New Britain herald., 1917-05-11
MAYOR ID ASK CITY ID SPEND i4S,00O
 FOR PUBLIC CROPS
(Continued from F1rst Pase.)

(Continued from F1rst PaSe) to ornamental cultivation may we'll be dedicated for tho time being to this patriotic and humane purpose. Let it not be said that in the adoption of wise and patriotic meas ures for the successful prosecution of the great struggle for the worlds
 liberty upon which our nation has en-
 tered this community has not done its full part.
 GEORGE A. QUroLEY. # Mayor of City of New Britain
 People Must Volunteer.
 In expoundine upon his plans to relieve food shortage here and thus.
 serve the country, Mayor Quigley said
 that he has two ideas In mind. Either
 to secure certain available lands in the
 city of New Britain. possibly as many
 as 300 acres of excellent farm land.
 and cultivate 1t. or else cultivate the
 400 or 500 acres of farm land at
 Whigville.. Possibly~it may be prac- ticable to do both. But. in making this statement the mayor brought out in the most forcible manner that it's success depends entirely in the pa triotism and willingness of the people of New Britain to sacrifice idle mo- ments or pleasure hours and to volun- teer for farm work-and to do this work religiously and without any idea of compensation for they must work for no pay.
 ''It will be impossible to work out this plan successfully unless we have volunteer workers and all men who are not called to the colors and stay at home should be willing to give up at least one day a week and work on these city farms.'' the mayor said. They will have to work too. and will have to work hard. Already have spoken to over 100 men who are not elegible for military duty and each one has volunteered to give up at least one day week to work on these farms. And then when the crops are harvested they would be sold at cost to the citizens. Any money put for ward by . special taxation would thus be returned to the city. We might find 1t advisable to establish a public market to handle these crops and may see 1t to name . committee of ten prominent men to be in charge of l these gardens. whore the crops plant 1 ed would probably be beans, corn, potatoes. buckwheat, etc"
 Showing further evidence that the food problem is q big one. Mayor l Quigley stated that he has figures l which show that the average person | consumes about three bushels of po- | tatoes each year. This means, he ex- | plained. that New Britain consumes 150.o00 bushels of poe atoes annually.
 Speaking of possible ways and means to make these public farms the mayor slys he plans to all special city m6sttng on Monday ,r Tuesday Of next week. after in- 'orming the citizens of conditions, he will ask that they levy a special tax ,f one mill, which will provide $45.000 pr $4S,OOO. This money would be ex- pended in cultivating the acreage and would be returned when the crops came in. While he does not attempt to minimize the value of tho home xardens plan, Mayor Quigley does not think that 1t will be sufficient to keep New Britain supplied with food. It will just help along in small way, | he thinks. ''New Britain must sustain herself. Other cities about tho coun- try will have their troubles and will be unable to help us. so 1t Is up to us to help ourselves and the only way we can do it is by having . vast acre- age developed along civic cooperative plans," the mayor said.
 No Room for slAckers.
 If the city does not ofncially take oyer the several Whigyille farms for the water department will do SO on it's own accord, according to w. B. Rossberg. It Is also planned to marshal the High school boys, some Boy Scout troops and all available men in the city to work on f the city farms. It will be hard work and will prove tiresome, but those who do this must do 1t with the realiza- tion that they are doing their ''bit" just as we'll as the boys Of stronger physique and more youthful years who are carrying the gpringnelds and wearing the olive drab. There will be no room for slackers even in this New Britain agricultural army and the mayor proposes to have such men ts are eligible enlist for this service and swear to give a certain portion of their time and efforts to this work. While it will be impossible to impose any penalties on any shirkers. mans honor and patriotism should be sufh- cient to make him respect his pladge to do this work. And if any volun-