Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-03
A Good Word for the
Water Front Market
To the Editor of The Star:


The decision to relocate the farm
ers' and central markets must be
made soon, and 1t Is gratifying to
note that those who are charged with
the responsibility are weighing very
carefully the merits of the various
sites proposed.
The Northeast site has very few
supporters, and perhaps rightfully so,
for outside of the fact that it is al
most inaccessible and devoid of ample
street car facilities for patrons 1t is
equally obnoxious for those who cater
to the public, and it's only recon-
mendation Is the nearneSs of the Bal
timore and Ohio freight yards. If 1t is
desirable to isolate the farmers mar
ket with its attending unsightliness,
as we have known it of late years,
this out-of-the-way place deserves
consideration.
We believe. however, that the new
market, when complete, will be in
harmony with the general plans Of
beautifying the National Capital, and
with that in view we can safely pro-
coed to locate the market where 1t
will serve the best interest of all.
The midcity site has some very
good arguments in it's favor, the prln-
cipal one being that it is more nearly
at the center of population and has
street car facilities over several lines
to every part of the city and it's sub
urbs. 1t is regrettable, therefore, that
! it is isolated from all rail and water
facilities, that serve so largely to
bring in the produce and market
products. To have these commodities
shipped here by rail or water, then un-
loaded, reloaded and transported by
truck to the center of the city.
through the already overcrowded
traffic. seems illogical and should be
avoided. If only for the traffic and
parking congestion that will result in
the center of the city the advocates
for the midcity site should think twice
before advocating that proposition too
strongly. We want to avoid the pos
Sibility of having to move the market
again.
The Southwest section, or wateN-
front site. has everything in it's favor,
except, perhaps, that 1t is not at the
center of population, but patrons that
travel by street car have but few
blocks farther to travel than at pres
ent-that is, those Of the Northwest
section. The poorer Southwest sec
ton has the advantage of having the
market brought closer to them, and
for a good many within walking dis
lance. Rail and water facilities have
their terminals there, with the eXcep-
ton Of the Baltimore and Ohio, and
freight cars from that system can be
easily diverted to join the others at
the water front. Trucks that bring in
produce from Maryland and Virginia
can avoid the business section of the
city, as nearly all of it enters the city
through the Southwest section. For
| patrons that come to the market by
auto there is a choice of several
| streets leading direct from every part
of the city, and with little danger of
| increasing the traffic difficulties that
would result if any of the other two
sites should be chosen.
| The most important argument in
| favor of the waterfront site would
| be. perhaps, the fact that the South
west section needs to be put on the
map. The Southwest section is more
or less looked upon as stepchild,
and progress in development is slow.
! With the prospect of having the long
| neglected water front cleaned up 1t
needs project like the proposed mar
| ket to make the Northwest realize
| that the Southwest is part Of the Ma
| tional Capital, much as we hate to ad-
NIT it. Once the new market has
| been located, other large concerns
will seek locations near there and use
| their influence to focus the attention
| of the authorities to the needs Of that
section. We may even live to see
streets and lights sufficiently i'm
proved to make it safe to venture out
| there after dark. For a better and
more beautiful Washington we ought
| to make the waterfront selection
| unanimous KARST HOFFMAN.