The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-06
NATIONS CAPITAL STILL RETAINS RURAL ATMOSPHERE
But Homes
Replacing
Farms

farm wagons Tor lie IN metro
politan areas, but there still re-
mains within the 10-mile square
of the Nations Capital a pic
turesque colony Of farms and
farmfolk.
Spurred by a report Of the
United States Census Bureau
that Washington's farm lands
are vanishing at the rate of 7.6
per cent every five years be-
fore the onslaught Of building
expansion, q Washington Times
reporter and a photographer
set out in search Of a COW, a
pretty maid on a milk stool and
other rural settings.
Findings of the inquisitive pair
reveal that although milk maids,
butter churns, hog wallows and
cattle herds are a thing Of the
past-so far as the local farm
block is concerned-there still re
mains q true rural atmosphere
within a few minutes drive Of
downtown washington.
Small Tracts
The Census Bureau takes Off
cial recognizance Of So farm plots
within the Districts limits. Small,
indeed, are all Of them, titled
mostly by families still clinging
jealousy to the soil handed down
by their ancestors.
These families, although limited
in their activities by reason Of the
small tracts oh which they are
confined, are for the most part
still genuine examples Of farm
life as known from time memorial.
Not uncommonly, however, Is one
or more member Of a farm house
hold employed in the Government
service.
AS for the cow and milkmaid,
only one bovine was to be found -
and that one was unattended. Nor
could q lowly porker be found.
even to pose for the photographer.
Difficult to find also was an
old.fashioned butter churn. One
was finally brought to light, but
void Of realism. 1t was found to
have been idle for many years,
stored in the darkest corner Of a
tool shed.
Even the youngsters whose par
entS in their childhood days SHE'D
at the appearance Of strangers,
Outlines hiding in the barn OF
chicken house, displayed the
mark of a Getty upbringing."
Many were the questions these
farm boys and girls put to their
iI1tGrVieWerss
Farm Veteran
Honors, If there be ony for the
most picturesque District farmer,
60 to John H. Pfluger, 6S-year-old
but active farm veteran, residing
with his wife, five children and
one grandchild on q 40.acre tract
bordering the District line on
Queens Chapel Road.
Found squatting in . shed
trimming parsnips. Mr.. Pfluger
spat deliberately into q basket OF
the freshly harvested vegetables
and said:
Il manage to get along out
here, raising enough food for
the family and selling . bit of
it, but taxes eat up all my
profit. Just think, I have to pay
q few cents less than $500 q
year for the privilege Of work
ing my farm. Terrible. don't
you Think"
It was on Mr.. Pfluger's farm
that the lone COW was found and
the butter chuIn discovered, Elk
planning the absence Of cattle
herds, hogs and other domestic
stock from his farm. Mr.. Pfluger
declared:
ut doesn't pay to raise things
any more, that is unless you
can do it on q large scale.
Prices for farm products are
SO low it just isn't profitable.
Mr.. Pfluger uttered many un'
kind words for the "middlemen"
who get all the profit out of farm
products. On this same farm, by
the way, he has lived his entire
life. The tract was originally
titled by his father.
MOdernized
The 400 acres owned by this
grizzled countryman was the larg-
est, although the most modern
lied, encountered by the lnquiring
pair.
Fred Eichman, IS, dropped his
blowing duties long enough to tell
his visitors:
There's nothing left in farm.
ing. ] want to give it up and
get Q Job with the Government"
Mr.. Eichman tills a 17h-acre
tract on Sargent Road near st.
Joseph Seminary. There he lives
with his mother, wife and two
small sons. He also has followed
q rural career in the footsteps Of
his father. Complains Mrs. John
Eiehman, so, the mother:
I'VE made q fair living off
this place until paved highways
and big trucks made it possible
for farmers - those with big
farms-to bring their products
into Washington. We still take
. few things to market but we
get little for them"
On this small tract, like many
others, only one horse was found