Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-15
old MARKET PLACE
REMOVAL TOPIC OF
PARLEY TOMORROW
Clearing Out Entire Area An
Around Tenth and B
Streets Proposed.
HUGE PRODUCE BUSINESS
OF FARMERS AFFECTED
Allied Stores, Stands and Center
Building Itself Involved-New
locations Problem.
d q = s.
By WILL P. KENNEDY.

+. !. q
One Of the most important complica-
lions resulting from the locating of
new Government buildings under the
$50.o00.000 Federal building program
for Washington is to be considered
at q conference Of District officials
with the City Planning Commission
tomorrow, when the location Of a new
market section will be discussed.
The decision to build the new In
ternal Revenue Building on the four
small squares between Tenth and
Twelfth, B and c streets, with an APP
preparation made in the second de-
flciency bill for commencing work on
the Government owned reservation
between B and Little B streets, win
automatically wipe out the present
farmers market place. There were
more than $1,000 vehicle loads Of pro-
duce sold there last year, and more
than 600 permits are issued by the
Office Of weights, measures and mar
kets to regular dealers in this space.
Most OF the corner grocery stores all
over the District buy their vegetables
and fruits In season at this market,
and thus consumers all over Wash
ington are affected. who VIII be az
the mercy of commission men II the
farmers are cut out.
In addition to that, more than so
business houses dealing in related
commodities, such as seeds, agricul-
tural implements, fertilizers, hay and
grain, ETC., have established places Of
business adjacent 20 this farmers
market. Some OF them are located
on the land that viii be occupied by
the new Internal Revenue Building
and an of them viii eventually move,
to be In close proximity to wherever
the new market place may be estab-
Iished.
Commission Has Control.
The attitude Of the Public Buildings
Commission az expressed by Maj. U.
8. Grant, Sd, the acting chairman In
the absence from Washington OF
Senator SInoot. is that the Federal
Government gave the use Of this
space to the District authorities Tor
farmers market until such time as
the Federal Government needed It Tor
other purposes. Control over all such
Government real estate has been
vested in the Public Buildings Com
nlissioi1.> The commission now feels
that this space should be used for the
Internal Revenue Building. The Pub
lie Buildings Commission has no par
ticular concern about the market sec
tion. but expects that recommenda-
fiona for relocation Of the market
will be made by District officials.
The decision to do away with the
farmers market at its present site
came like q bolt out OF the sky to
the District oficials. They had no
ADVANCE information until they read
in The Star that the new Internal
Revenue Bureau was to occupy that
site. They have not had time to make
q survey for establishing Q new
market center.
The City Planning Commission IL
interested. In connection with COM
prehensive development of the Capital.
in the location Of any new market
section, and 90 the matter VIII be the
subject Of conference between District
offlcfals and the city planning group
tomorrow morning. Engineer Com
missioner Bell, who is also q member
Of the Planning Commission, VIII pre-
sent the Districts interests, and viii
be assisted by George M. Roberts.
District superintendent of weights,
measures and markets.
Old Law Grant Cited.
Another ana possible legal complica-
ton arises from the fact that section
16 OF the act chartering the Washing
ton Market Co. in 1870 gave the Dis.
trict government the right to hold and
use the open space at the intersection
Of Ohio and Louisiana avenues within
Tenth and Twelfth streets as market
for the purchase and sale OF hay,
straw, oats, corn, cornmeal, seeds OF
all kinds. cattle on the hoof, swine on
the hoof and country produce.
1t is contended that the building
snln - ~ lrNf4
the present market be demolished un.
til Congress has made some provision
for another farmers market. 1t Is
emphasized that this was passed on
by the Court Of Appeals In q case
that the market company had au-
thority to regulate the use Of the
market square, in which the decision
was that the District government has
complete control.
The District authorities have no
disposition to put any stumbling
blocks In the way Of such an import
ant development as the new Internal
Revenue Building. The purpose Of
the conference tomorrow IL to find
the best possible solution Of the COM
plication. 90 that the farmers. the con.
gumers and the business mon located
adjacent TO this market may have ad.
vice as soon a. possible what their fu.
ttre location Is to be.
Shelters have been built for the
farmers market and hundreds Of
permits have been issued to farmers
to sell their produce there during the
current season.
Atsthe conference tomorrow It win
be recommended that careful survey
should be made to find the most suit
able site for q new farmers market.
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