Walla Walla's Farmers Needed a Market—and the City Needed Them Off the Streets

Many of the farmers and business men of Walla Walla are agitating the question of the establishment of a general market place in this city. For some time it has been realized that in the near future such a place would have to be provided. At the present time every load of produce disposed of in Walla Walla has to be sold on the public streets. For many years Alder Street, between Second and Third, was used by the farmers for this purpose, and on Saturday of each week a large number of wagons of produce, wood and hay were congregated on this street. As the city is growing and business men are rapidly springing up on the side streets, the farmers are being gradually pushed on to the back streets.

Boise City, Idaho, has been forced by the same conditions that exist here to provide a general market place. The matter was taken up by the Boise city council and an ordinance was passed to govern the sale of all produce brought to the city by the farmers. The market was opened several days ago and is proving very satisfactory.

“We certainly need such a place,” said a well known farmer yesterday, who had brought to town a load of produce to sell. “As it now stands we are compelled to leave our stuff in our wagons on a back street and then go about the business streets looking for purchasers. A lot could be secured that would be centrally located and should be enclosed with a board fence. A set of standard scales could be provided and every pound of produce or other stuff could be weighed by a competent agent, who should be appointed by the city council. The cost of fitting up the yard or market would not exceed more than $500, and I am certain that the farmers would be willing to contribute their share toward meeting the cost. It would prove a good thing for all concerned. It would not only keep such loads off the public streets, but would enable the farmers to have one central point where they could take their products and find purchasers.”

The ordinance passed by the Boise City council provides that all persons desiring to offer for sale, in wagon load lots, any hay, wood, grain or other products may use and occupy the same for such purposes.

The ordinance further provides that “such weigh master shall charge for each load weighed on said scales the sum of 10 cents, provided, however, there shall be no charge for weighing the empty wagon before or after the load. No person shall offer for sale in wagon load lots in any street or alley of the city any hay, wood or other products, nor cause or permit any such wagon load lots of hay, wood or other products owned or controlled by him or them to stand in any street or alley in the city for sale.”