176 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



300,000 cubic feet of this space is used as a public cold-storage ware- 

 house in Center Market, while the remainder is private space. The 

 cold-storage warehouse is oj^erated on a commercial basis, with the 

 single exception that loans of public funds are not made on goods 

 accepted for storage and held as collateral, as is done by most com- 

 mercial warehouses. In some instances, particularly in connection 

 with such products as apples, this restriction has made it difficult to 

 meet competition. The difficulty is partially overcome by issuing 

 negotiable warehouse receipts, which can be used as collateral for 

 loans from the banks. 



Business of the cold-storage warehouse during the past year has 

 been normal. While new accounts are sought wherever obtainable, 

 the Center Market cold storage is intended and operated primarily 

 for the convenience of Center Market dealers and supply firms serv- 

 ing dealers in the market and surrounding market district. Because 

 of the factor of advantageous location, the competition in Washing- 

 ton has not been felt as keenly as might be expected. 



Practically all classes of food products placed in cold storage are 

 handled at the warehouse. Much of the business is in small lots, 

 which adds to the cost of handling and increases the liability of 

 error in delivery. More than 9,000 warehouse receipts, covering 

 more than 7,000,000 pounds of foodstuffs, were issued during the 

 past year. The amount of work and care involved in handling an 

 extensive small-lot business is evidenced by the fact that more than 

 20,700 delivery tickets were issued during the year covering goods 

 delivered from storage. Despite the increased liability for error 

 in handling rather extensive small-lot business as compared to carlot 

 business, our claims for loss and damage during the past year were 

 almost negligible. 



FEW CHANGES IN MARKET TENANTS. 



Kegulations promulgated by the Secretary when this property was 

 taken over were revised during the past year in some particulars and 

 published in printed form. Generally speaking, the regulations have 

 been adequate to meet the various situations that have arisen. Wliile 

 some rather persistent violations of the regulations, mostly minor 

 in character, have been encountered, their enforcement has been 

 accomplished with a minimum of opposition. The spirit of coopera- 

 tion manifested by the majority of the lessees in the observance and 

 enforcement of rules has been very gratifying. Little dissatisfaction 

 with Government operation and methods is apparent. No difficulty 

 has been experienced in keeping stands continuously occupied. Only 

 eight changes in tenants occurred during the year. There are at 

 present in our files 102 applications for stands inside the market and 

 87 applications for farmers' spaces on the north side of B Street set 

 aside for the use of farmers. 



PUBLIC HEALTH GUARDED BY STRICT INSPECTION. 



Promulgation of regulations covering the inspection of meats, to 

 protect the public against the sale of impure or unwholesome meats 

 in Center Market, and the employment of a meat inspector to enforce 

 these rules, have been beneficial. In a few instances it has been 

 necessarv to condemn meat as unfit for food and order its immediate 



