Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1915 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

GARDEN PLOTS FOR THE POOR Suggestion Made at Washington That Anacostla Flats Be Leased at Nominal Rentals. Vegetable garden plots on the Anacostia river fiats for the use of poor families of Washington is the proposition which has recently been made to the commissioners by Charles Royle of Washington. The proposed use of the lands reclaimed by the Anacostla Improvement project has been received with much interest by the commissioners and other district officials, and may ben the subject of a request for appropriations when the next estimates are'prepared. The suggested plan calls for the acquirement by the district government! of the river front, the subdivision of the lands Into quarter-acre garden plots, and their lease at nominal rentals to such families as the board of charities may recommend. It ,1s suggested that the cultivation of the plots shall be under the supervision of the! weights, measures and markets department of the municipality. Superintendent Sherman of that department said that he considers that) the plan has great possibilities for good. "Under proper direction,” he added, “the gardens not only could be made attractive In appearance, but they could be developed to the point where they would support many poor families without furnishing extensive competition for Maryland and Virginia growers.” An act of congress would be necessary to place the title to the land in the district.