Although the coming of the railroad from Djibouti to Addis Abeba in 1917 did not bring in huge food increases since most of the city’s supply was still carted in via traditional transport such as cattle, sheep and donkey caravans, it did have an impact on the market. As the capital became one of the largest district offices of the railway company, one of the largest wage earning contingents from a capitalist company were labourers on the line whose purchases helped to develop the Cherkos Market. 

Source: Research by David Chapple, made before the 1974