The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-12
SELF HELP SUCCEEDS.
Pingree Plan Kept Many Fami-
lies From Poverty.
MUCH MADE OUT OF LITTLE.
Report OF the Committee shows Fine
Results Achieved >uggestions
for Permanent Work.

Ire Pingree land plan for enabling the
Industrious unemployed 20 obtain the
means % living until they secure employ
nent has proved as marked a success in
Seattle as n Detroit, where Il was start
Cd. and in New York, where IL was car
risd Out on a larger scale. Rev d. G. Gar
ret, who was appointed By the commit
tee 20 prepare a hnal report on the
years work has completed IL and gives
with il the figures showing the value %
crops. etc, which we're obtained by Rob
srt Bridges. the superintendent. from &C
thal Investigation He also makes a num-
Der OF recommendations for the continue
ton Of the work next year.
The Pingree plan OF procuring the use OF
city lots for cultivation by unemployed
men and furnishing applicants. when nee
essaTy. with seed and implements was
started In Seattle last April. but the
movement was not well undR wsh til
the middle OF May. There were ii ap-
plieanis. or this number thirty allowed
their applications 10 lapse. leaving al who
went 20 work. representing ST individuals
Lands We're secured for e.Ehty-nlne. while
nfty-two furnished their own lard, but
were assisted with seeds and Implements
Fifteen applicants who were furnished
with seeds, etc, abandoned their land On
account Of sickness or other good reason
Three men quit without any reason. The
the city donated 800. The expenditures.
which have already been published in de-
tan, amounted TO s203. 10. leaving a balance
or sll35. The average cost 20 each appli-
cant for seed and implements was only
81. IL The seed furnished each applicant
amounted on an average TO / ounce OF
onions. y ounce lettuce, z ounce carrots.
= ounce radish, ounce turnips / pound
beans. pound onion sets. / pound peas.
sack OF potatoes.
Mr.. Bridges. by investigation OF the
crops Of the ninety-six who planted 20
tatoes. finds the average crop for each
applicant is twenty bushels, which would
give in potatoes alone 1.920 bushels. IL
was impossible 10 obtain exact figures for
the other vegetables, as many have lived
during the summer on what they have
raised. one applicant has kept a careful
record Of all he had obtained from the
seed given him. which Is as follows: Po-
tatoes. y bushels beets. bushels; onions,
3 bushels; cucumbers. Ii dozen; cabbage.
300 head peas. l sack; beans. sacks:
carrots. bushels: lettuce and radshes.
So worth: total value OF this one crop,
s35,5 The estimated value OF all the
vegetables raised by the applicants who
have completed their harvest IS $3.50.
This result has been secured al an expen-
diture OF S203 10
The report says: Considering that the
plan was inaugurated quite late for this
climate. and the misfortune OF unusual
drouth. which has proved entirely disss-
trous TO some crops on high land. where
water could not be obtained, the success
attained is such TO justify a strong
recommendation for a repetition Of this
movement early in the spring OF 1896
Aside from furnishing employment TO
worthy men and food 10 their families,
the plan Is one OF the best ever proposed
for encouraging thrift. self-help and de-
sire 10 secure ones living from the moth
err earth mans natural and inalienahle
source Of subsistence"
Mr. Garrett recommends that this vacant
lot plan be adopted as a permanent insti-
tuition by the city. as IL is in Detroit, and
that the city make an annual appropria-
ton for the same. that board of ten or
twelve men be appointed by the mayor 10
manage the business. care being taken not
to allow this measure for the public good
TO he contaminated by party politics. These
men should he chosen irrespective OF party
race or creed. The city council should per
NIT one of the city employees 10 give a por-
ton OF his time as secretary OF this board.
4 superintendent too is needed. the same
as this year. for outdoor work This sys-
ten. II we'll directed. could be carried out
on such a scale as TO practically abolish
poverty in Seattle except from sickness or
intemperanCe Mr. Garrett suggests that
a number of prizes In cash be offered 10
those who plant the best cultivate the
best and produce the best. To prevent any
one from losing the results OF his labor ny
reason Of the owner of the land selling or
building before the crop Is harvested ii is
recommended that the board of managers
have planted and cultivated a number Of
emergency patches TO b. given 20 those
who are dispossessed Of the land they first
occupy and till.