14 



account of the size of their operations. For this reason the 

 success of a market is questionable in this city. Plans are 

 being laid, however, to continue another year. A fee of 60 

 cents was charged at this market. 



Salem. — Salem has had a public market place since 1816 

 in Derby Square, but this has largely drifted out of the hands 

 of farmers and into the hands of hucksters and pedlers. This 

 market was placed under the supervision of a board of control 

 by an ordinance passed in 1915, the members of the board 

 of control being the city marshal, the sealer of weights and 

 measures and the inspector of provisions. Stalls in this market 

 were leased and permits issued. 



This market, however, was not really a farmers' curb market, 

 but was more in the nature of the Reading Terminal Market 

 in Philadelphia, or the Central Market in Newark. 



On August 18, 1917, the Committee on Food Conservation 

 opened a market on Salem Common, and this was operated on 

 Wednesdays and Saturdays until November 3. The produce was 

 all sold from tables, and as these tables were inside an enclosure 

 the farmers had to unload their wagons, which proved inconven- 

 ient. This was a small market, and on the average only 8 to 10 

 farmers attended. Buj^ers ranged from 200 to 500 in number. 

 There was a community table, selling on a 10 per cent commis- 

 sion basis, and 25 cents rental was charged for a table, 



Saugus. — The town of Saugus assigned three market sites, — 

 Saugus Town Hall Green, East Saugus Center and Cliftondale 

 Common. Markets were operated here for a short time in 

 1917, but the patronage was small and the markets were not a 

 success. The goods were sold from boxes or tables. Saugus 

 is largely a residential town, and a large proportion of the 

 householders have enough land to raise home gardens. For 

 this reason it seems doubtful whether there will be enough 

 demand for vegetables to support a market, with the possible 

 exception of the Cliftondale section of the town. 



Springfield. — The city of Springfield leased a lot on the 

 corner of Vernon Street and Broadway, and the city govern- 

 ment appropriated $4,000 for operating a market. This market 

 was operated from August to December. The market accom- 

 modated about 80 farmers, and the average number attending 



