The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-04-12
BY CHARLES w. HOLMAN

The allotment garden idea is TAX
Ing In America. Since the articles
have been running in The Times on
what English workingmen have &C
complished, inquiries have come
from persons interested in starting
n similar movement in this country.
One correspondent writes
"Our people are much interested
IN what you have written about the
city garden movement OF England
We would like TO begin this move
ment in our city We would like 10
commence gardens next spring
what is the best way Of securing
land -
The correspondent states he lives
in a typical industrial center OF the
middle west that boasts OF railway
machine shops. factories foundries
and large distributing houses tina,
employ mastes OF workers There
are MANY workers among the build
ing trades IN lis neighborhood also
are employs OF downtown Offices
The first thing 90 he considered Is
10 type OF men that viii go into
ftis movement II Is better for
them 10 be reliable, intelligent.
iaithfal and hard working individ
uals They should be earnest in
her desire 80 have garden plots
So faddist should 10 admitted into
We organization.
group OF eight persons would
be sufficient 10 start This commit.
tee OF eight should make careful
invest cation in the nelghborhood
and enlist other individuals until
enough have been interested In the
movement to warrant the renting OF
tract 81 land
The land selected should be with
In convenient distance of the
homes OF the workers or transpor
tation facilities should enable work
ers 20 10 back and forth without dit
fculty American cities are ideally
provided for this purpose Nearly
all OF them are Centers OF small
network OF electric lines The prop
er'y owners on these lines are anx
ious for development The lines
themselves can easily be Induced TO
give special rates For promotion OF
tho garden movement.
y sometimes happens that large
tract ~ available garden land lies
AZ q conveniert distance 10 some
uaighborhood THIS land g. usually
being held .or speculative purposes
md brings tho owner no interest.
Tho individuals could make an
agreement Min the owner az >the
land ur could inaugurate movc
mont To- ret tho city council 10 con
denim this lard for allotment pnr
poses
When state laws permit, tie 81.
cioty should be formed and regis
tered "a cooperative corporation.
!; should consist OF small amount
Of pa.dup capital. which should be
utilized hy tho society for the pur
chase ~ tools. implements. work
stock rna other necessities Of the
tenants To common
n y0rr .oeic'e carnot find \ pri
vate .andlD' M stems ~ make
Y pcssitc ~ tFt fo Nccome
tho landlord hs 9,l' re
qu're in some s@e into com
rsisn Ont oreanzcd '.Oof Is usually
80 strong thai lhcre wiz ~ no din
Guilty n bringing this abow II
Nill he rompamivoly easy "a 40
garden movement VIII ind no-real
opposition IN America It VII help
all
Interview fhe public utilities cor
poratlons and shoN them eha n ciey
garden movement means fiave
heart 'o.hcau" tala with Your conn
elmer dlS- f possible. commlt
thom 10 the project call \ mass
meeting 20 be held IN mo city haH.
Invite the reporters of all paper.
and prominent citizens Present he
form ~ an ordinance ~ this mass
meeting aud ask for endorsement
Have iac muse meeting appoint
committee 20 visit The city fathers
Interview various personages IN the
.,Dfe a1i publish their opinions in
Tow loch press pnl.so much public
BON your needs That The whole
..eNn WIN becom@ Interested in see.
MI iu your Society gets rs gar
NGlnA Urge the preachers 20 tank
70 from 1neir pulpit Discuss il ia
,uur union mee.inea. AMI YOU viii
surely pct your aliotmruts CO.. yoH
VIII knos Tho rea ON why
~ YOU need further suggestions
o. aid ia drafting youG articles Of
organization, . will he given YOU