Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-03-23
CORRESPONDENTS.
Saving the People by Farm Methods.

Saving the People by Farm Methods.
SYKEsvILLE, Mp, March 49, 1895.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
The greatest mayor in the United
States Is Hazen S. Pingree, of Detroit.
Last June he suggested utilizing the
idle lands around Detroit for truck
gardens for the starving poor of that
city. His scheme was met with rid
lcule and censure from most of the
papers of his city and State. He per-
severed. He got some citizens inter
esred and had several thousand acres
offered free by their owners ; 1870 acres
We're accepted and divided into lots of
! TO ! acre each 5000 families applied;
945 We're given lots; $4,000 We're ex
pended and some $l4 600 worth of stuff
was raised. The poor of Detroit, in
consequence, have Jared better than
those of any other city during the past
winter.
Thirty of the lots were given to
widows who had half-grown boys to do
the work l4,l75 bushels of potatoes
were raised and truck of all kinds.
The experiment did not get started
until the middle of June and severe
drought diminished what might have
been phenomenal production on the
lots gwen to tin cans, garbage and city
refuse. The transformation of these
hldeous patches into welltilled gar
deus must have been refreshing.
Mayor Pingree is going to make the
test this season Il bowling success
The experiment is also going to be tried
this year Oh d large scale in New York
city. 1t is going to be in exact imita-
ton of the Detroit model. 1t is hard
ly proper to call it the Detroit modei
i'll view of the persecution shOwered
upon Mayor Pingree The main body
of the people are unworthy of any
glory attached to it, With New York
adopting it, every city in the land,
overstocked with the starving, should
follow, and many undoubtedly will.
viii Mayor Latrobe, of Baltimore, see
the point
Mayor Pingree, in appreciation Of
my farm reform, has sent me his full,
official account of his farming for the city
poor, aud ! see in the happy results of
his experiment an earnest OF what is
to be expected from the adoption of
the State farms, whereon the poor may
lullN ltdIu ldl plHS anu DtCoIlt cOu-
petent to thereafter pursue the bust
ness i'll any of its branches.
For the benefit of the Single-Tax
contingent of New York city, it can be
stated that when the truck patches are
opened this summer they will all have
the chance. it Is to be hoped, to get
latch wherein they can dig to their
hearts content. They have flooded
the Hudson with their tears of late,
lamentlng that not IA square foot of
land could be had throughout the
country wherein man could dig with
out paying for the privilege. In this
Pingree plan they are to have the high
privilege of digging in earth worth
many thousands of dollars an acre
and, moreover, are to be entitled to
carry away for their own use all that
they raise upon it. No tax, no rent,
no price, no cost for seeds or tools
only little sweat and hand labor are
all that is wanted.
Mayor Pingree's plan has been pub
lished and praised IN Justice, a Single
Tax paper of Philadelphia. and now.
while George breaches. let them take
hold and practice with Pingree.
Mayor Pingree is the greatest Mayor
in the country, because he instituted
plan that the greatest city in the
country is following.
The practical land-reformers Of the
country will ultimately "Iake the
cake" and don't you forget it.
FRANCIS B. LIvEsEY.