The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-05-09
HELPING THE POOR MAN
The Plan of Mayor Pingree Attractin
GdneraI Attention. \

The Plan of Mayor Pingree Attractin
Gdneral Attention. #
In the summer of 1884, Mayor Pingree,
of Detroit, Mich, put in operation a nov
| Ell and what has proved to be a very sue
|cessful plan. for the relief Of idle working
people. He obtained free use of a guam
fifty OF land, vacant lots and parcels. in
! the outskirts of the city, which, after
being plowed and narrowed, was dis
tributed in convenient plats among the
out-of- work class. These plat holders,
who were supplied with seed, imple-
nlents and fertilizers, planted and har-
vested the crops Chiefly potatoes), under
the supervision of a committee appoint
ed by the mayor. 4v,.A@
Duringth the first year, 1894, 975 families
were given soil to till, at an expense OF
$780, furnished by a voluntary sub
scription; and as result crops to the
value of SIP, 900 to $4,000 were gathered
The results of that experiment was so
encouraging that in 1895 the common
council appropriated $4,000 to aid in the
work of vacant lot farming, and as a
result about $4,000 worth of products
were obtained. The committee secur-
ing and purchasing 455 acres, making
1,546 parcels; 1858 of this numbersof oc-
cupants had formerly been on the books
Of the city poor commission.
The results of Mayor Pingree's idea
during the first year were so successful
and the plan proving SO valuable in sub
stituting an opportunity to large
number, who wanted opportunity rather
than charity, that in 1896 vacant lot
farming was put in operation by a large
number of cities, and with most gratify-
ing results. Among the number are New
York, Brooklyn, Boston, Albany, .To-
ronto, Buffalo, Omaha, St. Paul and Min
neapolis. ,.4,
The results from New York are most
completely given, and from that is shown
that 1873 acres or 1856 parcels were put
under cultivation. The highest yield was
412 bushels of potatoes per acre. On as
signed flats, aggregating TN acres, be-
sides lettuce, onions, radishes and corn
fodder, the total value received was
$500, at an expense incurred by the
committee of $3,801.9S. OF "a plothoId-
ers, eight acres was the largest, and oAe-
fourth of an acre was the smallest the
average size being six-sevenths of an
acre each. The largest receipts being
$40S and the smallest $3.50; ~ plothold-
ers realizing over 500 each, and the
average earnings being SOLOS,
The census of 1893 showed 1899 va
can't lots in New York city, below One
Hundred and Forty-ffth street and the
Harlem river, therefore that city used
less than one-tenth of it's idle land in va
cant lot farming last year, and what
New York may do this present and COM
ing years in this most praiseWorthy;
form OF charity work, can only approxil
mate that which can be done by other
cities of less density of population and
therefore more soil per capita to be tenn
porarily reclaimed. from idleness in the
hands of spectators, and made useful
and helpful to those who most of all need
its use and help. A most interesting
statement in Supt. Kjelgaard's report is
that 40 per cent of vacant lot farmers
can be made permanently self-support-
ing under favorable conditions.
Minneapolis began work in this direc-
tion last year. From subscription
fund of '$44212 were expended in seed
and tools, and 43 acres of land furnished
and prepared for 226 applicants. 4, The
partial result of the first years work Is
gathered from the 100 who reported as
requested by the committee. showed
about $1,000 in value of crops raised, so
that the entire benefit is reasonably esti-
mated at from $4,000 to $500, ali small
garden products not being counted. Thurs
far this year less than 100 applicants
have been received by the committee, but
it is thought many have arranged with
owners of land, or expect to continue in
the use Of last years plats,, ETC.. III
To make the work more effectual this
season the Farm and Garden. Aid Asso-
citation has been incorporated with its
office at 26 Fifth street south. Mr. A. M
Hove and DR.. W. B. Murray form the
committee on land and registration, and
the finance committee is the mayors Of
flee The funds are from voluntary SUBJ
scription and are already ample for a
much greater work than last year. Of
ferings of land, however, are needed and
applicants for its use can obtain full si1a-
formation at 26 Fifth street south s,a'1
The committee will be saved muchsla
Dor il owners and agents will fiIIea de.
scriptions of lands offered for this work,
and this is important as to parcels used
last year as we'll ito new offers OF land.
The season is quite advanced for5sthe
work and prompt action is desirable.