Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
DETROIT PLAN IN NEW YORK
A Lack of Funds, but No Lack of Interest
in the Work.
More Applicants Than Could BE Given
Farms-The Experiment
n Success.
From the New York World.


Aiding the poor by the Pingree plan.
which was tried in this city after it had
succeeded in Detroit, is now successful
here, and the work here is to be continued
on a much more extensive scale. ]. U.
kjelgaard, superintendent of the system of
farming unused Land, few days ago said:
Although We did not put the plan into
operation until April 2, We have allotted
800 acres of land for farming purposes
among $50 families. Some of them got a
quarter of an acre, others half acre,
according to the size of the family depend
ent upon the applicant.
William Steinway gave US the land. 1t
is in Steinway, L. l., a good location. We
furnish the would-be farmers with seeds,
teams, ploughs, fertilizer and everything
else that is required. In many cases we al
cents an hour while they were planting
their crops. But this was done only when
applicants did not even have bread. The
planting and farming is over now, and as
soon as the crops are ready We will find a
market for those who wish to Sell their
produce. Out of the returns we will de-
duct the money advanced, and also the
cost CT the seeds and fertilizer. OF course,
any of those who wish to do so may re-
tain their whole crop for their own use.
Next year, l think 1 may safely say,
we will be able to give out land for farm
ing purposes to at least 1000 families.
That will mean a great number of per-
sons The $50 families which We have as
sisted this year represent between fifteen
and sixteen hundred persons, who would
have actually suffered for want of food but
for this free farm scheme. We only gave
the land to married men, or to men having
widowed mothers with families dependent
upon them and you would be surprised to
see with what earneStneSS they took hold.
Many of them had never seen a plough be-
fore. For such cases have three assist
ants who are practical farmers. and where
a man was ignorant of farming we taught
him. l never saw pupils more apt.
We are not considering any more appli-
cations at present." said Mr.. Robert Fem
ton of the committee in charge, ''as the
season is too far advanced for planting,
and as the charity was only intended to
help the poor in the cold and rainy months.
The men aided are far above the average.
They are men who beg for nothing but
work. Nearly all Of those families are such
as are commonly called poor but proud.
They would starve rather than beg for food,
but When the men heard of this opportun-
.ty they came here and promptly made
known their needs.
Most of those who got free farms ara
residents of New York, and men must want
to work when they will tramp from here to
Steinway and back every day.
Each Quarter-acre, it is estimated, will
produce fifty bushels of potatoes alone, and
they will fetch, on an average, about 90
cents bushel. Mr.. Kjelgaard is of the
opinion that each quarter-acre will return
for the work expended upon it from $50 to
500. After the planting was done the
farmers had little to do but go over there
once IN while and weed out.
"A few drones crept in among the busy
bees but they were speedily weeded out.
And let me say right here that the first to
make kicks were the hard workers, who
called the attention of cur superintendent
to the slothful ones. Most of the men
seemed to appreciate the chance presented
to them and acted as If they were grateful,
but few-only few. mind you-seemed to
think that they ought to be provided with
a farmer to do the work for them. They
were soon sent off about their business. We
have now upon our books applications from
twice as many persons as We have assisted.
But the season is too far advanced now,
and no more ground will be allotted until
next year. So far, the contributors have
not been as liberal as We hoped they would,
and the work may have to be restricted
for lack Of money, but If we have sufficient
FUNDS next year viii see the experiment
tried on a scale as large, If not larger, than
that of Detroit New York was the first
city to emulate the good idea which origin
ated with the mayor of Detroit, but now it
is in operation in twenty-five other cities of
the Union, and SO far from every city in
which it has been tried, come encoura ging
reports, but with the same complaint, that
funds with which to make the experiment
a grand success are scarce.
with few exceptions all the desirable
men have stuck to their farms. Those
who gave them up succeeded in getting
better and steady positions elsewhere. Most
of them came and told us, and We had no
trouble in assigning their land to Others
We don't want men who can get work
elsewhere. We only want those who ara
INDECENT and cannot get other employment
There is no discrimination here on account
of a mans creed or color. We never in
quire about his religion. OF course, we do
require references from some one. If he
brings one from his church pastor it is in-
vestigated just the same as If he brings
one from a former employer. All we in
sist on Is that the applicant must be a
person worthy of assistance. We do not
propose to help those who will not and
never have made an effort to help them-
Selves"