Semi-weekly herald., 1913-07-03
MUNICIPAL FARM Is
COLUMBUS EXPERIMENT

COLUMBUS, O., July 2.-There's q
we'll worn phrase which goes work
ing both sides against the middle" !"
1t aptly describes what Columbus, o.,
is about to do. And this new plan
Of the city of Columbus, by the way,
ought to be intensely interesting to
every city in the country as one of
the answers to that bngbear of a
question, "How to reduce the high
cost of living? ?"
Columbus, o., is going to raise
hogs. Now Columbus doesn't believe
its raising Of hogs will enable its
housewives to make their house money
and pin money go twice as far as
it used to. 1t does believe, however,
that its plan to raise hogs is along the
line of jabbing the II. C. of l.. in a
fatal spot.
Columbus owns a large farm south
of the city limits. Until recently this
farm was leased to tenant but the
recent floods wiped out the farmer
and the city had to relieve him Of the
terms of the lease. It was then that
the plan was suggested to the off
cials Of the department of public
service that the city try its hand at
running its own farm. 1t was early
determined that hog raising would be
the best thing to go into at this time
and a large herd of hogs was con-
tracted for. They were expected to
arrive here some time today or to-
morrow.
Now Columbus, which is always do
ing something progressive, has one of
the best systems of free municipal
garbage collection service in the coun-
try, according to experts. Hereto
fore, this garbage has been disposed
of in various ways. From now on it
will be taken to the city farm to
fatten the city hogs. That's where
one of the ends against the middle
comes in.
Thirty-fve or forty of the best be-
haved prisoners at the city jails have
been chosen to take the place of the
farm hands. Under the charge Of a
deputy who has experience in farm
ing, these prisoners have been put to
work building new sheds, barns and
fences. When they finished this con-
struction they were set at placing
eighty-seven acres of the farm under
cultivation. 1t was realized that the
garbage alone wouldn't be enough to
fatten the hogs for market, and fifty
two acres of land were planted in
corn. 1t was also decided that merely
the care of the hogs wouldn't keep
the thirty-five or forty privileged
prisoners. busy. Therefore they have
put in twelve acres Of potatoes, three
acres of pears, eight of alfalfa, ten
Of clover and two of tomatoes. From
the vegetables planted, officials believe
they will be able to supply all the
work house prisoners and the inmates
Of somewhat similar institutions. All
Of which will greatly reduce the cost
to the municipal government Of main
tanning its institutions This is the
other end against the middle.
There are two other good features
Of this city farm. The city prisoners
who are sent out there to work will
benefit greatly and officials believe it
will do wonders in starting them right
again. None who has been chosen
has demurred against leaving the
cells and prison yards to work and
live in the open. In fact, there's
quite waiting list" Of those who
want to be given chance out of
doors. The other feature of the farm
is municipal pasture on which the
horses Of the city are sent at stated
periods to rest up. This rest period,
say the city fathers, will greatly in
crease their efficiency and make them
last longer.