Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-03
Back to the Sol.

In a number of the large cities of
the east vacant lots associations have
been formed which have the very
laudable purpose of promoting
kind Of a back to the soil'' move
ment- The practical value of this
movement is that il does not under
take to place the people who have
their habitat in the city upon farms,
but to bring the farms to the people.
Incidentally it helps to improve and
beautify vacant property. and thus
assist in the general identification Of
the city. The Philadelphia North
American says:
THE work of the association in re-
cent years tells its own story
Through the benevolence of its con-
tributors and some of the owners of
unused lands II has been able to put
an average of about 1, 900 persons to
work on something less than 300
acres in Philadelphia.
The yearly yield OF this farm has
been something like 1925 an acre
Nearly $4,000 has been the annual
contribution Of the association TO the
support of those who otherwise
would have been part of the unem-
ployed army and would have been a
charge on the city or been mendi-
cants. depending on the dole of soup
houses or other institutions for direct
relief.
1T is estim ated that the city farms
of the association afford provisions
for about 5000 people. This is done
on an original investment of less
than $40 q family of FIVE. The asso-
citation calculates that if its larger
plans could be carried out, that is, if
its contributors offer enough working
capital to reach the greatest unit Of
efficiency, every So invested in the
spring by the association would mean
by fall sufficient vegetables to main
tain a family for a year.
There is nothing predetermined OF
experimental in the work. The aver
age of 1925 profit on each acre has
been proved by long experience. The
figure IS astounding. 1t suggests
something more than the immediate
benefits to be obtained by those who
cultivate the ground. 1t tells the
story of the most expensive and wan
ton waste that is committed in this
wasteful country. 1t is the waste of
land.
''Of the thousands of acres of IN
used land lying idle year by year and
decade by decade in this city, much
could be turned to profit to the COM
munity.'
That this means much to lot of
90 NH 70
rent on land and have never learned
the value Of a garden spot there can
be no doubt. 1t is possible to sup
port a family on a 40 foot lot in
Rock Island so far as the ordinary
table supplies are concerned, and, if
the family is not too large, to make
tidy little profit, especially if there
are unemployed members like old
men, or children to assist in the
work Add to this garden a few
chickens and the results Of careful
management will not only be salts
factory, but even Surprising.
But to take another view of the
question and apply the back to the
soil" movement to the city. There
are many vacant lots about the city
that are lying idle and bringing no
rent to their owners. They are al
lowed to grow up in weeds and &C
cumulate trash until they become
blots upon the landscape, mere eye
sores. If industrious persons could
be induced to cultivate and care for
them. the fact that they were so
cared for would not only enhance