
as to the most desirable and beneficial
location Of the same. We believe that
a. site in the vicinity Of lexington
place, First street and Florida avenue
would he most desirable one for
many reasons. which we would like
10 place before your commission.
Those who attended the conference
on July q and unanimously Endorsed
the lexington site were:
r Leishear. 4. ~ Murphy. A. r.
Lawrence. Lloyd II. Abbott, Philip
Lihonate. f. NJ. Moreland. II. j.
Klein. Fred Spicer. J. l.. Sherwood.
t. u Il
MAYER. Gilbert Leventhal, y. J. Ward.
7. r. Sherwood Frank Allen. J. H.
Marshall. Roy Hickman. w. n.
McConkey +. H Heitmuler. J. NJ.
Self. F. D. Parrish.
There is a misconception that the
Union Station act prohibits the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad from doing
a freight business south of Florida
avenue. II is stated. That act pro-
vides for one track. the west track
between Union station and Florida
avenue. TO be used exclusively as a
freight track. and that ia a Baltimore
and Ohio track. This track now
serves Swift & Co. at l. street. the
Terminal Storage Company. seven
coal yards and the District Commits
sionerS have two sidingS.
Pennsylvania Shut Out.
North OF Florida avenue the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad controls the
territory west of the railroad tracks.
the Metropolitan Branch circling
around. while the Pennsylvania Rail
road is shut off from freight service
by the passenger train tracks which
are an effective barrier to use of land
eastward of the passenger yard.
In this area along the Baltimore
and Ohio tracks. which is now urged
for a. wholesale section, more than
three score concerns, some OF which
are the largest individual food
distributors in the city, already
have located warehouses. which the
Baltimore and Ohio officials empha-
size Is the best proof that business
men, figuring the actual. practical