Evening star., 1926-08-27

supplies at the market and other
household necessities at department
stores in the business center.
Speaking in behalf Of the NIidcity
Citizens Association and the special
citizens committee interested in OBJ
tanning the most central, desirable
and convenient site. Mr.. Driscoll has
represented both organizations at a
Chamber of Commerce conference and
is to be spokesman before the City
Planning Commission, which proposes
to grant a public hearing.
I'm organizing and locating any
large retail business" Mr.. DriScoll
says, serious consideration must be
given to the public at large, upon
whose patronage and trade the sue
cessful operation of such business en-
terprise depends. This is particular
ly so regarding the location of mar
kets, where a greater number of pur-
chases are made by our woman folk.
who carry their market baskets to
and from the market. We feel that
markets should be located as near the
center of population as is possible,
with ample street car and parking
facilities.
Many Car Lines Nearby.
"Such a location is the site Fifth
and X streets. Here we have sec
tion of the city covered by practically
every car line entering Washington
either passing or running in close
proximity thereto, or providing most
convenient transfer.
"The unlimited parking facilities of
the location cannot be surpassed be-
ing outside the congested zone and
surrounded by many wide streets and
avenues.
'In urging the Fifth and X street
site" Mr.. Driscoll calls attention to
a statement by Alexander GUIDE.
master of Eureka Grange. with
headquarters at Chillum, Nd, who
says in a statement prepared for the
National Capital Park and City Plan
ming Commission. that ito the un-
prejudiced eye. the suggested water
front site at Southwest Washington
would seem the least desirable. due
to the small space available for the
location of buildings, to the scarcity
Of street car lines, to the difficulty
of passing through the congested
traffic of the downtown section and
to the remoteness from the princi-
pal residential section of Washing
ton and it's suburbs
Continuing to quote from Mr..
HuuS . MI. DTlSCOIl DOlntS
out that 1.-The location of the Farmers
market may seem q small matter at
first glance, but it is one of vital
interest to the farmer and to the
large consuming public. who will
supply the patronage provided the
market is properly located and
housed. The farmer will not be con-
tent in the future" he emphasized
in a report to the Washington Cham
ber of Commerce. "to be stuck away
under a makeshift tin roof"
Cites Other Cities Markets.
so far as we are able to ascer-
tain it has been the custom of all
cities to locate markets as near the
center of population as possible.
In urging the location around Fifth
and * streets as a market site, we do
so with strong conviction of having
the interest of the market merchant
and that of his customer equally at
heart.
1--WE feel that our arguments would
not be complete" said Mr.. Driscoll,
unless some reference was made to
the particular neighborhood of Fifth
and X streets. Here we have three
streets running east and west. K
street is a very broad thoroughfare,
l. street not so wide and New York
avenue a very wide street. Beginning
at Fifth street, extending eastward
as far as the railroad tracks, the Sec
ton is covered by a rather cheap class
of homes, many of which have seen
their best days. We are convinced
that sufficient ground could be pro-
cured at very nominal figure to pro-
vide for market space to serve the
residents of the District Of Columbia
tor many years to come.
THE neighborhood of Fifth and X
streets has been a market section for
a long period of years. AS early as
1S46 a market was operated at Sew
enth and X streets, rather small, to
be sure, but sufficient to meet the
demands of our people at that time.
AS improvements came along and
ground increased in value the market
was moved across the street and later
on the present Convention Hall was
built as a market house. So we sub.
NIT the location is n recognized mar.
ket neighborhood Of long standing and
should be encouraged as such on ac-