Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
::=:NEW MARKET SEEN
~
|NDOWNTOWNA AREA
Center Dealers Reported to
Have Taken Space in
Proposed Building.

A huge new Center Market. financet
by private capital. may be erected il
reliable indications last night.
A large number of dealers in Cente
Market. 1t was learned, have sienes
tentative contracts to take space il
the new building when 1t is constructed
= The location has not been made known
even to the dealers. This Was done
it is understood, to enable the COM
paay behind the project to obtain OPP
tons on all properties on which The
market would be built.
These developments came last nigh;
on the heels Of announcement yesterday
by Senator Smoot OF Utah. that dealers
would not be forced out OF the present
Cente. Market for at least two years
probably longer. Senator Sraoot has q
resolution pending in the Senate pro-
viding that the Department Of Agricu!-
ture after January /, 1929, shall cease
TO operate Center Market. His aSSur-
ance, however. that this legislation was
not intended TO stop Center Market on
this exact date. but to put dealers OF
notice that they must move eventually.
came as s great relief to the dealers.
Senator Smoot is chairman of the
Public Buildings Commission, which Is
pushing rapidly ahead ON the Fedora!
building program. The new Depart
ment Of Justice Building is to 60 on
the site now occupied by the market.
Drive Is Launched.
A drive against the Smoot resolution
had been launched by the Center
Market dealers. but they welcomed
heartily the explanation Of the Senator
that he did not mean to drive item oIt
by January !, as his resolution seems
to indicate.
Some time ago q move was made &c
obtain Q location for q new market in
the area bounded by Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets. Rhode Island avenue
and r street. Whether this location is
I,e same contemplated by those behind
5the new move has not been ascertatned
Assurances we're given responsible
sdealers yesterday. however. that pa
.pers had been signed" for all of the
new site, with the exception of two
ANAL parcels. and options were ex-
pected that the site will be announced.
aew days. When this Is done. 1t is ex-
.pected that the site viii be announced,
2 Center Market men appear virtually
in their opinion that they
will not 60 to the Southwest location,
which has been recommended for the
Farmers Market site As dealers. they
Saw they must be located somewhere
hear the retail business section if they
Eish TO attract the trade they now en-
Coy al Center Market.
{ Problem Complicated.
! Disposition of the Farmers Market
problem still is complicated A bill to
locate this market permanently in the
section has been reported
out by the District committee. The Dis
Srict Commissioners ut the request Of
Chairman Zihlman of the House Dis
trict committee, are preparing bill
10 provide for a temporary market on
and Ninth streets. Temporary sheds
would be provided in this site. Pro-
ponen1s of the other sites are still gun
ning egainss the Southwest location
PROJECT
: Faced by the Smoot resolution to do
away with the market nett January.
Center Market dealers started a cam
paign to get their position before Con-
ETeSs. O. b. Robinson, vice president
Nf the Center Market Dealers ASSocia-
ION. has laid the mater before every
nemher OF the Senate. TN letter.
: Il believe" he wrote, "that nobody
desires to stand in the way Of the citys
development. but there should be no
unnecessary destructive processes In
yoked.-~ ASts
a4r~-A~ - ia s.:n 1890
bly, the largest institution Of Its kind
IN the United STATES, and IL is wei
known throughout thee ountry. Eco
nomicaliy. Center Market probably af-
fccts more people 10 Washington than
Sny other institution. n has developed
p business approyimating sl7,00o. 900
annually according 10 best information
available: 1t has served the pepole OF
Washington for over SO years. and Is
sfiil doing SO.
: Blow TO Trade Seen.
. II Is believed that Congress does not
x&SE1 10 deny 10 thousands OF Govern
nfcEt and other wage earners continu-
sk3ee Of existing sources Of food supply
to far aE possible. but II the Smoot
RESOLUTION is approved IL will create
such condition, since about SOC, 900
tub.e feet Of space IN that block Is
refrigerated by pipe line service from
the plant al Center Market Conse-
csientiy disccntinuance Of the market
automatically erippies much OF the
business in the neighboring block, and
business Arms there would suffer be-
cause unsettled conditions prevailing
Is 10 ownership and future occupancy
would auguT against private establish
ineni 81 the refrigeTating facilities dis
continued by the adjustment Of Center
Market"
II. G. Briggs. president Of the Center
MaFkes Dealers Association. and Mr..
Robinson appeared Friday before the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce
ne Meeting ADOPTED resolution call
Ing On CongFeas 10 take no action ca
such legislation as the Gmoot bill.
Commission merchants who are nov
located near Center Market and must
move 10 make way for the Federal
BUILDING program have not yet decided
where hey viii 90. Some have indi-
Gated 6ez.fs 10 70 10 the Southwest
hc&Iion. b1t others prefer the Ecking-
ton site.