Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1895 — A PRACTICAL CHARITY. [ARTICLE]

A PRACTICAL CHARITY.

William Steinway’s Truck Farm da* Done Much for New l'ork’s Poor. No charity has done more for the poor of New York City than the truck garden established by William Steinway, the well-known millionaire and philanthropist, on Long Island, says a correspondent. Mr. Steinway’s plan has excited widespread interest among philanthropic people, who had some doubts as to the practicability of the scheme, but it has proved a success, even beyond the most sanguine hopes of its benefactor. There are, in all, now 270 acres belonging to Mr. Steinway under cultivation, and so great have boon the benefits of the plan that it is Mr. Steinway’s intention next spring to donate the use of 200 additional acres of his own, to say nothing of the acreage to be placed at the disposal of the associated charities by gentlemen who, through Mr. Stein way’s influence, have been induced to follow his course. The crop raised on this tract includes potatoes, which are the chief product; cabbage, beans and peas—quite a variety of vegetables, when the reader bears iu mind how close the land is to one of the greatest markets in the world. The sum of $4,000 was originally expended for the purchase of tools and seeds. The value of the first year’s crop is SII,OOO. The garden work is largely done by children and the old and decrepit among the poor families, who avail themselves of the op--portunity. From the cultivation of Mr. Steinway’s land enough has been derived this year to support 200 families, or fully 1,000 people.