1S8 [Assemble 



breaking into that great 'wilderness, for without your aid and co- 

 operation, the task would have been almost, if not quite, beyond my 

 j>owcr. ' With high regard, 



I am, &c., yours, 



E. F. PECK. 

 JkocMyrtj February 9, 1850. 



In corroboration of the preceding, I beg to add the following letter 

 from Samuel A. Smith, Esq., of Smithtown, a gentleman well known 

 on the island, and late clerk of the county of Suflblk. Mr. Smith is 

 r.ot an o'>Yner of any of the lands referred to, nor in any way inte- 

 rested therein : 



Smithtoavn, Jan. 29, 1850. 

 To Dr. E. F. Peck : 



Dear Sir — Yours of the 24th inst. was duly received, and I cheer- 

 fully comply with your request, that I should give you my opinion in 

 relation to certain matters therein stated. 



I have no hesitation in stating, that it is my opinion that the atten- 

 tion which has lately .been given to subduing and cultivating the 

 " plains" or " barrens," so called, on Long Island, is principally owing 

 to your influence, and that you was the first to propose, and in the 

 face of powerful opposition, to contend that these lands were suscep- 

 tible of successful cultivation. 



Your opinion with regard to the mode of clearing them, were dif- 

 ferent from those generally entertained by the inhabitants of the 

 island. It had been thought impracticable to break up scrub Oakland 

 with the plow, previous to being grubbed by hand, but you contend- 

 ed that they could be cleared by the plow, without the grubbing by 

 hand, and subsequent experience verified your theory. 



These lands have, within the last few years, been very much en- 

 hanced in price, and I am of opinion that this result has been produced 

 in a great measure by your efforts in clearing away long existing pre- 

 judices against these lands, and by showing the people of the island, 

 . as well practically as theoretically, that they were in error. 



Tliese lands have doubled, trebled, and even qundruoled in value, 

 within the last three or four years. 



Very respectfully yours, 



SAMUEL A. SMITH. 



