Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-04
TO TRY THE POTATO PLAN
Oeraral Relief Committee Appropriates a
Thousand Dollars
To Provide Work for the Destitute
Revolutions Adopted at Yester-
days Meetings.

There Will be work and a chance fer
every poor family in Washington to better
its condition this summer. The relief COM
mittee, which last week appointed sub
committee to consider the potato plan, met
yesterday afternoon at Judge Coles room
at the city hall, and not only adopted the
idea, but gave it effect by authorizing a
subcommittee to proceed to cooperate
with other organizations in the work and
to set the plan in operation, and to that
end 1000 was appropriated to their use.
There were present Justice Cole, who pre-
sided; Messrs. 3. H. Warner, Theodore w.
Noyes Col. John Tracy, Mrs. ]. w. Babson
and l.. S. Emery.
The subcommittee on methods of relief
through work, consisting Of Messrs. L. s.
Emery, T. w. Noyes and J. w. Somerville,
presented it's report through Mr.. Emery.
The committee Endorsed the plan, and
asked that steps be taken at once to put 1t
in operation, and that seed and tools be
furnished.
Resolutions Adopted.
The following resolutions were presented
and unanimously adopted:
Resolved. That the central relief COM
mittee indorse the project of putting the
so-called Detroit plan into practical ope-
ration in this city.
Resolved, That the subcommittee on
methods of relief through work be author
lied and instructed to cooperate with the
board of trade, the Associated Charities
or organzat lions of citizens in carrying
into effect this project.
Resolved, That the sum of $1,000 or SO
much thereof as may be necessary, be ap-
proprated. subject to the approval Of the
District Commissioners and placed at the
disposal of the above subcommittee, to
enable them to carry out these inStruc-
nf no
Col. Tracy offered the following reSolu-
ton, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the secretary of this
committee transmit a COPY of these reso-
lutions, Just passed, to the Commissioners
of the District, with the request that they
favor with early action on the same"
Mrs. Babson told of colored woman on
Capitol Hill who had already gone to work
on the Detroit plan, and had a nice crop
Of garden vegetables nearly ready to use
on vacant lot that had been offered her
She had herself fenced it in with old boards
and bits of wire, and had done all the work
in odd times from other labor.
Their Experiences as Farmers.
Mr.. Warner said he thought the scheme
promised good results. His own experience
in potato raising hardly afforded him data
upon which to advise In the present under
taking, for, from a careful estimate. he had
discovered that the potatoes he raised had
cost him about ten cents apiece
Col. Tracy related his experience in rails
ing cabbages on block of property near
New York a few years ago, where, on land
worth 100000. he had set out over 100000
cabbage plants and harvested two good
cabbages. That result was due to blight
rather than bad farming.
Judge Cole and others of the committee
united in the view that this was to be a
fruitful season. and that prospects were
good for the local operations.
The subcommittee in charge of the potato
a ,t-ifh Yha ar1
trade committee and other organizations
desiring to cooperate and organize work
There is an abundance of land available
but far few applications for chance
to work on them. These will no doubt
come in as soon as the project is under
definite Roadway.
Approved by the Commissioners.
l.. S. Emery, secretary of the Associated
Charities and a member of the special
committee that reported upon the Detroit
plan for the relief of the poor, called upon
the Commissioners this morning and PRE-
scented the report of the committee, wtic h
the Commissioners promptly approved.