The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-30
THE GERMAN MOVEMENT.
An Agricultural Raid on the Long
Island Barrens.
Germany Invading Holland Progress, Of the
Spring Campaign-Holland Resists,
but IL Taxed and Surrender

There is no locality in the immediate vicinity OF
this city IN which more important yet unpreten.
ti0us change Ia In progress than on Long Island
from the outskirts OF Brooklyn proper beyond the
somewhat famous Patchogue. 1t may not be-
known to OF our readers that covering what is
known as the backbone Of Long Island there are
many thousands OF acres Of land sandy as the shore
Of any sea, and to attempt to cultivate which has
never been even dreamed OF By the phogmatIc de.
scendanti OF the early Hollandcrs who have planted
themselves on the beach. The land was barren Of
human needs other than occasional deer,
rabbits ana birds when the Indian tribes
roamed over II and sought the bay for food. When
the English seized 1t vast tracts were bequeathed to
titled names, not for agricultural purposes but
simply as ground for sport and when progress at
either extremity OF the island gave promise OF pos
sble trade the old Central line railroad engines de-
stroyed what covering OF green remained by
BURNING THE SCRUB OAKS AND PINES.
And 80 this long, lank, barren and drearily level
backbone OF the island renamed, while population
increased the Jersey shore, New York going there
to reside. The antednuvians who owned the
barrens never thought Of improving them.
didn't suppose 1t possible; never tried To
sell them, not supposing them to be worth
anything to anybody. and they never
made effort to give them away, for the belief was
strong that the more a man had the poorer ne was,
and that no one would accept the gilt. 1t is only
few years since tina. New Yorker, becoming an
enthusiast in the building association mania, found
himself In the wids OF scrub oaks and stunted
pines struggling to uproot enough OF them to place
q cabin there. The shore line natives heard Of what
they considered madman's effort, and str aghtway
committee was appointed from the
district to order the man away. He told them that
he had come there to build q home for himself and
family. They opened clamcatcher,s eye upon
lieved him to be either idiotic or, in Yam
kee parlance somewhas cunn 49, "a ana t ty
had all they could do to support their own families
down on the shore line, and that they didn's mean
rens they could only do in the belief that they
could the towns for their families support
And such Is the feeling even now among very
large number who don't take the papers, and
for Kindng wood than they do OF going to MOntauk.
And they have some excuse for 1t other tnan their
CHRONIC AVERSION TO TRAVELLING
even mile or two when they have no hope or gain:
There were occasionally men who wa1 taeT 0Iu
the me scraS an SnaeS BY blow
Ing sand, went down to tel the shore more
Tine ven, ns all @ aaS lost s ha
other than time and patience. and until New iork
city came to be teemng with sturdy Germans there
to be blown away. with an occasional Germanr
however there came patience, perseverance, and
surprising frugality and CONFERENCE.-The Willingness
WORK ON SMALL PROMISE OF GAIN,
and to live by their work and work on. That they
remained was surprising, and that they determined
to continue astonshed the shore-llne men; But
now q very large tract Is dotted over with German
families. They manage IN , some way srrs 70
s esrsP and the prospect now Is That these
noted barrens, as they are called, will soon
any agricultural district within many miles Of new
York. The greatest danger to be feared 10 ina!
p Sy Mr. ss sss
called unusual attention IN that direction. There
IS however much less to be feared lrom thot ieye.
level Of the barrena Is likely 70 prevent
and the fOrbidding aspect OF the soil, which 50
strongly resembles sand in its whieness, rs not
nkely to tempt any VINO may be looking Tor brown
q single crop. Nothing but the persistent
Industry, rigid economy and easy cont S
Ing class Germans eau ever come successfully out
OF the troubles and trials and vexatons OF spirit
which must precede the permanent population OF
the barrens Of Long Island by q thrifty people The
time Tor hasty speculation will come when these adj
process OF reclamation, and until then untirfng per-
severance alone will meet with success. the
OPPOSITION OF THE OLD INHABITANTS
OF the shore line to the peopling OF the island BY
other means than The natural increase OF the stock
however, has been partially disturbed by the en-
actment OF q law under which these barrens can be
line holders or the barren acres to sell sparingIy,
and the present spring finds several hundred more
Germans settling down to years Of toll than have
been found there before.
The enect OF this German movement cannot be
other than beneficial to the city OF New York In
time. The increase In the production or food
cannot be very rapid or large, for the reason
that these districts require tirnc experience great
perseverance and care TO make them productive.
They offer no allurtng promise to enthusiasts; Dus
when, years hence, they shall have been reclaimed
the now spare-fed German laborers VIII blossom as
the rose ana this city Will find garden where now
there are only scrub oaks and stunted pines. Is
long, tedious, pOor-pay work, but our Germans
are equal to II, and New York will reap the reward