St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-24
FARMS IN GOTHAM.
City Dads Of the Metropolis
Decide to Adopt the Pin
gree Plan.
TO AID THE UNEMPLOYED.
Cultivation Of Vacant City
Lots and Outlying Tracts
Will Be Tried.
OTHER CITIES INTERESTED.
Similar Experiments to Be
Made in Many Other Lo-
calities.
OTHER CITIES INTERESTED

s., NEW YORK, March 23.-The COM
mittee on the cultivation of vacant
lots by the unemployed as an auxil-
larry of the New York Association
Tor Improving the Condition of the
Poor, made public today the result
of their many conferences in regard
to the experiment Of providing en-
ployment for the worthy unem-
ployed men of this city. The COM
mittee reports that they have Sc
cured the use for the coming summer
from William Steinway, the piano
manufacturer, of 800 acres of land in
Long Island City.
Ex-Mayor Hewitt has also do
mated 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 indorsed by some
responsible person, he will be al
lowed 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 the vegetables will
be given him. In case where a
man has large family and his con-
dition is extra worthy, he will be
given half an acre of land to culti-
Vate. The committee has ordered
1,2GO bushels of seed potatoes, and
has already 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 a practical 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 contin-
| gency the committee has reserved a
large tract of land in Long Island
City and part of the land at In
wood, which will be known as the
committee plot" where such men
Will be employed by the committee
to cultivate the soil, and for which
they will be paid either so or rs cents
day
The committee will exercise a gen
eral supervision over the work. will
lind market for the produce. It is
also stipulated that one-half the seeds
planted shall be potatoes. 1t is esti
mated that one acre will produce from
40 to 45 bushels of potatoes A letter
| received by the committee from Henry
A. Robinson, chief of the statistical
division of the department of agri-
culture at Washington, in which he
states that from a personal investi-
| cation of the experiment at Detroit.
Mich, and from the general opinion
of those to whom he applied for in
formation, he is convinced of the ef-
ficiency Of the scheme. Mr.. Robinson
enclosed in his letter a report from
the committee having the enterprise
at Detroit in charge, which says in
| part: THAT land to the extent of 430
acres was secured, iploughed, har-
rowed and staked off into lots of one
quarter and half acres, and that 1900
applications were received but the
committee was able to provide for
945 families. The potato crop averaged
about fifteen bushels a lot Large
quantities of beans, turnips and other
vegetables were raised and daily con-
Sumed. The whole was sufficient to
keep the people from want and habits
|, of idleness. The estimated value of
I the crops produced was from twelve
ito fourteen thousand dollars. The
entire cost Vo 1.-The committee was
$500, made up of subscriptions
over half the latter being contributed
by city employees. AS Tabor test
the plan is unexcelled. Here Is an
opportunity for honorable, moderate
and not unpleasant work and for
learning a useful occupation. Any
who are able, but will not work, should
not be helped at all. Where men are
in need of immediate support and cam
not wait for crops to grow, they are
put to work ploughing, and given a