The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-24
WORK FOR THE IDLE
NEW YORK,S PLAN FOR ASSISTING
THE CITY's UNEMPLOYED.
Deserving Poor to he Given an OPP
Vegetables on Free Land.

NEW YORK. March 23.-The committee
on the cultivation of vacant lots by the
unemployed, as an auxiliary of the New
York Association for Improving the Condi-
ton of the Poor, made public to-day the
result of their many conferences in re-
gard to the experiment of providing en-
ployment for the worthy unemployed men
of this city. The committee report that
they have secured the use for the coming
summer from William Steinway, the piano
manufacturer, of three hundred acres in
Long Island City. Ex-Mayor Hewitt has
also donated the use of fifty acres of land
at Inwood, on the Hudson river. Each
applicant must fill out a blank form, which
will be furnished him, and if properly in
dorsed by some responsible person he will
be allowed the use of a quarter of an
acre of land, which he will cultivate dur
ing the summer, and the proceeds from
the sale of vegetables will be given to
him. In a case where a man has a large
family and his condition is extra worthy
he will be given half an acre of the land
to cultivate. The committee has ordered
1000 bushels of seed potatoes, and has al
ready on hand all the other vegetable seeds
that will be required. The seeds and all
the agricultural implements necessary to
till the soil will be furnished the men free
of charge. The committee has secured
the services of ]. w. Kjelgaard, a prac-
teal farmer, as superintendent of the
farms. 1t is expected that a large number
of the men will be unable to subsist while
awaiting the result of their labor, and
to provide against this contingency the
committee has reserved a large tract of
land in Long Island City and a part of
the land in Inwood, which will be known
as the committee plot" where such men
will be employed by the to cul-
tivate the soil. and for which they will
be paid either so or 70 cents a day. The
committee will exercise a general super
vision over the work and will find a mar
ket for the produce. 1t is also stipulated
that one-half of the seeds planted shall be
will produce from 400 to $50 bushels of po-
tatoes.
A letter was received by the committee
from Henry A. Robinson, chief of the
statistical division of the Department of
Agriculture at Washington, in which he
the experiment at Detroit, Mich, and from
the general opinion of those to whom he
of the merit CT the schemes. Mr.. Robin
son inclosed in his letter a report from the
committee having the enterprise at Detroit
in charge, which says in part: Tina land
to the extent of 430 acres was secured,
ploughed, narrowed and staked off into lots
5000 applications were received, but the
committee was able to provide for only 95
families. The potato crop averages about
fifteen bushels to the lot. Large quantities
of beans. turnips and other vegetables were
raised and daily consumed. The whole was
sufficient to keep the people from want
and habits of idleness. The estimated
value of the crops produced was twelve to
fourteen thousand dollars. The entire cost
to the COMMITTEES was 50, 600, which was
made up of subscriptions, over half the
latter being contributed by city employees.
AS a labor test the plan is uneXcelled. Here
is an opportunity for honorable, moderate
and not unpleasant work, and for learning
a useful occupation. The Christian Indus
trial Alliance meal tickets will keep a
family of three at a cost of 80 cents per
week, which are given in wages for the
week"
Several experiments will be tried the
coming summer in Minneapolis, Toledo, Los
Angeles, ST. Paul, Syracuse, Chicago, Buff
falo and st. Louis.