Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
CAPITAL PRODUCE TRADE WAR
FOUGHT BY RIVAL MER CHANTS
Commission Men Vie for FoodstuHs Worth
$35O0,0O0 Annually After u.
Forces Shift of Sites.

The Capital has become the battle
ground for new war.
The prize is the produce of the
nearby farmers. with its normal annua
value Of approximately $3,500,o00.
The opposing armies are the com
mission men, SPLIT up when the Gov
eminent building program forced them
ont of long established quarters south
of Pennsylvania avenue and now en-.
trenched on two frontS-northeaSt and
southwest.
Both sides voice unbounded opti-
mism; claims and counter claims fall
| upon the ear.
The outcome will be written when
April rolls around and the produce
really begins to roll in.
Bows to U. s. Plan.
The present condition grows out OF
a situation that developed several years
ago, when the Government expansion
program heralded the end of the great
foodsupply center built up below the
Avenue. One of the units that faced
custer was the so-called farmers line, >
an establishment of long standing
where the growers from far and near
| gathered to dispose of their produce
vegetables. fruits, poultry-anything
and everything that comes from q
| farm.
Through the years the "line' trade
had grown steadily. The sheds erected
by the Government became inadequate,
and adjacent street took up the over
| flow. Some days saw more than 500
farmers con the line" and it was esti-
mated that anywhere from 1000 to
| 400 were making use Of the location
! about half regularly, and the other half
| from time to time. The great ma
| jority, Of course, were from nearby
sections. but in later years, good roads
and fast trucks brought in trade from
as far to the North as New jersey and
to the South as Georgia.
| About IS per cent of the trade was
wholesale commission men, grocery
stores, both chain and independent,
hotels. restaurants, hospitals-any one
| buying in bulk.
The remainder came from the private
consumers, purchasing anything from
nickel's worth up. From long before
dawn until evening bartering prog
reSSed, through Summer and Winter.
Wholesale prices were lower than re-
tail, but 1t Is said the difference was not
great.
New Site Chosen.
When it became known that the
| Farmers Market must 60, the Ques-
| ton of its relocation came to the front
and merry melee ensued as advocates
of sites in various sections of the city
advanced their claims.
Ultimately, Congress chose two
squares In Southwest Washington
bounded by Tenth. Eleventh, E and G
streets, and appropriated $500, 900 for
the establishment of farmers whole
| sale" market there.
| The selection was made over the pro-
| test Of the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations, which had argued against ap-
propriating public funds for a whole
sale" market, and had said that what
was needed was a new retail market
that would accommodate the farmers
I'm central location the idea at that
time being for another set-up such rs
prevailed at Center Market.
$4,000 Net Yearly.
Tt might be said here. though. that
observers have questioned just how fal
the provision for wholesale" trade car
be enforced-f any effort is made to
enforce it. when the farmer has no guar
anty that he can get rid Of all his prod
uce at wholesale.
Again, it has been said on good au-
thority that farmers market, oper-
ated under the right conditions, can
be made to pay running expenses. The
old line" cleared about $4,000 above
all expenses between 1920 and 1925
when it was doomed.
The site also had come in for criti-
cism in a report from the Bureau OF
Efficiency, compiled by DIR. George C.
Havenner, an active figure in the fed
Grafton, who, as investigator for the
bureau. surveyed all the sites recon-
mended for the Zine" and. in a COM
prehensive analysis, weighted the
merits and dement's of each.
Cost Of Shift Rises.
On the contrary. Southwest propon-
ents fired back counter arguments
Rail facilities, cold storage plants, the
proximity of the Municipal Fish Mar
ket, which would allow linking up OF
market facilities, all were advanced.
The appropriation finally was made
last year, and condemnation proceed
ings now have been instituted, it hay
ing been found impossible to acquire
the land for $225,000, which is the
maximum figure it Is considered the
District can pay, II the cost of the
market Is to be kept within $500, 900.
/ The condemnation jury will be Sc
lected April FL.
While the struggle over the farm
market was waging there was in the
background another fight, with the
commission merchants, also pre-empted
BY the Government, playing the leading
roles.
One group decided to go Southwest
They formed the Potomac Food Dis
tributors' Association, of which J. T
Richards, is president.
New Market Built.
| The Pennsylvania Railroad, which
furnishes the rail facilities to that sec
ton, joined hands with these, and
through the Potomac Freight Terminal
Association, a subsidiary erected al
Twelfth and Water streets a group OF
modern commission houses costing be-
tween 81 10000 and $1.50O, 900.
Located just below the site of the
Farmers i. Market, this venture already
has attracted more than 10 commits
sion men, according to Richards.
being exacted until April !, though some
of the tenants have been using the
buildings for storage purposes for
months. The occupants, he added, have
the privilege of purchasing their places
at the expiration of five years.
Business was started at the new loca-
ton just week ago.
| Southwest Adds Market.
But opponents of the Southwest were
not idle. With some 80 commission
men in line, they organized the Union
Market Terminals Corporation took
over the Patterson tract in lexington,
and there another modern commission
center has sprung up. even including
barber shops and lunch rooms. with
Judson o. Harrison as president. The
layout there, which also will include
refrigeration, Is estimated to have cost