Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1917 — The Furlong. [ARTICLE]

The Furlong.

The measure of length known as the furlong represents one-eight of a mile. Originally It was the length of the ancient acre in England which had a definite form, being 40 rods in length and 4 rods In breadth. On the old English open or common field system, each furrow plowed equally in length the acre, and the distance was called furlong, that is, furrow-long, or 40 rods, or 660 feet, equal to 220 yards or one-eighth of a mile.