The Washington herald., 1910-08-12
ROOSEVELT MAKES
FARM LIFE STUDY
Finds Thousands of UnOccu-
pied Acres of Land.
SEES MODEL ESTABLISHMENT
Long island Railroad Is Trying to
Stimulate Interest I'm Apparently
barren SectiOn-Trip an Interest,"
ing One--AutO Balks and Roosevelt
Aids In Pushing IL over Ground.

strayed by chance across the backbone
OF Long Island between Medford and
Wading River early this afternoon, you
might have seen strange and rather
unusual sight. Close by Artist Lake. in
the thick Of desolate stretch Of coun-
try that is overrun with a heavy under
growth of scrub oaks. charred chestnut
trees, and what the experts call waste"
you would have seen a thlcl-set man.
wearing a broad-brimmed Panama hat.
eyeglasses, and teeth. pushing a farm
automobile that had got stuck. You
would have heard frequent expressions
like. Fine. fine" and-but you know
who It was. BY George. you must knowl
II was the contributing editor. OF
course. Col Roosevelt slipped out OF
Oyster Bay early in the morning just as
soon as Pinchot and Garfield went away
He started on another tour OF inspection
along the lines OF his trip into the Penn
sylvania coal region last week. but for a
purpose which he didn't volunteer to ex-
plain. This time he visited couple OF
mcdel farms on Long Island, in order
that he might be more proficient in his
notions OF agriculture than he really IS
He also learned that a good bit OF the
island Is still left for folks who want
farm life.
Sees Scientific Farming.
The former President Of the United
States is not satisfied to hold political
confabs only; he has wanted for a long
time 20 90 out and view at close range
the methods OF the new scientific school
of farming. At the invitation Of Ralph
Peters. president OF the Long Island
Railroad. he visited to-day the model es-
adjustment that the railroad has set up
in order TO stimulate interest in an ap-
parently barren section Of the island.
The colonel covered about 100 miles alto
gether he answered a good deal Of
academic farm talk that he grasped with
startling rapidity. ate a farm dinner
in an unfinished dining-room, and as
has been suggested. took a ride in a
weird automobile
The train from Mineola speeded on the
main line to Medfor0 at a mile-a-minute
clip. The colonel gazed on the landscape
while Mr.. Peters told the others many
things concerning the country. AS soon
as the train stopped at farm No, ?. a
mile aud a half east OF Medford. every
body piled out and walked slowly to the
group OF little houses that resembled
a mountain camp. except for rather
suniptous new building that is being
erected.
Land stin UndeveIoped.
With H. B. Fullerton. who enjoys the
title OF director OF agricultural develop
ment OF the Long Island Railroad, Mrs.
Fullerton and the Fullerton Riddles. Col
Roosevelt and his party began an inspec-
ton Of the place. The colonel was in
formed by Mr.. Fullerton right away that
out OF $4,000 acres in Suffolk County
only 250,oOO are cultivated at the present
time, and that one-third of the entire
island is undeveloped. The director Of
agricultural development described the
Transformation Of apparently hopeless
land into the splendid farm that was
being examined.
Have Country Dinner.
Teddy" buckingham. a very English
haircutter. who is not working at his
trade lust now. dragged his camera out
20 take the eoloneTs picture. Most Of the
party were taken. and then Nj Fullerton
rang a locomotive bell for dinner. The
colonel and Mr. Peters sat down 10 a
fine meal that Mrs. Fullerton had pre-
pared. They christened the new dining
room, consumed large quantities of fried
chicken. several portions Of fresh vege-
tables. and a couple Of sponge cakes that
the Fullerton children made themselves.
There were initials on the cakes, T r.
and r. p
The colonel liked that
A few minutes after dinner the party
got aboard the Fullerton automobile,
which is a lofty vehicle with hard tires
Mrs. Fullerton acted as chauffeur She
plotted the carriage through the fields
when the roads were not. and she drove
like an expert. They had gone about
half way across country toward WadiaE
River and Farm No. and the machine
refused TO 60 farther. It was planted on
hill In the brush a few feet from Artists
Lake.
Mr.. Fullerton discovered. inasmuch as
only one cylinder was working instead
of two. that a little pushing from behind
might help things. Trust the colonel in a
case Ike that. He heaved for all he
was worth, and with the help of the
others had the machine going in a jifTy
The automobile. which bears the name
OF Locust, was In a bad way for a few
minutes. but there was no danger. and
Col. Roosevelt had a bully time laboring
under the hot sun
Tomorrow morning the contributing
editor will leave as usual for the Out
look Office. He'll come back at night.
and expects to spend a mighty quiet
week end here. But you never can tell.
Pinchct and Garfield Depart.
Oyster Bay. Aug n-Before Clifford
Pinchot and James r. Garfield left oyster
Bay this morning they said that there
vas nothing to give out concerning their
conference with Col. Roosevelt.
They announced. however, that they
will meet the colonel at several places in
hts Western trip-at Osawatomie. Kans..
Denver, and ST. Paul
Pinehot and Garfield will speak from
the same platform as Col Roosevelt It
is known that the colonel will talk con-
servaton in these speeches. and the SUD-
position here is that Pinchot Is going to
back him up Garfield passed no COM
ment on the Ohio political situation.
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