D.T. Denny's Farm and the 'Pingree Plan': A 1895 Experiment in Land for the Poor

The 'Pingree Plan of Seattle' is the name of the new movement which has been started in the interests of married as well as single people of the city who desire to earn a living by cultivating the soil, and from the progress of the work made yesterday by the committee having the matter in charge it can safely be said that the future success of the movement will depend solely upon those who will be benefited. About 10 o'clock yesterday morning the committee which was appointed by the Bureau of Associated Charities to take charge of the affair held a meeting in the office of C. Clapp, in the Bailey building. There were present Mr. Clapp, Frank Black, Jerome Catlin, Rev. W. F. Taylor and F. Toklas. Mr. Clapp was made chairman and Mr. Toklas secretary. After the future work of the committee had been discussed at length it was concluded that it would be advisable to organize a committee which should take charge of the entire work of the scheme as well as take the place of the committee named by the Associated Charities. The following persons were then selected to constitute the new committee: Mr. Clapp, Postmaster Davies, Rev. D. C. Garrett, Robert Bridges, Rev. W. F. Taylor, F. Toklas and Delegate James. It was decided that the movement should thereafter be known to the public as 'The Pingree Land Plan of Seattle.' The movement takes its name from Pingree, the present mayor of Detroit and the father of what promises to be the greatest step ever taken in the interests of those who wish to support themselves but who find themselves unable to do so owing to the absence of the necessary land and implements. The committee having the matter in charge is asking that the public shall contribute land as well as money and implements. It is not the desire of the committee to accept land situated outside of the city limits, for the reason that the members of the committee intend to assume personal supervision of the work and desire that it be as near the city as possible. The land will require much attention even after it is under cultivation, as it is intended to see that all persons who are given portions of it to cultivate do faithful work. The committee is already meeting with success so far as getting land is concerned. Yesterday D. T. Denny offered a tract of land lying in North Seattle to be used in the interests of the movement for a period of one year. The land which Mr. Denny offers is his old farm, which is situated in his addition on Temperance street and Union. No finer piece of land could be donated for the purpose. It has been cleared for a long time, portions of it have been platted and it can be reached by three different streetcar lines. It is bottom land and will grow all kinds of vegetables. An effort is being made to get some of the Hill tract, which until a few days ago has been in controversy for so many years. The land is all cleared and is not in use at present. While it is intended to give land to married as well as single, the committee will make an effort to see that the married ones are given the preference. Persons who wish land, as well as those who wish to contribute, are requested to notify the members of the committee as soon as possible.