Seattle's Pingree Plan: Free Garden Plots for the Unemployed
A city-backed scheme opens an office at 14 Railroad Avenue to hand out land so jobless families can grow their own food — provided the subscriptions come in fast enough.
At 9 o'clock tomorrow morning the office of the promoters of the Pingree land plan in this city, at 14 Railroad Avenue, will be open, and it is expected that all applicants for the use of land will have territory apportioned to them. In the meantime the superintendent, Robert Bridges, is actively [securing] suitable ground and preparing it for use. Some embarrassment may result unless subscriptions already made are promptly sent in, as a considerable sum will be required to successfully carry out the benevolent object, in addition to the appropriation by the city for seed and implements. Subscriptions may be sent to Rev. D. C. Garrett, treasurer, or may be left at the office of the Post-Intelligencer. One of the earnest workers for the success of the plan said yesterday:
"A worthier object was never presented to the people of Seattle. It means the prevention of poverty among families and not merely the temporary relief of single men. All vegetables raised are to be used by those who till the soil and not sold for profit. A surplus will be set aside for winter's use. This method teaches self-help, and simply enables those willing to work to provide for their families."
Since the last report Mr. Garrett has received subscriptions as follows: J. A. James, E. L. James, Belle James, Tracer James, A. B. Stewart, E. B. Downing and J. J. Post, $1 each; Louis Klodt, $3; Joseph Shippen, $[ ].
“It means the prevention of poverty among families and not merely the temporary relief of single men.”
In 1895 Seattle — still reeling from the Panic of 1893 — local organizers borrowed Detroit Mayor Hazen Pingree's idea of giving idle families plots to farm. The plea that relief should 'teach self-help' and prevent poverty among families rather than single men echoes today's fights over guaranteed income, food security and urban agriculture — right down to the anxiety that promised aid would go unfunded.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.