Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-28
Market and Public Convenience,

XAdAACC duU xUUllC convenience.
While the ideal of a consolidated
market center appeals strongly, there
are considerations affecting the re-
adjustment of the food.dispensing
equipment Of the city that are to be
taken into account even more definite
ly than the desirability Of a concen.
tration. Accessibility is one factor of
primary Importance. This means &C.
feasibility to the buying public as well
as to the lines of shipment. What is
the buying public? Who are the
patrons Of a food market? Whose
convenience Is to be most particularly
considered? Those questions are to be
weighed before decision is made.
There are two elements in the mar
ket situation. One is the wholesale
trade and the other is the retail trade.
The wholesale trade is of two kinds,
the trade in large and in lesser guam.
titles. The farmers market" supplies
chiefly the small retailers of the city,
while the commission houses supply
the larger dealers as well. There is no
necessary relation between the two
branches Of the market. In general
terms it would be we'll to have them
associated.
The indoor retail market, such as
that now bordering on the Mall and
that at Fifth and X streets, chiefly
supplies the individual buyer. 1t does
not depend upon a wholesale supply
that should be necessarily close at
hand. It's trade is that of the food
shopper, who carries away his pur-
chases or to whom delivery is made
at his home. Such a market Is ver-
itably a food department store, or
series of stores, where the buyer can
seek the best qualities or the best
prices.
In locating the wholesale market
which term includes the commission
houses and, perhaps, the farmers
market as well-though that relation
is subject to questionable first con-
sideration is accessibility to the source
of supply. If 1t can be put upon or
near a railroad line the problem of
hauling for storage and display is
most satisfactorily solved. But the
retail market need not be close to rail
or water transportation. There must
In any case, with large indoor mar
ket of this character, be some trans
shipment and hauling through the
streets.
The factor Of the greatest impor-
lance in the location Of the retail In
door market is the convenience of the
buying public, personified by the man,
or the woman, with the basket. II
such a market is not frequented and
patronized by the basket buyers or
those who expect deliveries at their
homes, it fails. It does not perform
any useful function. 1t must draw in
dividual custom. And to get that GUS
tom it must be conveniently located.
Neighborhood markets cannot be
widely distributed, certainly not be-
SOIIo tIe pOllAb VI lVNoS' OOAAN~AASAeS
ton is desirable. Therefore the Ques-
ton of moment in the planning of the
market center Is, Where will the
greatest number be accommodated?
At what point will the market be OF
maximum service to the people, with
the least expenditure of time and car
fare and motor fuelr
Advocates of the various sites for
market center are swayed by their
personal interests. perhaps their realty
interests Those charged with the re-
sponsibility for decision on this i'm
portant question should be swayed
only by the consideration Of the pub
lie convenience. 1t may be theoretl-
cally desirable to put this entire estab-
lishment as a unit in certain place,
to conform to the city planning"
ideal. but there is always to be borne
I'm mind that a market is necessary
factor of urban life, and that the prac-
teal daily convenience of the man. or
the woman, with the market basket is
of first Importance.