The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-07-07
LIFE ON VACANT CITY LOTS
TENTING ON IDLE LANDS WITH
IN TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.
How 1t Cares for Its Consumptives
and Other InValids. Sunshine
and Profit Combined.

flow 1t Cares for Its Consumptives
and Other Invalids. Sunshine
and Profit Combined.
Acting upon a suggestion made
two years ago by DR.. Lawrence f.
Flick, a tuberculosis expert, the
PHILADELPHIA Vacant Lots Association
this year has thrown open to per-
sons suffering from tuberculosis, as
we'll as to other invalids, more than
$50 acres of vacant land within the
limits of the city. On portions of
this land to be assigned the city
farmers will be permitted to erect
tents or shacks, as they prefer, in
which to live. There, in the open
air, they will be enabled to work in
their gardens, raising vegetables to
help pay their expenses and at the
same time winning back health.
From teeming tenements and stuff
fly rooms where so many impOver-
ished sick and ailing live they have
the opportunity of moving to
CHEEKY canvas home, where they can
enjoy those free, yet priceless, medi-
cines of Doctor Nature-sunshine
and pure air.
Transforming Vacant Lots.
Thirteen years ago the Vacant
Lots Cultivation Association began
its work of transforming vacant lots,
The waste lands of the city, into
blooming and fruitful gardens Year
by year the work has progressed,
more land has been acquired until
the present season plots will be given
out to about 500 families.
Last season a number put up
shacks-small structures of frame
covered with tar paper-and in these
they lived comfortably until the lat
ter end of autumn. With tents erect
ed by the tuberculosis sufferers this
year the association begins a work
which will undoubtedly be taken up
in other cities, and which it is ex-
pected will be fruitful of great re-
suits in the national campaign
against the white plague.
How the Work Is Done.
To applicants portions of land of |
One-fOurtn or One-siXth of an acre
are usually given. About half of the |
plots are farmed by two families. |
Applications for land began to pour |
into the office of the society early in |
January. The earth is plowed and /
narrowed by the association, the cost
being from s. to Sc a plot, all or |
portion Of which cost is paid by the |
farmers, If they are able When the
land is ready for assignment hun
dreds flock to the stations. Land is |
pOrtioned and instructions are given |
in farming by the superintendent, |
James H. Dix. To consumptives. in |
valids, cripples, mentally defective /
the aged, the poor, the. land is given !
To these people a portion means a
great deal-healthful work, food,
security from restitution.
Conditions Are Easy.
As an inducement to good garden
ing the association gives the same
plot of land to gardeners season af-
ter season if they qualify by merit.
Those who for the first time secure
gardens this year VIII be instructed
in gardening by Mr. Dix and his as
sistant. Among the farmers PAM
phlets from the state and national
departments of agriculture are dis
tributed.
At the close of each season the
gardener must send a report of his
crop, sold or used, to the superin-
tendent. At the beginning of the
season card is given each garden
er. With this he can secure seed. |
Ninety per cent. of the gardeners,
Mr. Dix declares, sell part of their
crops.