The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-12-11

settling up, and is dependent on the
Big Woods for fuel, which in a few
years must exhaust it's supply; AT
Fort Dodge we reach the nearest coal
mines in Iowa, and a railroad extend
ing from there over the route sugges-
ted, would prove of inestimable ben
eft to the country. Cheap fuel is es-
sential to the rapid development of
this country, and the chcapness with
which narrow-gauge railroad can be
built, equipped and operated, render
the construction of such roads an i'm
mediate necessity in the West, as not
only means for cheapening trans
portation, but supplying communities
with rapid communication where a
broad gauge road could not be profit
ably built. We see no reason why
a narrow-gauge road over the pro-
posed route could not become pay
ing investment soon after it's compile
ton, in the moving of fuel alone, to
which would necessarilysbe added a
large transfer of merchandise.
All the Reporter says of the pro-
posed Desmoines Valley road, of
course, applies with equal force to our
proposed narrow-gauge. The FEAST
bility of these roads is beyond ques-
ton, and there can he no doubt of the
immense benefit which regions like
our own will derive from their con-
struction.
We are glad to see such ready re-
spouse from our exchanges And the
columns Of the ADVANCE are open to
suggestions upon this subject, and we
hope that practical men will avail
themselves Of the opportunity and
give their views.
THE NATIONAL COLONY
Mr.. A. NJ. Gibbons, who has been
travelling over the West the past sea-
son, and who visited this section last
Summer, writes us from Peoria, ILL
nois, under date of November 10th,
that there is no portion of the West
so inviting as this. He says:
desire to say, after visiting most
of the new country Of the West, that
there is none so inviting, taking all
things into consideration, as your Sec
ton Of the State of Minnesota. Its
fertility cannot be surpassed. Then
it's healthful and inyigorating climate
is another attraction. There is no
doubt, but that it will settle up at
once. The grasshopper, about which
so much complaint is now made, is
only a temporary objection, and their
presence and influence will soon pass
away and be forgotten.
SUFFERING IN NEBRASKA.
A correspondent of the Toledo
Commercial writes as follows from
Lincoln, Nebraska, concerning the
suffering in that State:
During my journey I met Profess
sor J. NJ. Mckenzie, State Superin-
tendent Of Public Instruction. who
was on his return from visit to the
Republican Valley. His story Of the
condition of the settlers was most pit
iful. In one instance a man had
come 20 miles to get food and CLOTH
ing for his wife and children from the
supplies shipped there from Omaha.
It was a long journey for the hungry,
naked man and for his half.starved
brutes; but when he arrived and found
nothing left, he sat down in despair
and cried like a child. Professor
Mckenzie met there Colonel Dudley,
who was in search of facts; they visi-
ted the homes Of the destitute togeth-
err, when facts sad enough told them
that already there had been death
from starvation; that mothers and
children in many instances had not
sufficient clothing to hide their max
edness; that their horses and mules
are too weak to carry them away, had
they sufficient clothing to protect
them from the severe winter weather
already set in; and that, unless food
and clothing shall soon go to them,
starvation will count it's victims by
the thousands.
Whatever is to be done, should be
quickly done. Chicago, a great city,
with wealth enough to take care of
it's poor in the hour Of trial, speedily
and grandly succored. That was
good. Nebraska, unable to help it.
self-Shall it perish?
CONTRIB U1IONS EXPRESSED FREE
Chas NJ. Fargo, Superintendent of
the American. Express Company,
sends the following to the Chicago
Evening Journal: .
Referring to the appeal in behalf of
the grasshopper sufferers in Mobiles