davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11
PROBLEM OF VACANT LOTS
It Worries Taxpayers in City of Such Great
Area as MinneapoIis---Thc Garden
Solution.

Is It possibIe for the landed man to make
something out of his idle property until
the time comes to place 1t on the market!
Burden of Taxation.
Most of these outlying vacant lots are
assessed from SIS up to $500. Some OF
them are valued as high as $1,S00 with an
average rate of .27. An immense amount
of this land is lying waste and has for
wears. and perhaps Will for years to come.
Yet these vacant tracts might bring IN
from three to five dollars year rental
to the owner. The poor man may make
his single lot or half lot yield enough to
make the taxes lighter.
Susceptible of Cultivation.
At least four-fifths of the city's twenty
four miles OF vacant area is susceptible
of cultivation. Mr. Northrup of Northrup,
King & Co. gives partial list of vege-
tables which may be raised in the Mime
apolis soil with profit. 1t is:
Wax beans early beets carrots, cabbage,
sweet corn, cucumbers, lettuce, onions. rad
ishes, peas, spinach, tomatoes and potatoes.
And then melons, squash and pumpkins may
be planted as late as June l. Twelve tomato
plants will supply an average family; two or
three feet OF ground devoted to parsley Will
furnish garnishment for meat enough for the
season. Brussels sprouts is comparatively
new vegetable to Minneapolis. which may be
raised in the kitchen garden. The stalk
grows from y TO 20 inches in height, and
small cabbages or something similar grow
on it. They are very delicious.
If a lot owner can raise, with the ex-
penditure of little labor and less money,
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

'fBrooklyn Of the west" is a term fro
cuently applied to Minneapolis in recog-
milton of the fact that it is a city of
churches, but the other borrowed name
with which it is given by easterners,
"city Of magnificent distances" is given
somewhat in derision because the city is
spraWled all over the landscape rather
than because il is anything like the ma
tional capital.
It Is no doubt true that this young
gateway of the west is like a Newfound-
land puppy, whose big paws, head out OF
proportion to the body and generous out
lines are promises Of a future nlllng
OUT growth. From F4fty-third avenue, on
the north, to the green meadows OF Rich
field Is a long distance and it is Sab
bath days journey from Manhattan Park
beyond the Minikahda golf links to the
eastern boundary of the city over towards
St. Anthony Park. City Assessor Fort
estimates that at least twenty-four Of the
ffty-four square miles within the limits
Of Minneapolis are vacant property.
Some UnOccupied Regions.
For instance, two sections in the Tenth
ward. are unoccupied. North OF Twenty
sixth avenue to the city limits at Fifty
third avenue a very small percentage Of
the land is built up. A few houses stand
ON Forty-fourth avenue, and there are
some scattered between Thirty-fourth av-
enue and Twenty-sixth avenue north, near
Xerxes avenue on the west Crystal lake
cemetery is in this district. The north
end of the First and Ninth wards are un-
occupied. From Twenty-seYenth avenue
northeast to the city line are brickyards
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11
LIES WITH THE MAN
F. Il. Peavey Doesn't Agree With
Mr.. Schwab

Charles NJ. Schwab, president of the
United States Steel corporation, in talk
to 300 poor boys of New York city, stu
dents in the evening trade, ST. Georges
evening trades schools, yesterday, said,
among other things:
Let me advise you all to make an early
start in life. The boy with the manual train
ing and the common school education who
can start in life at sixteen or seventeen can
leave the boy who goes to college till he is
twenty or more so far behind in the race
that he can never catch up. This, however,
does not apply 10 the professional life. The
other day was at gathering of forty sue
cessfu1 business men-men IN industrial and
manufactul ing business-and the question
arose as to how many were col1ege-bred men.
OF the forty only two had been graduated
from colleges, and the rest of the party,
thirty-eight in number, had received only
common school educations, had started in
life as poor boys. So say as parting ad-
vise-start early.
Mr.. Peavey's View.
This part of the talk was pretty hard
rap at the college bred men. F. H.
Peavey of this city, who employs large
force of men, and is we'll qualified to speak
on the matter, said this morning in regard
to the quotation from Mr.. Schwab's
speech
The trouble is not in the education; It IS
in the man. No thoughtful man in this day
or age would or should deprecate an educa-
ton. Business men all over the land regret.
however that so many college men do not
better improve their opportunities. If upon
graduating they would be willing to start as
freshmen in business pursuits, they should go
by leaps and bounds ahead Of the companion
who has not had the same mental training.
But the trouble Is that many graduates
want to start in as seniors in business, and
further some of them act with their eo-work-
ers (who are brave, fine fellows, but have
been denied the advantages of an education)
as if they were to certain extent SUPERIOR
which is grave mistake.
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAIs

produce is awarded. The idea is SO sue
cessful that the men hustle home to work
in the garden of an evening, as they Tor
merly rushed off to the links.
In Terms of Potatoes.
II there are twenty-four square miles
of vacant lots within the citys limits, II
is plain that even IL the soil be conceded
to be rather poor, 1t could yet yield
vast quantity Of produce. 1t is poor land
that win not return fifty bushels OF po-
tatoes to the acre. If only twenty OF the
twenty-four square miles could be cul-
tivated, there could be raised thereon not
less than $4,000 bushels OF potatoes,
which at 80 cents a bushel would bring
$4,000. II third of this were proht
there would be $64, 200 from lands which
for the most part yield nothing now.
Some of the farms which were sWaI.
lowed up by the city in the old days OF
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

We do not eat enough vegetables, and by
having the crispness and freshness In them,
which is essential, taste is cultivated which
becomes second nature and requires salts
faction during the winter.
1t will be remembered that few years
ago, during the "hard times" much
vacant land in the city was ploughed and
planted to potatoes and the proceeds ac-
crued to the INDECENT people who were in
especial need. The scheme was success
as far as 1t went
A young lady in the city has made a
fair profit during the past three years
by sowing large vacant plot of ground
to sweet peas and having them sold in
punches on the street.
A gentleman who was interviewed on
the subject OF the possibilities of this plan
for the utilization Of idle lots said that he
thought a person could sell from small
amount of land at least $25 month OF
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11
THEY WILL SEE MINNEAPOLIS
Woodmen Who Attend the Big St. Paul Con
vention Won't Overlook This TWn---Fea-
lures of the Great Meet.

vention proper is wrestling with matters
that concern the biggest fraternal insur-
ance order on earth, there will be drills
and parades galore by 120 strikingly uni
formed teams composed of young men,
who, with axes instead of guns, are drill
ing to perfection in military tactics. There
are prizes fat enough to stimulate an
earnest competition, and the fun of
big encampment which brings together
5000 good fellows for a week in camp
will set the example for future head
camps of the order
There are to be a big ball and many
social features. Every fraternal order
is to keep open house, for among the
$4,000 Woodmen who will come are some
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

foolish territorial expansion, have never
ceased to be cultivated. Some OF them
in the remote southern part Of the city
notably the old Adams and Franklin
Steele places-are justas much farms to-
day as they ever were, although city taxa
tion is so high that at an annual rental
Of 81 per acre they still cost their owners
quite an outlay to keep them. In many
other remote parts of the city there are
gardens and even fields which are care
fully cultivated and made to do service as
food producefs, while awaiting the time
when the ever-growing city will require
them to support the homes of its people
In the meantime blessed are the chill
dren in a town which has thousands OF
vacant lots. They mean pure air and
health and sunshine, even if they do speak
volumes of heavy taxes and owners worry.
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

For once in the history Of the rivalry
of the twin cities the local managers of
a convention of national Importance
scheduled to be held in st. Paul seem to
realize that the visitors attracted from
other states do not want to go home with
out seeing Minneapolis. The entertain
ment committee for the Modern Wood
man head camp has laid out a program in
which Minneapolis is to have as much
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

that has accompanied him upon his CALI
fornia trip.
st. Paul will expend $4,000 in giving
the Woodmen and their friends a good
time. The old town will be illuminated
and decorated until the business district
looks like a street fair.
The St. Paul hotels are already full for
convention week and Minneapolis will get
a big overflow. There are 10000 Wood
men in Minnesota alone, and the woods
of Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Kansas,
Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Michigan
are full of them, but from points as far
away as San Francisco and Connecticut
comes the word of excursions that will
fill not only special cars but whole trains,
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

one cared to interfere in the matter
Then 1t was suggested to match pennies
for the stock, and this was acted upon.
While the coin was still in the air, North
ern Pacific had jumped to 1000 and the
loser had to buy at that figure. This
represented an increase of $4,000 for the
100 shares. The very next sale after the
unfortunate broker had paid this record
price the stock fell to 500 cash. making his
total loss on the transaction $4,000.
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

and sawmills and lumber piles, but a
great deal of unoccupied land is adjacent
to them. In the Ninth ward is Sand Lake
park, the Catholic cemetery and the 500
yards and shops, which cover much Of the
territory that appears unoccupied on the
map, but over to the east are large tracts
OF clear land IL addition to the oak open
ings. corner of the Third ward along
Plymouth avenue TO Penn is clear, and in
the west end of the Fourth ward a sec
tion, or a section and half, is vacant.
The south end of the Thirteenth, Seventh
and Twelfth-wards are unoecupied by build
ings. Twelve sections in this region have
only few buildings upon them. In fact,
south of Thirty eighth street only occa-
sional shacks are standing. To the trav-
Oler along the Como interurban line it is
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

very evident that much property IN the
eastern part of the city is virgin soil.
These specifications are not complete un-
less the frequent vacant lots all over Min
neapolis are mentioned. In portions of the
city sometimes as many as five vacant
lots lie sandwiched in one square.
Open Spaces in ward 5.
Even in the thickly settled parts
the Eighth ward are occasional lots which
lie idle and unshorn of grass. Between
Second avenue S, First avenue, Franklin
avenue and Twenty-fourth street is as
Wild land as one meets in the country. In
several instances whole forty acre lots
boast Of but q single house. One may cas-
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

lily figure, with $40 acres to the square
mile and an average Of six lots, 40x128
feet each, to the acre, how many vacant
lots there are in the twenty-four square
miles which lie unoccupied in the area
CT the city Of Minneapolis
Two propositions present themselves.
What can the owner who is barely able
TO nav taxes on the vacant lot and who
cannot sell it at a fair price do with
his property to obtain some revenue from
81?
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

vegetables to supply his table and that of
his neighbors for six months, as Mr..
Northrup does, it is evident that any
laboring man who groans under the bur-
den of tax on his vacant lot, can with a
little work after hours, save the money
which he eXpends for vegetables for his
table. This saving may be laid aside for
tax liquidation. If he is ambitious, he can
sell the surplus to regular customers and
thus add to his fund. The scope of the
plan may be widened if the householder
will rent two or three adjoining lots at
a rental of S. or so and put his Oldest
boy-at work, and gradually extend his
clientage Of customers.
Men competent to judge say that the
occupation of market gardener is we'll
filed here; that the men engaged in it do
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

y. M. oUACKBNBUsH, DUNDEE. ILL.
Member of the national board of directors
since 1895.
thousands who belong to other orders as
we'll There is to be an Elks' social, and
a smoker for the editors of Woodmen pa
pers and the newspaper men Of the twin
cities Six governors of states have sig
nifed their intention of attending, and
an effort is to be made to secure the pres
ence Of President Mckinley and the party
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

lies in their freshness. If one has a garden
of his own, or can purchase them OF neigh
Dor close at hand, rather than from a mar
ket, he will appreciate what delicacy fresh
vegetables are. Crisp lettuce has q flavor
which cannot be found in the bunch that
lies over night. I go into my garden in the
morning, pull few radishes, place them on
ice, and when I come to breakfast they are
at my place, and know that they are fresh.
I have part of two lots in the garden and
have enough from it for myself and to spare.
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

not make enough to induce any one to
go at it as an exclusive business. How
ever, in the plan outlined above, if it is
acted upon, the taxpayer who groans
under his burden of unproductive land,
may by planting it to vegetables and es-
tablishing a neighborhood trade cause his
property to work for its own salvation.
At least it is worth trying.
The gentleman who suggested list of
vegetables that iourished in his own
plot spoke at length on the important
the economy of old world families. 1t is
ever present. Said he:
Sixty per cent Of the value OF vegetables
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11
Matched Pennies for Nrthn. Pacific Stock
sew Ns-k SUN s0ssEai sersIoa-

sew York SUN S0ecEaf SesVEco-
New York, May 1.-Two brokers We're
short 100 shares of Northern Pacific
Thursday and it was imperative to have
the property for immediate delivery. They
were struggling in the maddened crowd
while the stock was jumping up by leaps
and bounds Suddenly one man offered to
sell 100 shares at $50 cash. The two con-
Tending brokers yelled their acceptance
Their offer to buy was made at the same
instant: each contended that the property
belonged to him. An appeal was made to
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

truck This sum would go a long way
toward lihtening the burden Of tax.
A variety of effort in addition would
provide vegetables to be laid away in the
cellar for winter consumption. AS the
taste of the people is cultivated for fresh
garden stuff, the scale of business might
be enlarged without treading on the toes
of a neighbor engaged in trial of the
same plan.
The Community Garden.
This article should not be closed with
out reference to a community garden,
which has been successful in Chicago. 1t
is run on the plan of deposits and with
drawals in bank. So much work Is con-
tributed by the participators in the
scheme and a proportionate amount OF
The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-11

GENERAL J. n. REECE. ILLINOIS.
Member of the national board OF directors
and major general in command at the st.
Paul head camp next month. He is adJu-
tant general Of Illinois.
share as she has asked, and as result
the visitors will have a great variety OF
attractions to choose from. Both the del
egates to the head camp and the Forester
degree teams are to have Minneapolis
days. The big program of drill contests
and sports is to occur at the state fair
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
Object to Rural Free Delivery.

Citizens of Cornwall, who have become
dissats fled with the rural free delivery
system which is now in operation in
their part of Addison county, have been
in this city in consultation with Con-
gresham ID. j. Foster in regard to the
matter. The system WAS established
several years ago and Middlebury was
made distributing station, says the
Burlington Free Press. The objections
to the present system have been laid
before the postoflice department at
Washington by Congressman Foster
and the first Of next week he and Special
Agent w. w. Sawyer will go over the
ground together. The plan is to make
West Cornwall postoflice a sub-station to
receive two mails per day from Middle
bury as formerly and to make the West
Cornwall station the distributing point
for rural free delivery route. In this
way the people of Cornwall and West
Cornwall and those between these places
and Middlebury will receive the same
mail facilities they formerly enjoyed
and the rural free delivery route will
properly cover the surrounding territory
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
OBITUARY.
LILLE MAY BOYCE'

LILLE MAY BOYCE.
Mrs. Lille M. Boyce was born in Ferris.
burg, Vt, Oct. 20, 1852. She was the Youngest
child of Hiram and Parthenia Walker Field
She had two brothers and one sister who
reached manhood ana womanhood, only one
OF whom, Byron Field of Ferrisburg, is living.
she was educated in the country schools,
NerBennes nigh school and Beeman academy.
she was married to Thos. T.. Boyce Aug. 20,
1879. At this time she removed to Aurora
iil, where she resided six years. In 1886 she
removed to Middlebury, VT, where she re.
sided until her death, Nov o. 1901. Two sons
were born TO her. One, Emerson Field Boyce
was born March |, 1888, and died jan Is, 1894
ana the other, Eugene Field Boyce, was born
Jan. %. 1895, and survives her.
In early lie she experienced religion and
Joined the congregational church in Ferris
burg. In 1879 she transferred her church
relationship to the First CONGREGATIONAL
church or Aurora, Ill., and on her return to
vermont she united with the CONGREGATIONAL
church at Middlebury.
Though not very robust still she enjoyed
fairly good health until some three wears ago
an attack OF the grip affected her right lung.
after which she had conside rable trouble
| with That organ. Oct. 10 she was taken with
chill ana mad considerable fever. After
! three or four days she got up and was able tn
attend to the household duties, though she
did not regain her usual strength October
]
pneumonia 1t began in the right lung and
Tor several days only a small spot was
affected, but in her weak physical condition
she had not strength to clear the lung ana 1t
gradually filed up.
When told that she could not live, she was
very cheerful. ana by Gods grace was
enabled to say, ''If 1t Is the Lord's will, an
ready TO 60" As bodily strength failed
faith increased until it seemed that the
"Everlastng Arms" were placed beneath he,
to sustain her through the dark valley. She
selected her burial robe and planned several
OF the funeral arrangements and was con
scious to the very last. The end cam,
| November o.
The funeral was held from her late resi-
dence November II. Rev. Thomas Simm.
conducted the services and spoke very help
ful words to the family and mourning friends
The burial was in the family lot in the Cas-,
street cemetery, beneath the shadows of tn,
grand old mountains.
Mrs. Boyce was not much in society as hel
strength did not permit 1t. She loved he
home and delighted IN caring for it. Here i
where she will be missed. THE Lord CAV,
\ and the Lord hath taken away; blessed b
the name of the Lord" -
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
RIPTON.

Ernest Woodbury. has entered the employ
of w. S. IIuntley and will saw slaves
II. Z. Day has bought the Frank Devoid
house and let in John Race as tenant.
Mrs. II. c. Powers, Jr, is quite sick and we
hear the fear expressed that she may not re-
cover.
During the night of the 9th, the day of the
18th and night of same we got about is inches
of "the beautiful" with almost everybody I'M
prepared for its advent.
Mrs. c. L. Cook returned home on the
evening of the 18th inst, after an absence of
year or two. We are pleased to be able to
say that she is looking we'll
John Race and few that were with him
report seein large bear on the South mount
ain on Saturday last One party estimated
Bruins weight at 800 pounds.
jeremiah Fuller of Constantia Center, n
V, for many years a resident here and in
,neighboring towns, was in town on the 10Th
inst. He looked as though he was enjoying life
The Hon. ID. J. Foster has recently made
our Free Library present of "Ihe Crisis" by
Howard Chandler Christy, for which readers
should thank him, for it is one of the best, most
powerful books that has come from the pres:
in a long time.
The rainstorm of the 18th froze as it came
on Hancock mountain, and came in such
quantities that a large number of trees were
broken down, filling the road to such an ex-
tent that it took large force of men day OF
two to set things to rights again.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
Blaze in "A Tailor ShOp,

q Shortly after o'clock Monday after
noon there was an alarm of fire. 1t
proved to be in the rooms occupied by j.
f. Dionne as tailor shop. A lamp ex-
ploded and soon the flames spread. BY
the prompt use of chemical extinguishers
further damage was prevented. The
building is owned by f. r. Clay, but is
not damaged to great extent. Mr..
Dionne lost several suits of clothes, be-
sides some other articles. When connec.
ton was made at the hydrant in front OF
Rogers & Woodward's store it was found
that there was no water. The chemical
extinguisher probably saved a large fire.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
THE MARKETS..
PRICES OF PRODUCE IN mlpDLEBuRy.
BUTTER AND EGGS.
Best butter, zoe. Eggs, rs.
BOSTON PRODUCE Markell
From Wednesdays Boston Ionrna

<
From Wednesdays Boston Journal
The general butter situation maintains n
fun degree of strength, with higher prices
quoted at all leading points outside OF Bos
Ton. Trade here SIN drags. and our quota.
tons are to IL cents below other places
Buyers don't enthuse particle, and they
respond to the higher rates asked with great
reluctance. With the falling of in receipts
and the small percentage OF strictly fine
quality arriving, they are forced To come up
II little, but they do so with bud grace It's
Il peculiar situation, and very difficult to
explain to outsiders. A dealer said 1--WE are
asking - cents for the finest OF today's re
ceipts, hut would not refuse n bid OF 23I,
cents. We can job out a little at - cents but
that Is all the business we had so far" This
refers to what l. called fine fresh North
ern creamery. There were several who
would not sell at less than "a cents hut they
were holding their goods ut last accounts.
For most of the Western fresh creamery here
% to % Z cents is ali that can be quoted.
All the fresh eggs arriving continue to be
taken al full prices. For the average lot
the demand is not quite so quick as it was
pretty well, but fancy fresh lots are used up
as fast as they arrive, and these are still
wanted. Fresh gathered Eastern command
- to 20 cents, and fancy new laid lots - to 81
cents. Refrigerator lots have been movin Q
freely at l1l5 10 Isl cents, and ~ cents was
obtained for very choice marks early Apr
stock yesterday.
The market Is well supplied with dressed
chickens ana fowl, and prices rule low, with
no activity in trade. Turkeys are arriving
more freely from New England points and
n fun selling rate. Fancy lots for Thanf
giving Will probably bring more, but the
weather wa wet aud mild ana business was
slack. The right kind may run up to Is cents
or higher, but the future Is fun of uncertain.
ties and nobody can safely predict what the
Ihanksglving prices will be. shipments
| intended FOR the Thanksgiving trade should
be here on Saturday next, or not later than
Monday.