Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
'hARKET CLAIMS
FACE COMPROMISE
Southwest and Mid-City
Backers Now Working for
Different Things.

out of the tempest of conflicting
relocation of Center Market and the
Farmers Produce Market after their
present sites are abandoned in accord
ance with the general building plan,
there emerged yesterday an indication
that the rival groups in the Conven-
ton Hall neighborhood and the south
west section who have been backing
heir respective sections may settle
down to a compromise agreement.
Since publication in The Star re-
Gently Of an article concerning pos
Sible location of the future market "'l
the So-called Patterson tract in Eek
ington, both southwest ana mId,CI.y
groups have launched vigorous cam
paigns for their own sections. The
indications now are that these cam
paignS may narrow down to a joint
proposal to locate Center Market at
the present site of the Convention
ilall Market, near Fifth and L streets,
and the Farmers Produce Market on
he water front between Twelfth and
Fourteenth streets. An offer to talk
this proposition over has already been
made by the md-city group, which
has invited the southwest group to a
meeting Friday afternoon for this
purpose.
The compromise will be that instead
of mid-city seeking the location of
both sites around Convention Hall,
that group will simply seek the retail
lines of Center Market and the retail
farm trade; and that instead of the
southwest seeking both retail and
wholesale lines, that section will con
fine it's efforts merely to striving for
The wholesale trade and the Farmers
Produce Market. The Center Market
is essentially retail, while the Farmers
Market is essentially wholesale.
Advantages i'm Southwest.
which bring in the perishable freight
handled in the wholesale produce
lines. At present such freight from
the South and West comes to the Po-
tOmac Yards via the Southern, Sea
board Air Line, Atlantic Coast Line,
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Pc
tomac and Chesapeake and Ohio lines,
and there is transferred to the Penn
sylvania yards at Fourteenth and
Water streets, where it is distributed
BY locating wholesale lines in this vi
cinity, it is urged, much costly across
town transportation would be avoided
Second, it is urged by the south
west, the river is available for trans
portatiOn of produce from Virginia
and southern Maryland sections di-
rectly to a water front market
Third, the southwest not only has
cold storage and refrigerating
plant near Twelfth and + streets,
but also cites the authorization which
this plant has of piping refrigeration
to warehouse receiving rooms to be
erected at the freight terminal west
of Fourteenth street and south of
Maryland avenue.
Fourth, the presence of the Munich
pal Fish Market, which brings mer-
chants who buy in wholesale guam
titles to the water front. is urged as
an argument to locate the other
wholesale lines such merchants de-
sire in proximity to the sea foods
market, thus making the southwest
site accessible to the dealers pur-
chasing in wholesale quantities.
Finally, the stamp of approval of
the National Commission of Fine
Arts has been put upon Il site for a
market opposite the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, it is stated by
the southwest adherents, and the
Potomac Freight Terminals Co. is
establishing a terminal system, with
OuotS lOI lHe DIOl6CllOI Vi
perishable foods, in the water front
section.
Mid-city Claims Listed.
The argument of the mid-city group
Is just as pointedly centered around
the advantages that section offers to
retail lines and retail purchasers.
AS far as the dealers in retail lines
are concerned, it is pointed out that
Convention Hall Market has just been
remodeled, and now has available 100
stands, newly tiled with an improved
refrigeration system installed and a
large space for the accommodation
of retail produce farmers.
The convenience of this neighbor-
hood to retail purchasers is also
stressed. Street-car riders have the
Seventh street and New Jersey
avenue lines of the Capital Traction
Co. within two blocks. and the MaSSa-
chusettS avenue line, the City and
Suburban Line and the LIE DrOit Park
closer.
For retail purchasers travelling in
automobiles, it is urged that the
market is outside the COngeSted area
and is not belted around by heavy
traffic channels, in addition furnish
ing excellent parking facilities.
It's central location in the city is
also put forward, as well as its con
VenienCe to retail farmers from Mary
land. whence come 70 per cent of the
farmers bringing goods to market in
tho District