When Seattle Tried to Farm Its Way Out of Hard Times

The committee in charge of the Pingree land plan of Seattle announced yesterday that it was ready for business and would be glad to hear from those who desire to accept tools and seed and commence the cultivation of land from which they shall reap the profits, thus gaining a living for themselves and their families. The first and only applicant who appeared during the day was a well-known mechanic of the city, who has resided here for a long time and who at present finds himself out of work, with no means of supporting himself and family. He lives in the southern part of the city and told one of the members of the committee that he would be only too glad to cultivate a piece of land if he were furnished the implements and some seeds.

The committee has decided not to give out the names of those who apply for land, and wishes it further understood that the present work is not that of charity. "We are simply giving those who desire to earn a living and who have no means of doing so a chance to raise for themselves the necessaries of life," said one of the committee yesterday. "They must work, and therefore we do not wish it understood that they are the subjects of charity."

The committee feels satisfied that the Pingree plan will prove a success in this city if those who wish to earn a living will take advantage of the offers made them and go to work cultivating the land. The directors of the Bureau of Associated Charities, which has the matter in charge, think they are giving poor people an honest chance to show whether they desire to go to work, and if they refuse to take advantage of the offer made them during the summer, they will be treated accordingly when they apply for assistance during the winter months. The land which they will be given to cultivate can be readily worked. The committee has announced that it does not desire offers of land which cannot be cultivated during the summer. Land partially covered with stumps and timber will not be accepted, for the reason that it will be difficult to work it, and for the further reason that it is thought plenty of clear land will be secured. At present the committee has the old Denny farm near Lake Union, and is negotiating for the Hill and Bond tracts. If these can be secured there will be ample land to supply the early applicants, and then efforts will be made to secure some small parcels of land in and about the city which are not in use at the present time.

James M. Colman has allowed the committee the use of a warehouse at 300 Railroad Avenue, and it is proposed to store all implements and seeds there until they are removed to the land to be cultivated. The committee desires contributions of seeds and implements, and will be glad to accept any cash subscription to further the movement. Tomorrow night the committee will send several of its members before the city council to solicit financial aid from the city. The headquarters of the committee are in room 6 of the Bailey building, and applicants for land are requested to call there.

The Detroit agricultural committee, in a report to Mayor Pingree last December, described how the plan had worked there. Some 8,000 applications were made, many from persons who had never been assisted by charity but were out of work because of hard times. Owing to want of funds the committee could provide for but 945 families. Lands were offered in almost all parts of the city; about 400 acres were accepted and staked into quarter- to half-acre parcels. Seed potatoes, cabbage plants, beans and other seeds were furnished where needed. The committee reported that the venture netted to the cultivators goods worth $12,000 to $14,000 at a cost to the committee of about $3,000. It concluded that about one-third of an acre was sufficient land for a family to raise enough potatoes to last through the winter and furnish vegetables through the summer, and that the plan let poor people help themselves without losing their self-respect.