168 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



period of time and have honestly endeavored to 

 make them a success. And these cities have materi- 

 ally reduced prices. Retail dealers and real-estate 

 interests have prevented markets being opened at 

 all in many cities or have prevented them being 

 built or operated in a manner to attract customers. 

 The city of New York had permitted its markets 

 to fall into disuse. Population had shifted away 

 from them. During the early months of the Euro- 

 pean War the advance in prices led to the use of 

 city-owned open spaces under the bridge approaches 

 as open markets. Representatives of the city went 

 out into the country and encouraged the farmers to 

 make use of these spaces at a moderate rental. 

 Four markets were opened for the sale of fruits, 

 vegetables, meats, poultry, and other produce. 

 Almost overnight these previously vacant places 

 became teeming market-places for rich and poor 

 alike, as many as 100,000 persons a day making use 

 of them. Prices immediately fell, and buyers were 

 able to save often as much as 33^ per cent, on their 

 purchases. Prices were also reduced in the stores 

 throughout the city, while the farmers, who had 

 previously had a very precarious sale for their prod- 

 uce, now began to sell directly to the consumer as 

 had been the practice a generation ago. But the 

 real-estate owners and dealers organized a protest 

 against the competition of the market, and, respond- 

 ing to this demand, the city authorities fixed an 



