New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12
LIZ: AMONG SCRUB OAKS.
DISCOURAGING EFFORTS AT CHICKEN

Of country-a true barren land and a land also
of disappointed hopes-he need not go more than
fifty miles from New-York City. 1t would prob
ably he impossible find. in the most
thny settled and least promising regions of the
West a place where the struggle to make liv-
ing seems hopeless as it does in certain part
Of Long Island South of the bald hills that
run east and west through the island, and about
halfway from Brooklyn to Montauk Point, there
is a strip of country about twenty miles long by
three four broad known the plains 1t |
is covered with thick growth of scrub oak,
shoulder high, which is not only absolutely good
for nothing, but is one of the most persistent
AMI tenacious plants that encountered
soil \ clearing be made through it only
by digging it mp by the roots and this is task
which is enough to discourage most people
Nearly every year the plains are swept by
fires. started by chance sparks in the dry under
brush. This burning effectually destroys
any other growth which the land might produce
and the scrub oak remains the only thing
hardy enough to survive.
on the maps of land companies however,
this desert waste blossoms like the rose. De
lghtully situated towns. with generous lots
and streets of beautiful regularity. make the
region appear a most attractive one to the in
experienced person who aspires to a home in the
country. Sometimes he buys without having
taken the precaution to pay visit first 10 his |
prospective property. Oftener, however. he takes
advantage of the free excursions offered 10 the
place and is able to see just what he is to get
for his money Even then the appearance OF
things does not discourage him. He may not
be able to recognize the place at once. and will
very likely have TO inquire his way Of some
farmer in the neighborhood.
The corner of Wellington-ave. and Nelson
st? You're lookin for it? Well"-with grin
and jerk of his finger back toward the hills
IF you go a couple of miles into the woods in
that direction l think you'll find II about there
You can tell the streets from the lots. because
in the streets the scrub oak is only about two |
feet high instead OF four. The company |
chopped it off while ago with a bush scythe."
This. it might be thought. would damp the
land buyers enthusiasm. but generally it does
not. He does not appreciate the size Of the Job /
he has laid out for himself in attempting To
prosperity out of such material Prac- |
tically all Of the people who settle in the |
plains OF foreign birth. and have come from |
the city with the purpose Of raising chickens on
their possessions. They have read such |
accounts of that occupation seem TO indicate
that IL is a certain road to wealth. Many Of
them are provided with ncuhators and all the
most modern arrangements for scientific chick
raising They come usually with very
little spare funds above the capital invested In
their outfit, and they prepared TO live in
the most primitive fashion while they are get
ting started Some OF the buildings which they
homes seem preposterous as habitatons
for human beings. Here and there among the
scrub oaks, miles from any town, and even from
any road there are little structures about ten
feet by eight, usually painted dark Indian red
These have windows and chimneys-
nothing but door to indicate that they not
huge drySoods boxes dumped down there and
painted They look like the temporary booths
which surveyors sometimes put up TO hold their
instruments and tools. Nevertheless they are
dwelling houses, and the people who occupy
them display persistency which ought to win
success if there were shadow of a chance
for it,
There was carpenter who came out year
so ago to settle in the scrub oak He
brought with him small amount OF material
with which to build The first day he managed
to erect the framework of his shanty, and had
just begun to roof it when he stopped
by the coming Of night and severe rainstorm.
There nothing TO do but to spend the time
until morning standing up under the few shin
giles which in place, and which scarcely
equaled the protection Of respectable UNI
breIla. Another settler French cook. who
went out last summer to spend his vacation on
his rural estate q had theories which favored |