Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-12
Wharf Held Logical
Site for Market

1t was about 80 years ago that first
came 10 the realization OF the impor-
lance Of wholesale market at the
water front.
Since the exigencies Of progress have
pointed the way 10 a realization Of what
foreSaw decades ago. I'd feel small
indeed il my tongue would refuse 70
testify TO what my eyes have seen these
many years. Those who may look on
me as an ally Of the Southwest propo-
nents viii do well to ask why the
wharf crowd" follows me instead. for.
with no braggadocio intent. feel a
pioneer in this effort to locate the
market aright-at the wharf.
With something over 20 years here
In Oxon Hill as one OF the common
herd Of truck growers. part Of the time
as a retail farmer. together with the
first half OF life down the Potomac as
a shipper, feel from the study ! have
given the washington market problem.
fully competent TO see this in the light
Of a greater Washington. which should
be our battle cry.
Let US get this thing In our head
ar!ght--that We are building for future
generations. Though We may have 70
scatter our produce all over the Mall
for several years, LEI US be patient. We
can afford 10 so slow on the biggest
step Washington ever has or viii take
in its development. As see II. ov
moving the market five blocks from
its present site 10 the Southwest loca-
ton. we will be keeping in contact the
commercial life that has been decades
in the making. whereas. by going OF;
10 lexington. We Will be kicking over
what we have been so long in es;ab-
fishing in the way OF q downtown COM
nlercial district, not knowing what the
result will be. We must see our city
as a two 10 three million population
proposition. seeing II in such light then
We should ask ourselves what will IL
look like to have the undesirable quail
ties OF such wholesale market as
will then be needed in the midst Of q
choice residential district Visualize
the 5 10 10 ton trucks coming in
from the south. on both sides 0. the
Potomac-lumbering all night across
town. Would II not be much better
for them 10 so via Water street that
can easily be kept entirely commercial
We all know that Is the most acceS-
sible point for gardeners passing owe:
the Pennsylvania Avenue and ANAccSila
bridges as well as those passing over
Long Bridge,
The truck land 10 the north and west
Of the city is already growing TOO valu-
able for truck purposes. so !t requires
no great stretch Of the inauguration 10
see the Potomac tidewater lands as oar
future market garden. It's silly 20
waste thought on the Idea Of taking
ones wholesale market 10 the consumer.
so what would that amount Ia so years
from now when. as Senator Capper has
stated. the city will he spread over
2o-mile area9 Even II there were any
sense or reason In such an argument.
still the wharf would hold possibilities
as being a central point
Although I'm well aware some az our
representatives are opposed tn indus
trialsm for Washington. yet that. like
many other changes beyond our power,
will come about sooner or later, One OF
my reasons for wanting the market At
the water front Is that II Will have
tendency 20 invite induStrialism south
OF the city within committing distances,
Unless that comes about. owing TO a
surplus OF laborers that must accrue
with the city's growth. then We may
expect 10 see factory towns spring wv
along the Potomac~~that condition l
tr,is, We can divert. ~ hope 10 see the
Potomac retain It's natural Story, To
those who differ with ME relative 90
Norfolk and Southern shipping, l wish
10 say It's a waste OF our time 10 think
that by putting the market at an In
accessible place we will prevent them
sending their products here when de-
mand warrants.
TO those who may think see oppor-
,unitles down the Potomac. will say.
Yes, certainly do for the future corpo-
ration gardener who viii be forced On
us by the evergrow,ng onc-man way os
purchasing our produce, ont these OPP
portunities will be rs open Ia the pro-
gressive SONS of the present nearby con-
seryative and timid gardeners As 10 any
one else. PERRY +, SKINNER,