Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26
CLIENTS PROTEST.
END TO MARKET
Dealers and Citizens Tell
Need for Continuing West.
ern Stand.

Reused to vigorous protest at the pros
pcct of the abolition Of the Western
Market at Twenty first and X streets
next June 80. due to lack of adequate
appropriations, dealers and citizens are
rallying to preserve the Landmark that
has brought generations of housewives
with shopping baskets to its vaulted
structure during the 60 years OF its ex-
istence. The dealers will meet at
o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the mar
ket to map out their next course of &C
ton. Residents. under the leadership
of the West End Citizens Associations,
will hold protest meeting on Saturday
at 10 o'clock to register their disapprov-
al of any abolition of the market.
N. w. Wrenn. president of the South
ern Pacific Tea Co. ono of the stands
veterans. having done business there for
46 years. He says the market is In
good condition. save for needing new
storm doors and new tin roof. but
when these are fixed up, he says, It
will stand for the next so years.
When Center Market goes out OF
business. as 1t must because OF the Fed
cral building program. some OF the deal
ers there will SO to the Western Market,
where there are now some vacant
stands. Mr.. Wrenn declared yesterday.
He explained that the dealers have
agreed 70 pay more money If the market
be fixed up.
New Apartments Near.
Mrs. NJ. Cramer of 8o6 Twentv-sec-
ond street. shopper, explained the
consumers viewpoint when she said
that the market is a necessity and will
become more so. with nine new apart
ment houses now being erected in the
vicinity. Her mother dealt at the
Western Market. Mrs. Cramer said. II
the market is abandoned the house.
wives will have to go to the Arcade
Market on Fourteenth street. near Park
road. which Is long way.,to say moth.
lng OF the additional expense of car
fare. she added. She said the market
mas not been fixed for years but that
with some outlay it can be made to be
as aood as ever.
I'VE wouldn't tear down our homes If
they needed fixing. would wc?" she
asked.
James A. Williams. who does gen.
eral vegetable. fruit. egg and poultry
business at his stand. said he Is a
former carpenter and knows that the
work Of the roof Is Of as good ron.
structior as he has seen. He called at
tention to the point that in Baltimore
instead OF tearing down the old markets
they are using the old market stands
and erecting new market. insisting
that the day of the marke, has not
passed.
c. NJ. scheele. butcher. whose stand
mas ooen doing business for the past 40
wears. said all the other cities are build
ing markets and that Norfolk has re-
Gently built a sl.0o0000 market.
Edward W. Howard chairman OF the
dealers. association Of the Western Mar
Eet. said ne does not see why the mar.
ket should be taken away. in view OF
inc Iact that Center Market must go.
IL the Western Marke: Is abolished
II VIII drive dealers out OF business and
MAKE customers patronize stores and
people will have 10 pay more for food
and they will have no basis of corpari-
son Tor prices" Mr.. Howard said yes
terday.
Seeks Congress Aid.
Mr. Howard explained that he took
the matter up with George NJ. Roberts
Superlntendent Of weights, measures
ana markets, and has seen Senator Can
per CT Kansas and Representative ZthI.
man OF Maryland. chairmen of the Dis
trict committees III Congress. who are
sponsoring measures to prevent aboli-
.loh OF the market. The West End and
dupont Citizens Associations are work.
ing with him. he continued.
ne District markets are inferior In
po!n' OF repair and nlodernity. Mr.. How
arg charged. saying that markets in
oshst cites are up 10 date with refr,c.
e!asn1g facilities. Supt. Roberts has
80. .n asking Tor an adequate appropria-
. .tsoii !oF me past two or three years for
1 ms !natket. Mr. Howard said, but the
Da commissioners and the Budget
na.eau WOULD not grant him sufficient
ttio"ey. Inc last time he told them II
.@ cou!a not get enough money. he
Wouio rather not have the market Mr
Howard asserted. estimating that ssn:
ooo would repair the market sufT1ctenti,
Tor the time being.
AR. Howard called attention IN ,ho
point that a second floor could BIZ cons
stfacted In the connections building
u ofing IN additional revenue. II need.
ca Supt. Roberts recently sent A
Vuestionnaire TO the dealers relative r.
me amount OF business done. Mr.
howard estimates that nearly $500. 000
WORTH OF business is done annually at
the western Market and insisted that
the market has been sclf.sustaininr
ana even II 1t had not been, It is MAIN
famed Tor the convenience OF the p,,b-
nc, IN the past two or three wears
ne pointed out. this market had had a
surplus OF sl.700
IL mas not been failure and there
Is no reason why II should close" Mr.
Howard commended.
Draws From Wide Area.
lie said there are now lot stands and
so dealers In tho market and he smoke
OF the elderly men who are now sr.
gagged In business In the market who
he said. will be thrown out of emnlov.
ment II the market Is closed.
There are about 1875 farmers firm,
Maryland and Virginia who occupy the
stands outside the building who would
hot know where To go AS many Of
them have been doing business there
Tor years. Mr.. Howard says At pres.
cnt these country folk have no shelter
ana pay 10 cents for the space they oc-
cupy. but would be willing To pay Ave
times as much II they could get sheds
there. Mr.. Howard continued.
The clientele OF the Western Market
comes from all over the city and the
adjoining suburbs. he explained. Mr.,
Howard has been In business IS years
In the market and declared that 1000
signatures were obtained to petitions
in about three days by persons who are
opposed to abolishing the market, II
drive Is made. he said, 10000 sigma.
lures can readily BE- obtained,
On Saturday he expects a large meet.
Ing with representatives OF the more
than $4,000 patrons" OF the Western