Evening star., 1927-10-25
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
The many articles appearing in the
daily press from time to time regard.
ing the relocation of the Farmers
Market have, believe. beclouded the
real issue. May I. as president of the
Mid.City Citizens Association, advo.
eating what we believe. and what a
great many Of our citizens believe, as
expressed through, their organizations,
to be the most convenient and ap-
propriate site, claim space in your
valuable paper for the following in.
formation?
BY section 16 Of the act Of May 20,
1870, Congress provided for the crea.
ton of the Farmers Market for the
sale OF such produce and dairy
grown on the farms.
It was clearly the intention of Con.
gress to provide some place whereby
the farmers located in the District of
Columbia and the adjacent country
may dispose Of their products to the
best advantage and thereby encourage
farming and the raising of vegetables
in every particular form.
It Is safe to assume that the mar.
ket was located at Tenth and B streets
on account Of its being convenient to
the purchasing public, as this point
in 1870 was almost the center Of the
District of Columbia. In fact, the
Center Market derives its name from
that fact, the great success Of this
market in the past being due to its
central location, which has been most
desirable. However, due to the won
= nst &o =,
west and northeast, the area Is not
so desirable as formerly. This is due
to the most seriously congested traffic
zone the great army Of purchasers
visiting the market must pass. This
not only applies to the present mar.
ket, but to any that may be operated
south Of that point. In fact, it is
freely admitted by those interested
that many sales are lost due to these
traffic conditions.
Our Federal Government in its
building has informed the farmers
that "Your are operating on public
owned ground and we must have 1t in
order to erect thereon and to provide
a permanent home for the Internal
Revenue Bureau" Congress realizes
that the farmers must have market
! site in order to care for their trade
and customers in an orderly manner
1t therefore appropriates $4,000 or is
willing to make such an appropriation
| for what they consider proper site
It must be borne in mind that, in
this instance, the Congress is not
| interested In the development OF rail
| road terminals or freight receiving
stations or boat landings. For the
farmers certainly have no dealings
~ ro G
| portation in getting the products OF
| their farms to market. They have
realized many years ago the value OF
| motor-truck operation in conducting
the business of their farms.
| So why attempt to becloud the reaI
issue Of providing for a farmers
market by trying to use the farmer
| and the produce Of this farm as a
means of developing railroad centers
or boat landings, something in which
he Is not at all Interested?
What he wants is a convenient
place to do his business, q convenient
| location as every other business man
would demand in the operation Of his
business place that he is at least
reasonably sure the people will visit
where transportation facilities are
| good, and this location must be as
Hedr tno center OF pOpuldtlOn as pos
sible and not on the outskirts or rim
Of the city-a place having ample
street car facilities and must be 10
Gated where he and his patrons will
not have to pass through a thickly
congested traffic zone In reaching the
market.
| In advocating, as we do. the mid
city site for the establishing of this
Ta rmers' Market, we do so with thu
conviction Of having the people o.