Free Farms for the Worthy Poor: Seattle Tries the Pingree Plan

The Pingree plan, as in operation in this city, is proving a success, and the promoters of the undertaking feel encouraged at the outlook. Ferdinand Toklas said yesterday that there would be ready in a few days a detailed report of what had been done, and could say generally that everything was going nicely.

After the success of the plan in Detroit, many cities have adopted it as a means of providing a living for the worthy poor. The New York World, in a recent number, tells of the success of allotting to some 250 families about 500 acres of land at Steinway, L.I., and says the work is to be continued on a much more extensive scale.

The plan was not put in operation until April 2, and of the 250 families represented some were allotted a quarter of an acre and others half an acre, according to numbers. The would-be farmers were furnished with seeds, teams, plows, fertilizers and everything else required. In many cases the very poor were allowed 75 cents an hour while they were planting their crops, and this was done only when the applicants did not even have bread. A condition made in allotting the ground was that at least one-half of each plot should be planted in potatoes.

The 250 families assisted this year represent between 1,500 and 1,600 persons, who would have suffered but for the free farm scheme. The land was given only to married men, or to men having widowed mothers with families. The men took hold of the work with surprising earnestness, and although many of them had never before seen a plow, they were apt pupils and soon became advanced in agriculture.

The men aided by the Pingree plan at Steinway are far above the average, and would scorn to beg for anything but work. Nearly all the families are such as are commonly called poor but proud. They would starve rather than beg for food, but when the men heard of the free farm they promptly went to the secretary and made known their needs. There were many applicants whose circumstances were most deplorable, but the most desperate case was that of a man who one day entered the office and told how his wife and three children were starving. He wanted no assistance, only work. The man's manner impressed the secretary, who sent him over to Steinway. Later it was learned that he walked all the way from the city to the free farm the next day, worked at the plow until late in the afternoon, when he fell fainting in the furrows from weakness, for he had been two days without food. When this part of his history had been learned, he was promptly supplied with food and money, and the other men working in the plots about him took turns at helping him until his bit of land was plowed. Today he and his family are in no danger of want.

It took the men about twelve days each to plow, harrow, plant and fertilize the land. Each quarter acre, it is estimated, will produce fifty bushels of potatoes, worth an average of 60 cents, making a return for the work expended on each tract of from $75 to $100. After the planting was done, the farmers had little to do but to go over the ground and weed it out. A few drones crept in among the busy bees, but they were soon driven away.

Most of the men appreciate the change presented to them and acted as if they were very grateful, but a very few put on a sulky air and indicated that a farmer ought to be provided to do the work for them.

There are now on the books applications from twice as many persons as have been given allotments, but the season is too far advanced to break any more soil this year. Next year enough land will be given out to support at least 1,000 families. So far, contributors have not been so liberal as it was hoped they would, but it is expected that there will be funds on hand the coming season to allow the experiment to be carried out on a more extensive scale than at any other city in the country, not excepting Detroit. The treasurer of the free farm movement is Jacob H. Schiff, of Kuhn, Loeb Co., bankers, who was in Seattle a short time ago with James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern.

With few exceptions the desirable farmers have stuck to their farms, and those who have given up their allotments have succeeded in getting steady and better positions elsewhere. All that is insisted on at the secretary's office is that the applicant is worthy of assistance, as it is proposed not to help those who will not, and never have made an effort to help themselves.