Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-07
FIVE WHITE MEN ALREADY,
Applications for Lnnd to Cultivate
PotutOe~-A Talk With Mr.. Emery.

POtutOeS-A Talk With Mr.. Emery
Applications are beginning to be received
by men who are anxious to have a try at
small farming this summer on the city
lots. Five white men have already left
their names and addresses with Mr., l.. s.
Emery. secretary of the joint executiye
committee. at the office of the Associated
Charities. on G street, and they have been
told that as soon as the committee in
charge of the distribution of the lots shall
make their report land will be assigned
to them. and they will be supplied with
the necessary tools end seeds. Everything
is ready. in fact, to start these five farmers
on their way to self-help.
Blank Forms to BE Ready.
Steps are being actively taken to make
a systematic start with the business, and
blank forms will probably be ready for
delivery in few days. There have been
rec eived here copies of the blanks that are
In use in New York, where the Detroit
plan Is being tried on a large scale. and
these forms will doubtless be utilized as
general guides for the local enterprise.
They are of two kinds, small Individual
blank for use in the regular run of the
business and larger, more detailed blank,
to be filed away for future reference at
the end or the season. for example, when
1t may become advisable to review the
work of the summer and figure out the per
cent of success.
The first blank is intended as an order,
as well. on the superintendent Of the lots
to assign man to piece of ground and
start him at work. 1t has few entries, and
when filled out states the name of the per-
son indorsing the applicant, the number of
months of experience in farming that the
applicant has had. the number of members
of his family capable of working, and
whether he can pay for his supplies or not
1t is thought desirable to require the appli-
e.
seeds whenever 1t Is possible for them to
do so.
4 Detailed Record
The larger blank has a number of head
ings. and a line for each member of the
household of the applicant. 1t goes into the
question of his color his nationality,
whether town or country born and bred
and the number of individuals in the family
capable OF working If employment were
had A warning at the top of the blank is
to the effect that the failure of the appli-
cant to answer any one of the several
questions will detract largely from the
scientific value of the in form ton thus Sc
cured, which. 1t is anticipated, will be of
great use to the committees in charge In
later months in drawing conclusions from
the seasons work. The record of individ-
uals can thus be kept, and fairly accurate
estimate made of the actual amount of ben
efit afforded to the unemployed.
Mn Emery said that 50 far as possible
the applicants will be given land in the
neighborhood of their residences, as it was
highly desirable for them to be obliged to
travel as short distance as possible in
going to and from their lots. 1t was not
to be expected that these men will be able
to pay car fare and they should also be
near enough to be able to work early in the
morning and during the evening hours. so
as to leave the middle of the day open for
the acceptance of stray chances to work
elsewhere.
He further said that the Secretary of Ag-
riculture would probably be able to assist
the committee by furnishing some of the
smaller seeds though it would be necessary
for the committee to purchase the larger
seeds and the potatoes for seeding.