520 TftANSACTJONS OF TH2 



Dr. Peck — This statement I deny in toto. It is this false state- 

 ment that has dissuaded people from occupying these lands, and 

 has left them in a wilderness state. The whole wilderness of this 

 country has been settled and made to blossom like the rose by 

 poor men — just such men as could settle and make good homes 

 for themselves upon Long Island. 



Solon Robinson contended that Long Island lands were no 

 poorer than those along the Camden and Amboy railroad, which 

 have been made the garden spot of New Jersey, and made so by 

 the labor of poor men. , He deprecated this continual attack upon 

 Long Island — this constantly telling poor men not to go to that 

 poverty-stricken region to starve. It was this oft-repeated asser- 

 tion that the lands are barren which keeps them so ; it is not be- 

 cause they are so, for it has been proved by the most incontestable 

 evidence that these plains, or barrens, as they are called, can be 

 profitably cultivated. He thought it would prove a great blessing 

 to a great many poor men if they should go out upon the island 

 and cultivate it like a garden. It is no use to talk about capitalists 

 undertaking the work of renovation, if they have got to buy the 

 land, and spend a hundred dollars an acre to improve it before 

 they begin to realize a profit. Such men of money are much more 

 likely to spend it in Wall-street speculations. For the improve- 

 ment of Long Island we must look to the laborers, the hard- 

 working poor men, such as the gentleman, in his old-fogy argu- 

 ment, would discourage from the attempt to better their condition. 



Dr. Smith related an interesting anecdote of one of his acquain- 

 tances, who proved, in the most practical manner, that a poor 

 man could settle upon these so-called poor Long Island farms, 

 and make a good support for his family, and gain property at the 

 same time. He thought it a disgrace to the country and the age 

 we live in to say that these lands were incapable of improvement 

 except by an expenditure of money so far beyond the reach of all 

 ordinary cultivators that none could be found to undertake the 

 work of improvement. 



Several other persons joined in this discussion, which grew very 

 animated, and was listened to with great attention by a large au- 

 dience. 



