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While the company spares no expense or effort in removing obstacles, it
places definite responsibility upon the miners against loss of self-reliance.
Garden land, manure, teams, spraying equipment, etc., are furnished, and seeds,
spraying materials and other smaller items are financed, where necessary; but
responsibility for learning fundamental practices and acquiring the art of per-
forming them, is squarely placed upon each individual. Contests, exhibits,
appropriate garden slides; spraying, canning, drying and storing demonstrations
are provided for, and a running record of the plantings, production, preservation
and condition of each individual garden is posted in the com issary. A general
community consciousness has been developed in this attractive mining town of
Benham and genuine pride is taken, not only in the gardens but in the yards and
surroundings in general.
The Elkhorn—Piney Goal Company
No less outstanding, and similar in many respects, is the project of The
Elkhorn—Piney Coal Company, at Coxton, a Koppers operation. Gardening activities
' in this little community differ from Benham mainly in the size and in the fact
that J. C. Tolliver, the superintendent, has developed his garden program rapidly
in answer to the needs of the present emergency. A uniform seed selection of
good quality and variety was made available at a special wholesale price and
blueprints of a uniform planting plan were utilized. More than 150 good gardens
are now at their height.
The Three Point Coal Company
l Quite as outstanding, and perhaps even more remarkable, is the spectacle of
200 luxuriant gardens located up a hollow at Three Point, accessible only by
foot or a railway car powered by a model "T" Ford engine. The "mushroom" deve1op—
ment of this 200—acre project was directed by Supt. W. M. Huffman of the Three
Point Coal Company, on land, most of which, though fertile, was occupied by time
ber and loose stone a year ago. Despite the fact that the mines may not run a
single day for weeks, and that recent com issary sales, mostly credit, are one-
fourth the volume of the same period of last year, an atmosphere of cheerfulness
prevails and human health and vigor are conspicuous. Men, women and children
seem to be reconciled to their responsibility for making best use of spare time
in producing food for the family and seem to appreciate the security of knowing
, that, if this is done, they will be taken care of by the company.
The United States Steel Company
The United States Steel Company, operating at lynch, has more than 1,000
gardens. The company not only provides land, equipment, supervision, etc., but,
because of employes! limitations, actually performs the more difficult jobs,
such as spraying against garden pests, and otherwise exacts little responsibility
on the part of the gardeners.