The Potato Patch That Fed 387 People: Seattle's Pingree Plan
In the hard year of 1895, a committee of Seattle citizens handed out seeds and tools to 141 unemployed families — and the city's charity rolls fell. The organizer wanted City Hall to run it.
The Pingree plan was worked as well in Seattle as in other places, the returns, compared with what has been done in New York, show a vast amount of good accomplished for a place of 60,000 people. F. Toklas, secretary of the organization, has prepared a report for submission to the members, showing that there were listed 171 applicants. Of this number thirty allowed their applications to lapse, leaving 141, who represent 387 persons. Lands were procured for 88, while 52 furnished their own lands. Fifteen of the applicants, who were furnished with seeds and implements, abandoned their labors on account of sickness, change of residence or inconvenience of location. Three applicants consumed the seed furnished them, but were indifferent about starting and declined to give good cause for their inaction.
The total receipts were $218.08, and the expenditures $206.72, leaving a balance on hand of $11.36. The average cost of furnishing seeds, implements, etc., was $1.44 per applicant. The total area of land occupied by the 141 tillers is about 130 acres, an average equal to a lot 43x130 feet.
Seeds were furnished each applicant as follows: Onion, 1 ounce; carrot, 2 ounces; turnip, 1 ounce; lettuce, ½ ounce; radish, ½ ounce; peas, 1 pound; beans, 1 pound; onion sets, 1 pound; potatoes, 1 sack.
The first meeting of the advocates of the Pingree plan was held at the Chamber of Commerce early in April, when it was resolved to refer the matter to the associated charities. In due time a committee was appointed consisting of Robert Bridges, Frank D. Black, Cyrus F. Clapp, Griffith Davies, Rev. D. C. Garrett, James A. James, Rev. W. F. Taylor and Mr. Toklas. The committee organized by the election of Mr. Clapp as president, Mr. Toklas as secretary, Dr. Garrett as treasurer and Mr. Bridges as superintendent. Working committees were appointed, and permanent headquarters were secured free of charge from J. M. Colman at 314 Railroad avenue, and Thomas Pirret appointed station agent. In his report Mr. Toklas says:
"When the labors of this committee commenced we estimated that we would have about 500 applicants, and the figures would have been correct if the committee had had the means to continue its labors. Lack of funds and the advanced stage of the seeding season compelled us to close the station May 15. In checking up the names of our applicants with the books of the Bureau of Associated Charities I find that 28 per cent. of them had been assisted by the bureau, leaving 72 per cent. composed of men and women who scorn charity but are willing to help themselves when opportunities are offered.
"The fact is patent that in order to lessen the number of those who depend on charitable institutions and in order to increase the number of those who are willing to assist themselves no better opportunities can be presented than by perpetuating the work here begun. It seems to me that the government of this city should be the proper one to provide the means to carry on the work for the season next ensuing. The cost is so small when compared with the good results obtained here that if the city authorities would name say ten or twelve good reliable workers from among its citizens to supervise the handling of the funds, have the labor bureau to superintend the seeding, and that with $750, fully 3,000 souls would be supplied with table vegetables during the summer and have enough left to carry them over the winter.
"Evident it is to my mind that such work as practiced by the Pingree land plan tends to decrease pauperism, and that with the judicious expenditure of a few paltry cents honest workers can be assisted. That my views are nearly correct a recent publication by the board of associated charities fully demonstrates. It says: 'Owing to the workings of the Pingree land plan, the number of applicants has very materially decreased during the months of April and May.' What additional proof for the permanent establishment of the Pingree land plan is required?"
The workings of the Pingree plan in all places where it has been tried indicate that the deserving poor who are too proud to accept charity are the first to take advantage of the opportunities offered. Seattle has been no exception to the rule, and all the applicants, as shown by Mr. Toklas' report, eagerly embraced an offer whereby through their own efforts they could help themselves.
“72 per cent. composed of men and women who scorn charity but are willing to help themselves when opportunities are offered.”
The Pingree plan — named for Detroit's mayor, who lent vacant city lots to the jobless in the Panic of 1893 — was a nineteenth-century answer to a question Seattle still argues over: whether public money should go to relief or to work. Toklas's pitch that $750 could feed 3,000 people reads like a modern guaranteed-income pilot, and his insistence that most applicants 'scorn charity' is the same dignity argument today's aid programs make.
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