Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1912 — WINTER POTATOES FOR POOR. [ARTICLE]

WINTER POTATOES FOR POOR.

Lafayette Will Harvest 750 Bushels From the Municipal Patch. Lafayette, Ind., July 25.—As a result of'Lafayette’s first experiment in municipal potato growing, about seven hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes will be harvested for the poor of this city. George R. Durgan, the mayor, originator of the idea, worked out his plan through co-operation with the Charity Organization Society. The society asked a land owner for permission to use ten vacant lots in the north end of the city for the city potato patch. Mayor Durgan furnished the seed and the man to plant it. Since May the city prisoners have been busy in the garden.. The city works its prisoners on a chain gang, and when the men were not at work on the -streets they were sent to the potato garden. One hill was dug yesterday and twenty-nine potatoes were found. All the potatoes will be turned over to Miss Mary W. Lindley, secretary of the charity society, and she will store them for distribution among the poor families this winter.