Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-22
WASTE LAND ON LONG ISLAND.

Hundreds Of Thousands OF Acres OF Tn
developed 1asritory.
1t is perhaps needless to remind the
reader that there are some 4ii,0oo acres
of waste lands in Suffolk county. Long
Island. They are now covered with
stunted pines. scrub oak and underorush.
If rillahle these barren acres are adyan-
tayeously situated for the experiment OF
colonization. The question AS to their
rossible fertility has been answered both
WAYS. and it is rapidly appearing, if not
already demonstrated, that those who
denied their productivenessu under proper
cultivation have been in error. Years
ago Governor John \. Dix called the
attention Of the New York State Asri-
cultural society To these lands
since Governor Dix wrote many sue
r..,>ful experiments in cultivation of
these lands have confirmed his ludg-
inent. None ot these can have more in
ts-es, t1r tie sutiotoglst than that of
The Bohemian colony. situated midway
between Roukuukoiua and Sayville, III
whar il uow II fertile garden spot that
bursts unexpectedly on the rlew-ssh
oasis IN ii detlsc aud drearv wilderness of
,iwarfed oaks and prolific underbrush,
This community was formed y score OF
wears ago under circumstances the most
unpromising Near the picturesque hit
tie round .dke called konkoukoma, 50
deep that local legend pronouuces it I'M
fashionable and whose outlet has never
been discovered, lies Lakeland, a hither-
to wild tract Of scrub and turze, ON
which II was proposed TO establish a
colony Among those who were in
duced TO purchase land there IN the days
when Economically worded advertise
ments described it as an Eden, were
three Bohemian families who had ar
rived in this country but short time
before
The heads of these families were John
Houla. They were honest, creduloas
folk, unfamiliar with the wiles of the
"boomer." and they purchased their
land unseen ON his representations. But
when in tho waning autumn they and
their wives and little ones beheld Lake
land, its ouly harvest frost tinted, sun
dried, crinklng leaves, their hopes sick
ened and they would have returned to
New York If they could. But they were
without means to support themselves in
the city. Hence, indifferent where it
might be found. they sought moro prom
Using territory toward the south. and
after wandering u distance of three miles
they knclt Ill the woods to implOre di-
vino direction. Fly common impulse
they were moved to choose the spot
where they TINS kn.lt as the center of
their settlement,
The men plodded back to Lakeland,
and thence laboriously brought their
personal effects, the more important of
which were "A canvas tent and cooking
stove. When shelter was thus secured
and an attempt made to kindle fire it
was sorrowiully discovered that there
was not match in the colony; and all
Bohemia laughs TO this day when the
story is told of John kertochvil seizing
his musket and firing the charge into
the CRATE, thus provldentially kindling
the fire while running the risk of blow
ing the precious stove to pieces.
The men found work on the Great
South bay near by, or on the farms of
the southside gentry; and before long
each family dwelt IN its primitive hut,
and men and women unitedly labored 10
clear the land and prepare 1t for crop.
The narrative of their struggle would be
monotonous: Enough that it was sue
ccssful. Gradually their numbers wcro
re-enforced by other families of their
countrymen, until there are now fifty
two houses and 80 settlers i'll the colony
Pretty little dwellings they are. too sur
rounded by trim gardens and patches of
land yielding crops of corn, potatoes and
other vegetables as bountitul as can 10
found anywhere.
The area of Bohcmiaville is 300 acres,
300 of which are under cultivation. A
commodious school building and public
hall evidence the progressive spirit of the
lies and others Hussites. Both sects have
neat chapels, the Hussite element cs-
pousing the forms of episcopacy under
the superintendent of the Rov. John H.
Prescott, rector Of st. AIMS Episcopal
church, Sayville Although English Ii
alone taught in their SCHOOL. they cling
TO their mother tongue and to the Gus
toms of fItherland, while all ardentiy
cherish the memory Of John Huss.-
Harper's Weekly.