Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
CITY GARDEN PLANS
President Roosevelt Elected
Member of Association.
ENTHDsIAsTIcMEETING.
WORK OF PREPARING GROUND
SOON TO BE STARTED.
Success Of Project Assured-The Evolu-
ton Of Vacant Lots Into
Vegetable Plots.

The evolution of vacant lots into veg
etable gardens will soon be accomplished. If
the plans made by the City Gardens Asso-
citation at its meeting in the parlors of the
New Willard yesterday afternoon. are car
ried out, and from, the enthusiasm and gen.
uine interest displayed at this and former
meetings of the association there Is every
reason to believe that success is assured.
Heretofore the meetings have been de-
voted mostly to theoretical discussion, TO
the advisability of intensive farming, or
to the probable value of an acre of pota-
toes. Yesterday Prof L. c.. Corbett of the
Agricultural Department ELECTED the ap-
/! plause of the members of the association
by announcing that he would assume per-
sonal charge of the preliminary work,
would arrange to have the ground secured
by the association fortified, plowed and
narrowed and made ready for planting.
Consequently steps will be taken imme-
diately to put into condition the eight acres
rendered the association in the tract on
Brentwood avenue, which is being held
as the site for the proposed municipal hos
pital A committee composed OF MT. Tru-
man Lanham. superintendent OF parking
of the District; Col Edward Daniel and
Prof. Corbett was appointed to procure ten
ceres in the southeast section OF the CITY
Arrangements We're made to enlist famllles
officers of the association have pledged
themselves to see that the necessary money
is collected.
Mr. Lanham reported the available prop
erty in the southeast section of the city
to be bounded as follows: 18th, 10Th. ID and
e streets: 10th, 18th, c and d streets; 14th
18th, A and B streets; 10th, 18th streets and
Massachusetts avenue, and Kentucky ave-
nue. Congressional cemetery and G street.
These tracts are all close together and
comprise about fourteen acres. The asso-
citation only wanted ten acres, but may de-
eide to cultivate the extra acreage.
Mr.. Lanham said that while the ground
in the hospital site was more fertile, the
southeast ground could be made as pro-
ductive by the application OF street
sweepings, and an effort will be made to
obtain the consent of the street cleaning
contractor to deliver a certain amount OF
sweepings on the ground selected. in
stead of carting it of to the city dumps.
Unless this can be done the cost Of pre-
pairing the ground will be greatly in
creased, but from the tenor of the dis
cussion yesterday 1t was evident the as
ISOLATION intends to start the gardens,
even If fertilizer has to be purchased.
Mr.. Lanham's committee will wait on the
contractor and report the result at the
next meeting, to be held at the New Will
lard next Friday afternoon at 4:30
o'clock.
Mr. Warner read several letters which
had been received from persons and fami-
lies asking for permission to cultivate some
OF the gardens. 80 ANXIOUS were some Oh
the writer's that they fnclosed stamps for
reply The movement seems to be taking
hold among that very class of people upon
whom ultimate success depends namely the
poor and unemployed. The object is to give
these people not only an opportunity to help
themselves and provide better vegetables
for their home table but the friends of the
association see beyond it all the great NOR
al and economic advantage of inducing the
habit of industry.
Incentive to Industry.
+. AS one member said: ut is not the cost
OF the work. or the value of the product:
1t will accomplish that best Of an muni-
cipal assets. getting the people busy
The Rev. Alexander Kent. pastor of the
Peoples Church. was present and evinced
much interest In the proceedings. Later he
was elected to membership and pledged his
support to the city garden movement. Col.
Daniels was made a committee of one to