Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-14
QUEST|ONOF SITE
Of CENTER MARKET
MAY ARISE IN 1928
Possibility of Inclusion of JUS
tice Building in Estimates
Is Reason.
ACTION BRINGS PROBLEM
NEARER THAN EXPECTED
Commissioners to Report to Con-
gress on Location for Stands
for Farmers.

Selection of a new site for Center
Market loomed today as a problem to
he considered probably next year,
when it was learned that there was
a strong possibility that the next
group Of estimates under the $780,
600 900 five.year building program
may include an initial allotment
toward the new Department of Justice
Building, the location of which has
been fixed for the present site of
Center Market.
In this case the question of what
is to be done with Center Market
would become a matter for the next
Congress to pass upon.
Move Felt Remote.
When the problem of selecting a
new market center was commanding
the attention of the city last year, the
only urgent phase of the question was
where to relocate the farmers stands,
which are on ground to be taken soon
for the Internal Revenue Building.
While the future of Center Market
was discussed widely at the same,
time, there had been no Federal build
ing assigned to the ground occupied by
the large retail market and there was
a rather general feeling that the NOV
ing of Center Market was mucn more
remote than the farmers problem.
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, 3d., who
went thoroughly into the market ques-
ton last Summer as a member of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, said today that in his
opinion the selection of the Center
No, ,.Ir - eSfn f1N- h0 hay Y.ff1 IF
Justice Building would seem to make
the future of Center Market prob
lem for earlier consideration than
heretofore has been deemed necessary.
Farmers Market Status.
The situation with respect to new
Farmers Market is as follows: The
last Congress declined to authorize an
appropriation or to empower the Com
missioners to close a deal for a new
location, because of a feeling among
members of the Senate District COM
mittee that Congress should have a
voice in approving the location. An
act was passed, however. directing the
city heads to recommend site to the
new Congress in December.
c. w. Kitchen. assistant chief of the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics of
the Department of Agriculture, which
bureau has charge of Center Market.
said today the department has not
taken any official action on the prob
lem of what TO do with Center Mar
ket since the Public Buildings Com
mission announced its approval of the
market square as site for the De-
partment of Justice.
Officials of the department were not
prepared at this time to discuss the
sJ, ha
Center Market, but the probabilities
are that when funds are requested of
Congress to- begin a Department of
Justice building the House and Sen.
ate committees win call in the Agri-
culture Department officials to express
their views.
REM is Factor.
The Department of Agriculture CO.
operated with District officials In
studying the relocation of the Farm
ers' Market, but no definite policy was
laid down as to the removal of Cen
ter Market. There were no indica-
tions then that Center Market would
he taken for any of the first buildings
to be erected.
While it. is not known definitely at
this time that funds to be- i'll the De-
partment of Justice will be included
in the next estimates to Congress at
the coming session, that department
is expending approximately $140.O0O
annually for rented quarters, which
may be considered in determining the
time when the Justice building should
be started.
Farmers Market Sites.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. recommended
three general localities for the new
Farmers Market. as follows: In the
vicinity of the lexington freight
yards, in the Southwest, near the
water front, or a midcity site. which
was generally regarded as in the vi
cinity of X Street Market.
1t was looked upon as possibility
today that if the plan to place the
Department of Justice on the site of
Center Market is adhered to. it may
lead to consideration of the future of
Center Market at the same time that
the Farmers Market is being taken
up by the next Congress.
When hearings were held at the
last session on the Farmers Market
bill, it developed keen rivalry between
the advocates of the different sites,
particularly between those favoring
lexington and the water front.