The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-28
UTILIZED BOOM LOTS.
a sisIEM ron CULTTysrING THEM
III THE UNEMPLOrED
Proves Successful Plan for Aiding Those
What Has Been Done in New York.


report Tor The season Of 1895, from which
the following SIS taken.
'Thc committee awaited itself Of land
IN Iong Island CiD, comprised in three
large tracts OF Us acres Q.bo6 city lots
al,oseihcD. donated hy Mr.. William
Stcnway. Mrs. John Lowry, Mr.. III. -.
Bonns and She Long Island improve
mcnt Company.
''1hc plan embraced "a means or ofoNid-
ms immediate work. on business basis
Tor an unemployed however unsSiiied'
who might Doe willing and capable.
"Funds came in slowly probably be-
cause the charitable failed 90 recognize
al once that this was substitute Tor
many charities, rather than supplement
10 one.
"Our main work OF New York, ana
much of lhc expense of the year. was oe-
voted 10 the effort TO call public atten-
ton. not only in The United states, but
all over the world. 20 what could he
done with vacant land. and how 30 should
be done.
A SLOW BEGINNING.
Applications for land were received very
slowly. indeed ass thc people seemed 10
distrust that BOO some way Che PROMISED
advantage sserc 90 he taken away from
them. after seasons hard work. How
ever. after the crops began 10 appear
above ground applications were received
an the rate Of forty or hity "a day. one
result of thc tardy applications was
that the committee found 30 had about
forty acres ready for cultivation. but un-
aeeiancd As we were then Out Of funds.
This land was iseI as cooperative
farm Fighty-f0ur families. represent
fre PSI persons. received aliotmcnts. The
superlntcuI was aided hy two assist
ants. SO that the scheme was prdc icaiiy
farm school This instruction. the
blowing Of the ground tools. and fertilizer
were furnished without charge TO the
applicants.
"The New York Committee, therefore,
begins the season of 1896 rich i'm cxpc-
iience. whereby the expenses Of the
coming season can Doe lcsscned. aud the
yield vastly increased.
although with proper fertilizers and
great care. as much as cisht hundred
bushels of potatoes have been raised On
a single acre. we think SO would ae bet
Ter 10 give less land 90 potatoes. and
more 20 carly vegetables. and that AN
expenses should Dee repaid hy The cult
vators. from the sale Of the crops or
by their labor.
WILLINGNESS SHOWN
"To take from the report Of che re-
troit Committee. we may say that 'the
experiment has clearly demonstrated
that many of the destitute are ready and
willing to work that a large number of
these people can Dee supported by u'hz-
ing vacant land in the outskirts OF the
city. that robbery and trespassing even
upon unfsnced land. are not "a serious
difficulty. that "a small space cf ground
g. sufficient TO raise enough vegetables to
support "a family through fhe winter
that a majority Of the citizens wr0 own
The vacant land would rather allow IL TO
he cultivated by the Door than pay "a
large tax for their support. that the
needy are thereby assisted. without clt-
ating the Generalization ion tae habits of
The reople that gratuitOus aid always
entails. and that much relief ana real
help may by this plan be af3rici win
small expense 20 charitable persons or 10
taxpayers.
"The cultivation Of vacant lots shou'd
he put on a business basis. volunteer
service in superintendence Wust he SCI
cured and the aid Of the city authofl-
Ties avafied Of 20 the fullest extent. As
an additional charity 81 viii I'm the end
be n failure. AS an educator ana net
ural social development, 10 can DO. ana
under a wide-minded gullnce, VIII 40
permanent and incalcuahle good. IN
future years. 70 will Doe found that many
phnanthropists viii refuse TO oont"ioH'e
20 miscellaneous charities until this Plan
s. IN operation in Their district.
sWEEPINGs USED.
'Tt Is best 90 get tracts of ~ many
acres as possible in piece, and, II the
land is poor 10 collect the sweepings Of
the street. to be carted upon the ldio in
the spring. or carried upon the land from
time % time as collected. 90 enrich th'
soil The cultivation being intensi'e. the
people would carry the manure upon the
land themselves, If 10 we-s given TO
rhem. AT any rate. the collection of fer
tilizer will furnish some wo-6 @d. Hg the
winter months. 4 careful account 8 ould
be kept with each cultiva.or OF all SEGA,
fertilizer and his pro rata share a. the
expense Of superintendent, ana so
forth. This. except I'm cases of inisior-
tune. can. and should be, repaid 90 the
committee, out of the produce of the
farms or by labor expended ON the
cooperative branch $50 ass TO eliminate
entirely aims giving
The report says.
'But what were we 20 do with those
who needed immediate support-who
could not wait for crops 10 grow?
1--WE plowed up and seeded about thir-
ty-eight acres. and gave am workers
eight cents an hour In addition, the
workers were told that they were 10
have a half-interest i'm the product of
these acres. Although this was not be-
gun until far too late for the best re-
suits. when the crops were gathered. we
found that the expense on this co-opeia-
tive farm was 5000 and the value of
the crops. which We're disposed Of TO the
various charities at market rates. was
S. .067.65. After deducting an allowance
f0r rent OF land cost OF superintendent.
and interest. there was left $50 To be de
Nided among the workers.
COOPERATIVE FARM.
"This cooperative farm was conducted
entirely by tho planters OF the other
farms. the only difference being that on
the cooperative farm they were to pay
back an expenses, and divide the remain
ing profits. tho idea being not only 10
help those people. but 20 find out II
cooperative farming would pay. We
started latc i'm June. with about forty
men. some OF them hale strapping fell
lows. Six secured work shortly after
and left. Tho older ones. tho indrm. and
those who ON account Of their physical
disabilities. were nor able 20 go out and
secure positions. were left on our hands
20 carry ON the cooperative work Not
withstancing the fact that this class Of
labor was unable 20 do I'm three DAYS
what "A good man would DO I'm one. the
cooperative farm was "a success. IL is
fhe opinion ~ the Executive Committee
that this feature should be made the
main one. as h stimulated the men 10
friendly rivalry created a public spirit