Evening star., 1928-01-08
farmers MARKET
HEARING PROMISED
zihIman Plans Early Action.
Gambri|l Issues Statement
on lexington Site.

nects TO arrange for such hearing
soon, at which all parties interested
may present their eases.
Among these demand a hearing
IS Representative Gambrill OF Mary
land. in whose district much of the
farmers produce sold on this mari ket
is raised. who Yesterday introduced a
hill for the purchase of a site in
lexington between North Capitol
street. First street. Florida avenue. q
and y streets northeast, after confer
ences with experts at the Maryland
College Mr. Gamhrll
said this is the location that the faI m
crs themselves have agreed upon as
the les< 10 serve their purposes.
Gan,Srill's Statement.
In support of his hill. Mr. Gambrit
made statement, which will be the
hasis of his testimony at the prom
isei hearing. which follows. in part:
Il do net believe this recommends
tion of the Commissioners to locate
the farmers market in southwest
Washington. in squares So4 and 800.
Is i'm harmony with :he interest OF
the producers and the consumers. or
in the interest of the future develop
ment Of Washington. Nor do ] be-
of Congress. and certainly not with
those members who have made
study OF the question.
For nearly 30 years the farmers
produce market has occupied a Fed
era! reservation ar the intersection CT
Ohio and Louisiana avenues, between
Tenth and Twelfth streets, Just north
Of the National Museum. BY an act
Of Congress of Nav -. 1870 this space
was dedicated TO the City of Washing
ton for use as a farmers market.
The Commissioners of the District
ef Columbia have been requested hy
the Treasury Department TO vacate
this space as IL is proposed TO use the
land for the new Internal Revenue
Building. but in view Of the act of 1870
j, is very doubtful if the Commission
ers have the right as a legal PROPOSE
tion to surrender this land to be used
for purposes other than those desis.
mated by the act of 1879.
Factors i'm Choice.
an considering any site for a
farmers market. a number of factors
must enter into the problem. First.
the availability of sufficient ground
for the development. ultimately, of n
joint farmers wholesale and retail
market area. Secondly. its geographi-
cal position i'm relation to the center
oe population. Third. its accessibility
10 the consumers and buyers. Fourth,
it's accessibility TO the producers.
Fifth, traffic conditions and street car
service and railroad facilities. when
considered i'm its relation 10 whole
sal. as well as a farmers market.
"1t is interesting 10 bear In mind
that taking the Farmers Produce
Market as separate proposition. you
are dealing with business which, IN
the City of Washington. amounts 20
about $s.T00. 900 a year and 1t means
much 10 the consumers of the city TO
have this business encouraged and
stimulated. II has been stated by re-
liable investigators that seven COM
ynodities purchased in small quanti-
Ties on the Farmers Market totaled
81 So i'm contrast 10 S2.2e for the same
commodities Of similar quality pur-
chased in privately owned market
in Northwest Washington. This per.
cantaga Of yearly savings on a hnsi.
ness Of S2.Taa 090e is no inconssdcrahle
Eun "a The consumers.
III we are 10 consider the site Of
Farmers Produce Market and an ul-
innate Capitalization of the farmers
retail ard wholesale markets from the
standpoint Of its availability. it's re-
latiorsilip TO the center Of population
and its accessibility. both TO the buy.
ers and tire producers. then one turns
almost instinctiveiy 10 square 669 on
North Capitol street or some eQuiya-
lent site in lexington.
"A large percentage OF the produce
sold at the Farmers Market is bought
by the hotels. restaurants. grocery md
chain stores. and so per cent Of the
retail grocery stores and 81 per cent
of the hotels are located In the north
east and northwest sections Of the
city. and Farmers Market at square
ess would be convenient 10 the great.
es' number OF people. The size is ac-
cegsjbie by street cars and wide thor.
onghfares. and. being near The center
- population. is the most convenient
site 10 he found.
Oppose Southwest Site.
"As an evidence of the view. NJ
the farmers themselves. this site. on
North Capitol street was indors%si
unanimously at mass meeting Of
the producers from Maryland end the
District Of Columbia. held in the %ew
National Museum. THURSDAY. Eep.srl.
ber 2s And these producers. yths,
hiring s. per cent Of the produce sold
~ the FarHners' 8arkeg. are op,sos4d
nrsalterably 10 being se-nt 20 sauares
55s and 355 in Southwest Washing.
ton, si.e ? miles from the center
~ population and in a n:4ce which
may be nkened 10 the bottom os a
pag Or eui-de-sac. II 4Iss been ar.
Ened that Southwest Washington tx
In Fsa sd
"rs market because ~ sne er~steY
railroad facilities and TIA, water
fFs deportation In ptssecf
II has been asssffg5 that tha
Sssssi n@eft site should sse reflected for
farmers Blsrtset and far Il &, neral
market csuieF because of it, 0Yozsnl-
ti* te he Potomac Yards, ksHsefs in
virginia. 5 miles frpIn Washing.
ION, which IN 'he c1nyesgfng point faf
fpogf 9f the freight is4aslug fYyss the
South. which comes then fo Washing.
Ton over the penpsYisanis Railroad.
When We anaiyze the fespectisA
ssfFjis ~ The TWO sifes IL will lie
found that from the shipper stsnis.
n'1int the advsntages. IL any are with
the rite In Northeast Washington.
Let re ssy here. paFentheticsily. that
the nlsdeStp site, or Convention Hat
sJte. al IFiffh and X streets is inf,
nltsiy superior 10 the site in South
west Washington. bui inferior ta the
site on North Capitol street which
7 sn advocating. The Convention
t4sSf site In In ID more restricted and
sspfapeSted section and is uoi eo sus.
eeDtilAH 10 ibai eEtsansion necessary
fer fsFsneFs' market eons3dered nv
tiseR oF in reIsilen Ia s"nstrl
isBrl<ss Rise for farmers. " huiesaie
g ID rsfaii mere hauts
GeniraI site Jeaiinaed,
"in nuT consideration ~ this bread
a9efsi,n wble1 means mHrg 10 ihe
r@Fs1nleFs saa the producers and ~
Washington ss our National fapiiAt
1s must haze naf nniV the UFessnt
Ia Flse ttIt . f9ptempiai ton nf vision
~ ibs future II seeT0N 10 nJa almost