The single as well as most sizable and important wage group in Addis Abeba in the second decade of the 20th Century was workers employed by what is today the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Company.

It was people from this group that helped the creation and development of Cherqos Market, whose location was nearer to the railway main station, long before Merkato had become predominant. Peasants began commercial supply of their produces from Bole, Galan and what was then 91917-18) as far places as Mount Furi. Indeed, the coming of railway to Addis Abeba is credited for encouraging the growth of food market in the capital.

Source: Research by David Chapple, made before the 1974 revolution