The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-07
THE PINGRFE PLAN.

Seattle last year In afording employment
to the most deserving has encouraged It's
promoters to renew 1t this year. The COM
mittee is calling for more land and for
some money for current expenses
Wherever the method has been adopted
II has prospcred to a gratifying degree.
and IL Is TO Seattie's credit that she stands
among the foremost cities putting 1t into
operation.
At Detroit, where II was inaugurated,
1876 persons were employed las, year. the
cost being 1890, and the crops. so far as
ascertained, yielded ST. ,ss7 and altogether
1t is estimated the returns amounted to
$4,000 Buffalo stands next with so fam
Hes employed at an outlay OF s.. go and an
estimated return Of $1,000 to $1,000 Min
neapolis employed 22s persons at a cost
OF so, and the yield was Is to 80 bushels
OF potatoes each plot Seattle comes next.
with al heads OF families. the outlay be-
ing SOD. and the estimated returns 8, 40
ST. Louis had 20 families. whose cost was
siss. and the yield 81, 500
1t Is not profitable business: It Is intend
ed only as a feature OF relief, and to that
extent It has been a great success. 1t is
extending to other cities. and a regular
organization perfected. SO that cost and re-
suits may be systematically determined.
As 1t has passed the stage of experiment.
1t may be interesting TO review the origin
OF the Pingree or Detroit plan. In the
summer OF 1884, when more persons than
al ns
OF the hard times. Mayor Pingree. of De-
trot conceived the idea that vacant land
in and near the city could be cultivated
by the poor unemployed. whereby subsis-
tence could be obtained for the winter
A committee was appointed. several thou
sand acres Of land were offered. but for
lack Of funds only 400 acres $3.50 city lots)
were accepted. This land was plowed.
narrowed and staked into lots OF quarter
TO half an acre each. Seed and tools were
Furnished by the committee. Nine hun
dred and forty-five families received plots
OF land, which were cultivated under the
direction of a volunteer superintendent.
An appeal for money TO carry on the
work was then issued. in which It was
clearly stated that the cultivation of the
city lots by the unemployed was not
mere charity. but a relief scheme which
aimed TO establish habits OF self-reliance,
to teach the poor TO become prosperous.
10 make farming moro profitable and to
increase the sum OF wealth, and that #
was the opinion of the committee that
hundreds o, families who would other
wise be a burden 10 the taxpayers and
to the charitable could be made self-sup-
porting at a cost of less than so each.
help being given. where possible, as a
loan. The plan. therefore. embraced a
means of providing immediate work on a
business basis for all unemployed. how
ever uuskilled who might be willing and
capable.
There were, OF course. difficulties to be
overcome ard some Accomplishments ex-
pcrienced. but. the promoters persevered.
and their efforts were well rewarded. The
report Of the Detroit committee says the
experiment has clearly demonstrated that
many OF the destitute are ready and will
4ng to work that a large number Of these
people can he supported by utilizing vacant
land in the outskirts OF the city. that rob
berry and trespassng. even upon unfenced
land, are not a serious difficulty. that a
small space Of ground Is sufficient 10 raise
enough vegetables 20 support a family
through the winter; that a majority OF the
citizens who own the vacant land would
rather allow Il 20 Re cultivated hy the
poor than nay a large tax for their sup
port: that the needy are thereby assisted.
without creating tho Generalization IN
the habits OF the people that gratultous aid
always entails. and that much relief and
real help may by this plan ~ Afforded
with small expense 20 charitable persons
or % taxpayers. Thus az a labor test
this rlan - urexceliei Here Is an oppor-
tuulty FOR honest. moderate and no; IN
pleasant work. ana for learning useful
rural occupation; any who are able. but
will not work. should rot ~ helped az ali
Il = easter. as one O, tire protectors r.
marked. % -, the people back 10 the lant
than the lard to the people,
The Seattle committee needs AID nov.
ara as the benefits 10 ~ derived are shared
by all taxpayers ard the qualification for
good iced dcne goes vltA them,
there ouEh, 20 ~ no siricui;y IN raising
the small amount q money necessary.
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