New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
ON THE BOWERY FARM.
WHERE THE y. NJ c. A. LETS MEN WHO
ARE OFT OF WORK EARN THEIR
BREAD AMID HEALTHFUL
SURROUNDINGS. s.

BREAD Ahl1D HAL Af1i IL
SURROUNDINGS.
I'VE believed that many Of the men hanging
around the Bovery out Of work and unable TO
secure positions would he willing 70 work for
their board on farm until regular employ
r7ent could be found for them
Believing this the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation through its Bowery branch, has leased
: farm of 190 acres two miles back from Wood
bridge y ! An old farmhouse, Revolution
a-y relic has been fitted UP for the minister
who has charge Of the farm, and carriage
house converted into quarters for the men who
are sent out from the Bowery.
The farm is intended 10 serve as temporary
home for men who are awaiting employment.
They are not expected to remain there longer
than two weeks. While they working on
the healthy upland the extensive employment
machinery of the Y N. c. A is working in their
interests. So far the plan has worked admir-
ably. and a good start has neen made on the
continuous chain Of men who come to the farm
out of work and leave II assigned to profitable
employment at good wages
II is a nice drive to the "Bowery Farm" a
name which the surrounding Jerseymen have
given II. The roads are Of hard. red clay, which
Just matches the wild Strawberries which grow
by the roadside The little settlement. big red
barns predominating. be seen from dis
tance. The house is the shapeless farm dwelling
Of Revolutionary days. and the beams are
the same held II together then. serious
looking young man comes out to greet you He
is dressed like a farmer. but you know that he
Is the Rev. E. R Brown before he tells you He
lived In the old house when boy. and his
father and grandfather lived there before him
It was with much pleasure that he came back
to the homestead with his wife and child to take
charge of the work.
He has been farmer off and on from boy
hood and he knows all the ns and outs Of crop
growing on this particular farm He worked
On the Bowery and in other parts OF New
York before going TO the Theological Seminary
so he knows how TO get along with the men
VINO are sent to him. All occupations repre-
sented and few Of the men have ever farmed
before Carpenters. iron moulders. painters. a
MATCHMAKER, two British army veterans fresh
from South African battlefelds and two coal
miners driven out of Pennsylvania by the strike
are among those sent out to do farm work
I'VE find work for all of them TO do. said the
preacher-farmer TO a Tribune reporter, and
they are most willing. We have sixty acres
under cultivation Come out and see how the
crops are getting along"
Men were planting corn in one field Any one
who can count four can plant corn, said MI
Brown. Other workers with hoes were follow
ing in their tracks a man can hoe who has
never seen a hoe before was his remark
Passing over the ridge, man was seen pIouSh-
ing under a field OF wild daisies. But when 1t
comes to pIoughing-youve got to have a farm
er or the job won't be properly done.
They are praying for rain on the Y NJ G A
farm lust now tor without it the crops will not |
amount 10 much There has been no rain to
speak of in weeks said an iron moulder, VINO
was driving water wagon. Watering crops
by hand is hard work, too
The day on the ''Bowery Farm begins at
30 in the morning The men dress and do up
the chores before breakfast They are out in the
fields by O'Clock, and work hard until noon.
when they are ready for dinner, which on the
day a Tribune reporter was guest, included
roast beef, potatoes, corn, bread. butter and
tea or coffee. Every man had all he wanted,
which was The point which seemed TO appeal TO
them At ] o'clock they go back TO work. and
at 6 o'clock comes supper. They have evening
papers. and then read play games until
ready for bed.
This is a great deal better than hanging
around a greasy Bowery hotel said one Of the
men, land compared to living without money in
New-Tork it is boEanza- for New-York is
hard and inhospitable those whom fortune
!. has not favored