The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-02-27
WASTE LANo ON LoNo ISLAND.
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Aoroe Of Un
developed Territory.


developed Territory.
It is perhaps needless 10 remind tho
reader that there are some an, 900 acres
Of waste lands in Suffolk county, Long
Island. They are now covered with
stunted pines, scrub oak and underbrush.
II tillable these barron acres arc advan-
tageously situated for the experiment Of
colonization. The question ~ to their
possible fertility has been answered both
ways, and it is rapidly appearing, il moi
already demonstrated, that those who
denied their productivenessu under proper
cultivation have been in error. Years
ago Governor John A. Dix called Che
attention Of the New York State Agri
cultural society 10 these lands.
Since Governor Dix wrote many sue.
cessful experiments IN cultivation Of
these lands have confirmed his judg
ment, None Of these can have more in
terest for the sociologist than that Of
the Bohemian colony, situated midway
between Ronkonkoma and Sayvillo, In
what is now fertile garden spot tha,
bursts Unexpectedly on the view-ar
oasis In dense and dreary wilderness Of
dwarfed oaks and prolific underbrush
This community was formed q score oi
years ago under circumstances the most
unpromising. Near the picturesque Lit
tie round lake called Ronkonkoma, SC
deep that local legend pronounces il un
fathomablo and whose outlet has never
been discovered, lies Lakeland, hither
to wild tract Of scrub and furze, Oh
which it was proposed TO establish d
colony, Among those who were in
duced to purchase land there in the days
when romantically worded advertise
ments described it as an Eden, were
three Bohemian families who had ar
rived in this country but a short time
before.
The heads Of these families were Johr
Kertochvil, Joshua Wavra and JOSEPH
Houla. They were honest, credulou,
folk, unfamiliar with the wiles Of the
"boomer," and they purchased theii
land unseen on his representations. But
when in the waning autumn they and
their wives and little ones behold Lake
land, its only harvest frost tinted, sur
dried, crinkling leaves, their hopes sick
ened and they would have returned Il
New York If they could. But they wer,
without means to support themselves IL
the city. Hence, Indifferent where Il
might DO found, they sought nero prom
Using territory toward tho south, anG
after wandering a distance Of three miles
they knelt in the woods to imploro di
vine direction. By common impulse
they were moved n choose the spo'
where they thus knelt as the center ot
their settlement.
The men plodded back to Lakeland
and thence laboriously brought theii
personal effects, the more important o.
which were q canvas tent and a cooking
stove. When shelter was thus secured
and an attempt made to lzindle fire il
was sorrowfully discovered that ther,
was not a match in the colony; and al
Bohemia laughs TO this day when tn,
story Is told Of John Kertochvil seizing
his musket and firing the charge int
the CRATE, thus prUyidentially hndlinl
the fire while running the risk Of blow
ing tho precious stove to pieces.
Tho men found work on the Grea
South bay near by, or on the farms 0.
tho southside gentry and before lonf
each family dwelt in its primitive hut
and men and women mitedly labored t,
clear the land and prepare 1t for a crop
The narrative Of their struggle would b,
monotonous: Enough that it was sue
cessful. Gradually their numbers werl
REINFORCED by other families Of theil
countrymen, until there arc now fifty
two houses and $50 settlers IN the colony
Pretty little dwellings they are, too, sur
rounded by trim gardens and patches O.
land yielding crops Of corn, potatoes ant
other vegetables as bountful as can bt
found anywhere.
The area of Bohemisville is / 300 acres
800 of which are under cultivation. 4
commodious school building and publ,
hall evidence the progressive spirit of tn,
villagers, some Of whom are old Catho
lies and others Hussites. Both sects hav,
neat chapels, the Husite element es
pousing the forms Of episcopaey unde,
the superintendent Of the Rev. John H
Prescott, rector Of st. AIMS Episcopa
church, Sayville. Although English i
alone taught in their school, they clinl
to their mother tongue and TO the Gus
toms of fatherland, while all aEdently
cherish the memory Of John Huss.-
Harper's Weekly.