MARKET PROBLEMS 



191 



So a new market was built. We appreciated the new 

 market very much, because we felt that we had been provid- 

 ed with a place Where we could go, sell our goods, and return 

 home without being pushed about from pillar to post. 



The city authorities said that they did not intend to use 

 the market as a money-making investment, but simply to 

 charge enough rental for the stalls to make the market self- 

 supporting. So a minimum price of $30.50 was placed on 

 each stall, and we were to bid for a choice at public auction, 

 which we did, getting our stalls for from $31.00 to $35.00 

 each. At these prices the city was able to pay the running 

 expenses of the market, pay the interest on the bonds, and 

 pay off some of the bonds each year. 



But after a year or so the city began to see a prospect of 

 making the market into one of the city's most paying invest- 

 ments, so they decided to increase the minimum price of the 

 stalls to $60.00 per annum and make us bid for a choice over 

 and above that. 



Then, on the sixth day of April, 1910, there was formed in 

 the town of Irondequoit an association known as the ''Market 

 Gardeners' Association of Monroe County." What for? For 

 the purpose of fighting for our rights. And, gentlemen, be- 

 lieve me, we fought. Listen! 



We assured the city authorities we thought we knew our 

 rights, and "to come down to brass tacks," we did not be- 

 lieve we could be compelled to pay anything to market the 

 goods we grew; but they told us that a city of the first class 

 had the power to make ordinances governing the city streets, 

 which I believe they have. And then the fun began. 



We told them that we would be willing to pay the same 

 price we had heretofore paid, but no more. We signed a 

 petition stating that unless we got our stalls at the same old 

 price, we would buy no stalls at all, and the result was we 

 got our stalls for one year with the privilege of three if we 

 wanted them. 



Last spring our three years was up, and knowing that we 

 would not stand for a raise of the minimum price, they at- 

 tempted to make us pay more money in an indirect way. 

 They changed the rules, making it into a retail market. They 



